HOLLYWOOD - American period drama Train Dreams took home the Spirit Awards win for Best Feature on Feb 15, as both it and Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent gathered momentum ahead of the Academy Awards.

The Secret Agent notched Best International Film as its team hopes to win in the same category at the upcoming Oscars, capping Hollywood’s awards season.

The annual Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony celebrates only movies made for less than US$30 million (S$37 million).

Train Dreams, American director Clint Bentley’s adaptation of the 2011 novella by late American writer Denis Johnson, follows a railroad worker and the transformation of the American northwest across the 20th century.

The film won three of its four categories, also grabbing wins for Best Director and Best Cinematography.

The movie’s lead, Joel Edgerton, however, did not take home Best Lead Performance, which went to Australian actress Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Byrne has been nominated for Best Actress for the same film at the Oscars in March.

Train Dreams producer Teddy Schwarzman told AFP the film “is a singular journey, but it hopefully helps bring people together to understand all that life entails: Love, friendship, loss, grief, healing and hope”.

Train Dreams will compete in four categories at the Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Cinematography.

Big win for Brazil

After The Secret Agent nabbed Best International Film, director Kleber Mendonca Filho hailed the win as one that hopefully “gives more visibility to Brazilian cinema”.

The film follows a former academic pursued by hitmen amid the political turmoil of Brazil under military rule in the 1970s.

The Secret Agent prevailed on Feb 15 over contenders including Spain’s rave-themed road trip movie Sirat, with both films competing for Best...