Netflix’s global Korean hit series “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae won best actor at the the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards held on March 6 at the Santa Monica Pier in California.
Lee Jung-jae bagged the Best Male Performance In A New Scripted Series for “Squid Game,” winning over Olly Alexander of “It’s a Sin,” Murray Bartlett of “The White Lotus,” Michael Greyeyes of “Rutherford Falls” and Ashley Thomas of “THEM: Covenant.”
Due to his commitments in South Korea, Lee Jung-jae was unable to attend the awarding ceremony.
In his video acceptance speech, Lee Jung-jae thanked the “Squid Game” team, Netflix and the global audience and he talked about season 2 of the hit series.
“Thank you for giving me this meaningful award. I wish I could be there in person, but due to my work schedule in Korea, I'm sending this video message instead. I'm very sorry about that. Thank you so much for loving 'Squid Game,’” he said.
Lee Jung-jae revealed, “I know there are lots of 'Squid Game' fans in the world, and what you're all curious about the most is when Season 2 will come out. It's on the way. Stay tuned. So thank you again.”
This is his second best actor award for “Squid Game.” Last Feb. 27, Lee Jung-jae won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.
“Squid Game” became Netflix’s biggest TV show with 1.65 billion hours viewed in the first 28 days on the platform.
Here are the Winners of the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards:
BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer)
THE LOST DAUGHTER
Producers: Charles Dorfman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Osnat Handelsman Keren, Talia Kleinhendler
BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to director and producer)
7 DAYS
Director: Roshan Sethi
Producers: Liz Cardenas, Mel Eslyn
BEST DIRECTOR
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
BEST SCREENPLAY
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Michael Sarnoski, Vanessa Block, Pig
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; Award given to the writer, director and producer)
SHIVA BABY
Writer/Director/Producer: Emma Seligman
Producers: Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller, Lizzie Shapiro
BEST MALE LEAD
Simon Rex, Red Rocket
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Taylour Paige, Zola
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Troy Kotsur, CODA
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Ruth Negga, Passing
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Edu Grau, Passing
BEST EDITING
Joi McMillon, Zola
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
(Award given to the director)
DRIVE MY CAR (Japan)
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Award given to the director and producer)
SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
MASS
Director: Fran Kranz
Casting Directors: Henry Russell Bergstein, Allison Estrin
Ensemble Cast: Kagen Albright, Reed Birney, Michelle N. Carter, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Breeda Wool
PRODUCERS AWARD
(The Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films)
Lizzie Shapiro
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
(The Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition)
ALEX CAMILLERI
Director of Luzzu
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
(The 27th Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition)
JESSICA BESHIR
Director of Faya Dayi
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
BLACK AND MISSING
Series By/Executive Producers: Soledad O’Brien, Geeta Gandbhir
Executive Producers: Jo Honig, Patrick Conway, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
RESERVATION DOGS
Creators/Executive Producers: Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi
Executive Producer: Garrett Basch
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A SCRIPTED SERIES
Thuso Mbedu, The Underground Railroad
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
RESERVATION DOGS
Ensemble Cast: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis, Sarah Podemski, Zahn McClarnon, Lil Mike, FunnyBone