During his acceptance speech for best screenplay at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards, A Real Pain writer and director Jesse Eisenberg called Emma Stone, a producer on the film, his “fairy godmother.”
“I met Emma when we were in Zombieland together 2009 and since then — I write little magazine articles and little things on McSweeney’s, and she’s the only person, I’m including my mom here, who would take little screenshots of it over the last 15 years and send me things like, ‘This is such a funny line!’” Eisenberg said onstage, while Stone was in the audience. “She was, definitely still [is], the most famous person I know, and yet also the most dedicated to encouraging me as a writer. I think about her not as my producer, but like a fairy godmother, that I am riding the coattails of her goodwill. … Thanks, Emma.”
Stone produced the film alongside Eisenberg, Jennifer Semler, Ali Herting, Dave McCary and Ewa Puszczynska.
A Real Pain was also nominated in the best supporting actor category for Kieran Culkin, who plays Eisenberg’s cousin in the film. The film was nominated in the best screenplay category alongside Heretic, My Old Ass, A Different Man and I Saw the TV Glow. Eisenberg is also nominated for best original screenplay at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards.
Stone was nominated for other awards at the Spirit Awards as well: She served as a producer on I Saw the TV Glow, nominated in the best feature category, and best new scripted series Fantasmas and best first feature Problemista.
The awards are being handed out Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica. See the red carpet arrivals and the list of winners.