Film Independent has confirmed on Monday (February 8) that the 36th edition of the Independent Spirit Awards, presented by Film Independent, will be hosted by Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Melissa Villaseñor. The event is set to take place on April 22, 2021.
She will host the first prime time of the Spirit Awards, which this year will be broadcast on IFC on the Thursday night (April 22) before the Oscars, in lieu of the traditional Saturday afternoon near the Santa Monica Pier.
“As someone who considers herself a pretty dependent person, I’m truly honored to host the Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Melissa Villaseñor in a statement.
“We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Villaseñor into the club of smart, funny film lovers to host the Spirit Awards. The time to laugh has definitely arrived, and not a moment too soon,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent.
Melissa Anne Villaseñor is an American actress, stand-up comedian, visual artist and singer. She is best known for her ability to do impressions of celebrities ranging from Owen Wilson to Dolly Parton. She debuted in the industry as a semi-finalist for America’s Got Talent. Then, she made the main characters sound in the animated shows and movies, such as Toy Story 4 and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Currently, she is working on her first book.
On Monday, the organization has also announced one of its programs “Directors Close-Up” which will provide in-depth discussions with directors comprised of panelists nominated for the Spirit Award. The series will feature the directors from the worlds of the independent film, documentary and television. The series will be broadcast live and will consist of nine sessions from March 3 to April 21.
The Spirit Awards are a main fundraiser for the nonprofit arts organization for its list of year-round programs, which aims to cultivate the careers of emerging film directors and promote the diversity and inclusion in the film industry.
Previous hosts for the Spirit Awards were Aubrey Plaza (2019 and 2020), Nick Kroll and John Mulaney (2017 and 2018), Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani, Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell, Patton Oswalt, Andy Samberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah and Sarah Silverman.