SANTA MONICA, California − The past year has been “great for film, and a bad year for human life,” host Aidy Bryant said to kick off the 40th Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday.

The awards show for movies made for less than $30 million is a famously laid-back affair (“White Lotus” star Walton Goggins rocked a sleeveless shirt) held in a giant tent off the Santa Monica Beach. But Saturday’s winners are also vying for Oscar gold.

With a little more than a week until the Academy Awards on March 2, the Indie Spirits honored writer and director Sean Baker’s “Anora” with three major awards, including best feature, best director and best lead performance for star Mikey Madison.

The drama about a Brooklyn sex worker (Madison) and her whirlwind affair with a Russian oligarch’s son has gone from a Cinderella success story to Oscar frontrunner − with six Academy Award nominations, including best picture, best director for Baker, and best actress for Madison.

Sign up for our Watch Party newsletter: We deliver the best movie and TV recommendations to your inbox.

Rate your ‘Film of the Year’: Join our Movie Meter panel and make your voice heard!

Accepting the best director’s award, the self-confessed “indie film lifer” Baker gave an impassioned speech for independent films, which have taken a major financial hit amid declining DVD revenues.

“We want complete artistic freedom and the freedom to cast who is right for the role, not who the studios want us to cast, considering box office value or how many followers they have on social media,” Baker said. “This is for all the other indie film lifers who are holding on and fighting the good fight.”

Madison beat out Demi Moore (“The Substance”) for the award, with both nominated for the best actress Oscar. Madison thanked Baker calling him “a wonderful friend and incredible Chihuahua owner. I’m so grateful that you came into my life,” she said.

Backstage, Madison deflected any attention about potential Oscar success.

“I continuously go into these (award shows) not really expecting anything,” said Madison. “I just am really grateful for the love that people have shown.”

Jesse Eisenberg thanks ‘A Real Pain’ producer Emma Stone

Jesse Eisenberg won the best screenplay award for “A Real Pain,” which he directed and starred in with Kieran Culkin. Eisenberg thanked producer Emma Stone. “She is definitely still the most famous person, yet also the most dedicated to encouraging me as a writer,” Eisenberg said in his acceptance speech. “She’s like my fairy godmother, and I am riding the coattails of her goodwill.”

Netflix’s ‘Baby Reindeer’ wins three awards at Indie Spirits

In the TV categories, FX’s epic “Shōgun” won best scripted series, but “Baby Reindeer” dominated. The Netflix series about a struggling comedian stalked by an obsessed woman, grabbed three awards: Richard Gadd won best lead performance, Nava Mau won best supporting performance, and Jessica Gunning won best breakthrough performance. 

Gadd, who won three Emmys for the limited series (which won six Emmys), said the Indie Spirit win marked the end of his awards season.

“It’s been a real privilege these past six months,” he said. “Coming from a small Scottish town and going on to being championed by the finest in Hollywood is absolutely crazy.”

The actor, who had been a struggling comedian before finding TV success, thanked the Spirit Awards.

“I love how all the award shows are slightly different,” said Gadd. “You’ve got the Emmys, and it’s a big fancy thing. You’ve got the Golden Globes in the back of a hotel. And this is like an aircraft hangar on the beach. Any award that champions the underdog is absolutely right by me.”