Independent Spirit Awards
Dedicated to recognizing independent films and filmmakers, the Independent Spirit Awards have been held since 1986. Independent Spirit Award winners make up a who’s who of the industry, including many who’ve went on to achieve mainstream success. Presented by the non-profit organization known as Film Independent, the event was originally held under a tent on the beach of Santa Monica, California. In recent years, however, it’s been moved to downtown Los Angeles. Broadcast on the Independent Film Channel since 1994, Independent Spirit Award winners are presented with a trophy depicting a bird sitting atop a pole. Wrapped around the pole is a shoestring, representative of the shoestring budget available to most indie films.
The following is a complete list of the Independent Spirit Award winners since the inaugural 1986 ceremony. Be sure to check back annually, as we’ll update the information following each telecast.
Independent Spirit Award for Best Film
Awarded annually since the first ceremony in 1986, this honor marks the highest achievement available to an independent film.
- 1986: After Hours
- 1987: Platoon
- 1988: River's Edge
- 1989: Stand and Deliver
- 1990: sex, lies, and videotape
- 1991: The Grifters
- 1992: Rambling Rose
- 1993: The Player
- 1994: Short Cuts
- 1995: Pulp Fiction
- 1996: Leaving Las Vegas
- 1997: Fargo
- 1998: The Apostle
- 1999: Gods and Monsters
- 2000: Election
- 2001: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- 2002: Memento
- 2003: Far From Heaven
- 2004: Lost in Translation
- 2005: Sideways
- 2006: Brokeback Mountain
- 2007: Little Miss Sunshine
- 2008: Juno
- 2009: The Wrestler
- 2010: Precious
Independent Spirit Award for Best Director
Independent Spirit Award winners in this category are honored for their directorial abilities.
- 1986: Martin Scorsese - After Hours
- 1987: Oliver Stone - Platoon
- 1988: John Huston - The Dead
- 1989: Ramon Menendez - Stand and Deliver
- 1990: Steven Soderbergh - Sex, Lies, and Videotape
- 1991: Charles Burnett – To Sleep with Anger
- 1992: Martha Coolidge - Rambling Rose
- 1993: Carl Franklin - One False Move
- 1994: Robert Altman - Short Cuts
- 1995: Quentin Tarantino - Pulp Fiction
- 1996: Mike Figgis - Leaving Las Vegas
- 1997: Joel Coen - Fargo
- 1998: Robert Duvall - The Apostle
- 1999: Wes Anderson - Rushmore
- 2000: Alexander Payne - Election
- 2001: Ang Lee – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- 2002: Christopher Nolan – Memento
- 2003: Todd Haynes – Far from Heaven
- 2004: Sofia Coppola – Lost in Translation
- 2005: Alexander Payne – Sideways
- 2006: Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain
- 2007: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris – Little Miss Sunshine
- 2008: Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
- 2009: Thomas McCarthy – The Visitor
- 2010: Lee Daniels – Precious
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature
Awarded annually at the Independent Spirit Awards to movies directed by first-time filmmakers.
- 1987: She's Gotta Have It
- 1988: Dirty Dancing
- 1989: Mystic Pizza
- 1990: Heathers
- 1991: Metropolitan
- 1992: Straight Out of Brooklyn
- 1993: The Waterdance
- 1994: El Mariachi
- 1995: Spanking the Monkey
- 1996: The Brothers McMullen
- 1997: Sling Blade
- 1998: Eve's Bayou
- 1999: The Opposite of Sex
- 2000: Being John Malkovich
- 2001: You Can Count on Me
- 2002: In the Bedroom
- 2003: The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
- 2004: Monster
- 2005: Garden State
- 2006: Crash
- 2007: Sweet Land
- 2008: The Lookout
- 2009: Synecdoche, New York
- 2010: Crazy Heart
Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
The award recognizing the best performance by an actor in a leading role goes all the way back to the first ceremony in 1986.
- 1986: M. Emmet Walsh – Blood Simple
- 1987: James Woods – Salvador
- 1988: Dennis Quaid – The Big Easy
- 1989: Edward James Olmos – Stand and Deliver
- 1990: Matt Dillon – Drugstore Cowboy
- 1991: Danny Glover – To Sleep with Anger
- 1992: River Phoenix – My Own Private Idaho
- 1993: Harvey Keitel – Bad Lieutenant
- 1994: Jeff Bridges – American Heart
- 1995: Samuel L. Jackson – Pulp Fiction
- 1996: Sean Penn – Dead Man Walking
- 1997: William H. Macy – Fargo
- 1998: Robert Duvall – The Apostle
- 1999: Ian McKellen – Gods and Monsters
- 2000: Richard Farnsworth – The Straight Story
- 2001: Javier Bardem – Before Night Falls
- 2002: Tom Wilkinson – In the Bedroom
- 2003: Derek Luke – Antwone Fisher
- 2004: Bill Murray – Lost in Translation
- 2005: Paul Giamatti – Sideways
- 2006: Philip Seymour Hoffman – Capote
- 2007: Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
- 2008: Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages
- 2009: Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
- 2010: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
Independent Spirit Award winners in this category are comprised of actresses in a leading role.
- 1986: Geraldine Page – The Trip to Bountiful
- 1987: Isabella Rossellini – Blue Velvet
- 1988: Sally Kirkland – Anna
- 1989: Jodie Foster – Five corners
- 1990: Andie MacDowell - Sex, Lies, and Videotape
- 1991: Anjelica Huston - The Grifters
- 1992: Judy Davis - Impromptu
- 1993: Fairuza Balk - Gas, Food, Lodging
- 1994: Ashley Judd - Ruby in Paradise
- 1995: Linda Fiorentino - The Last Seduction
- 1996: Elisabeth Shue - Leaving Las Vegas
- 1997: Frances McDormand - Fargo
- 1998: Julie Christie - Afterglow
- 1999: Ally Sheedy - High Art
- 2000: Hilary Swank - Boys Don’t Cry
- 2001: Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream
- 2002: Sissy Spacek - In the Bedroom
- 2003: Julianne Moore – Far From Heaven
- 2004: Charlize Theron – Monster
- 2005: Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace
- 2006: Felicity Huffman – Transamerica
- 2007: Shareeka Epps – Half Nelson
- 2008: Ellen Page – Juno
- 2009: Melissa Leo – Frozen River
- 2010: Gabourey Sidibe – Precious
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor
Recognizing actors in a supporting role, this honor was first bestowed at the Independent Spirit Awards in 1988. In 1996 and 1997, Benicio del Toro has back-to-back wins.
- 1988: Morgan Freeman - Street Smart
- 1989: Lou Diamond Phillips - Stand and Deliver
- 1990: Max Perlich - Drugstore Cowboy
- 1991: Bruce Davison - Longtime Companion
- 1992: David Strathairn - City of Hope
- 1993: Steve Buscemi - Reservoir Dogs
- 1994: Christopher Lloyd - Twenty Bucks
- 1995: Chazz Palminteri - Bullets Over Broadway
- 1996: Benicio del Toro - The Usual Suspects
- 1997: Benicio del Toro - Basquiat
- 1998: Jason Lee - Chasing Amy
- 1999: Bill Murray - Rushmore
- 2000: Steve Zahn - Happy, Texas
- 2001: Willem Dafoe - Shadow of the Vampire
- 2002: Steve Buscemi - Ghost World
- 2003: Dennis Quaid - Far from Heaven
- 2004: Djimon Hounsou - In America
- 2005: Thomas Haden Church - Sideways
- 2006: Matt Dillon - Crash
- 2007: Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
- 2008: Chiwetel Ejiofor - Talk To Me
- 2009: James Franco - Milk
- 2010: Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress
Recognizing actresses in a supporting role, this award has been presented annually since 1988.
- 1988: Anjelica Huston - The Dead
- 1989: Rosanna DeSoto - Stand and Deliver
- 1990: Laura San Giacomo - Sex, Lies, and Videotape
- 1991: Sheryl Lee Ralph - To Sleep with Anger
- 1992: Diane Ladd - Rambling Rose
- 1993: Alfre Woodard - Passion Fish
- 1994: Lili Taylor - Household Saints
- 1995: Dianne Wiest - Bullets Over Broadway
- 1996: Mare Winningham - Georgia
- 1997: Elizabeth Peña - Lone Star
- 1998: Debbi Morgan - Eve's Bayou
- 1999: Lynn Redgrave - Gods and Monsters
- 2000: Chloë Sevigny - Boys Don't Cry
- 2001: Zhang Ziyi - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- 2002: Carrie-Anne Moss - Memento
- 2003: Emily Mortimer - Lovely & Amazing
- 2004: Shohreh Aghdashloo - House of Sand and Fog
- 2005: Virginia Madsen - Sideways
- 2006: Amy Adams - Junebug
- 2007: Frances McDormand - Friends With Money
- 2008: Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
- 2009: Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
- 2010: Mo'Nique - Precious
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay
Independent Spirit Award winners in this category are recognized for their first script being brought to the big screen.
- 1995: David O. Russell for Spanking the Monkey
- 1996: Paul Auster for Smoke
- 1997: Joseph Tropiano and Stanley Tucci for Big Night
- 1998: Neil LaBute for In the Company of Men
- 1999: Darren Aronofsky for Pi
- 2000: Charlie Kaufman for Being John Malkovich
- 2001: Gina Prince-Bythewood for Love & Basketball
- 2002: Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff for Ghost World
- 2003: Erin Cressida Wilson for Secretary
- 2004: Thomas McCarthy for The Station Agent
- 2005: Joshua Marston for Maria Full of Grace
- 2006: Duncan Tucker for Transamerica
- 2007: Michael Arndt for Little Miss Sunshine
- 2008: Diablo Cody for Juno
- 2009: Dustin Lance Black for Milk
- 2010: Geoffrey Fletcher for Precious
Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay
This Independent Spirit Award is given to the year’s best screenwriter. Multiple winners include Neal Jimenez, Gus Van Sant, and the team of Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor.
- 1986: The Trip to Bountiful - Horton Foote
- 1987: Platoon - Oliver Stone
- 1988: River’s Edge - Neal Jimenez
- 1989: Stand and Deliver - Ramon Menendez, Tom Musca
- 1990: Drugstore Cowboy - Gus Van Sant, Daniel Yost
- 1991: To Sleep with Anger - Charles Burnett
- 1992: My Own Private Idaho - Gus Van Sant
- 1993: The Waterdance - Neal Jimenez
- 1994: Short Cuts - Robert Altman, Frank Barhydt
- 1995: Pulp Fiction - Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
- 1996: The Usual Suspects - Christopher McQuarrie
- 1997: Fargo - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- 1998: Chasing Amy - Kevin Smith
- 1999: The Opposite of Sex - Don Roos
- 2000: Election - Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
- 2001: You Can Count on Me - Kenneth Lonergan
- 2002: Memento - Christopher Nolan
- 2003: The Good Girl - Mike White
- 2004: Lost in Translation - Sofia Coppola
- 2005: Sideways - Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
- 2006: Capote - Dan Futterman
- 2007: Thank You for Smoking - Jason Reitman
- 2008: The Savages - Tamara Jenkins
- 2009: Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Woody Allen
- 2010: (500) Days of Summer - Scott Neustadler and Michael H. Weber
Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film
Independent Spirit Award winners in this category consist of those whose film was made outside of the United States.
- 1988: Mitt liv som hund - Sweden
- 1989: Der Himmel uber Berlin - West Germany
- 1990: My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown - Ireland/UK
- 1991: Sweetie - Australia
- 1992: An Angel at My Table - New Zealand
- 1993: The Crying Game - UK
- 1994: The Piano - Australia/New Zealand
- 1995: Trois couleurs: Rouge - France/Switzerland/Poland
- 1996: Before the Rain - Macedonia
- 1997: Secrets & Lies - UK
- 1998: The Sweet Hereafter - Canada
- 1999: Festen - Denmark
- 2000: Lola rennt - Germany
- 2001: Dancer in the Dark - Denmark
- 2002: Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie) - France
- 2003: Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too) - Mexico
- 2004: Whale Rider - New Zealand
- 2005: Mar adentro (The Sea Inside) - Spain
- 2006: Paradise Now - Palestine/Netherlands/Germany/France
- 2007: Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) - Germany
- 2008: Once - Ireland
- 2009: Entre les murs (The Class) - France
- 2010: An Education - France/UK
Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
Recognizing accomplishments in documentary filmmaking, this award is presented each year at the Independent Spirit Awards.
- 2001: Dark Days
- 2002: Dogtown and Z-Boys
- 2003: Bowling for Columbine
- 2004: The Fog of War
- 2005: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
- 2006: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
- 2007: The Road to Guantanamo
- 2008: Crazy Love
- 2009: Man On Wire
- 2010: Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
Presented annually at the Independent Spirit Awards, this honor recognizes superior work in the field of cinematography.
- 1986: Toyomichi Kurita - Trouble in Mind
- 1987: Bob Richardson - Platoon
- 1988: Haskell Wexler - Matewan
- 1989: Sven Nykvist - The Unbearable Lightness of Being
- 1990: Robert Yeoman - Drugstore Cowboy
- 1991: Frederick Elmes - Wild at Heart
- 1992: Walt Lloyd - Kafka
- 1993: Frederick Elmes - Night on Earth
- 1994: Lisa Rinzler - Menace II Society
- 1995: John Thomas - Barcelona
- 1996: Declan Quinn - Leaving Las Vegas
- 1997: Roger Deakins - Fargo
- 1998: Declan Quinn - Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love
- 1999: Maryse Alberti - Velvet Goldmine
- 2000: Lisa Rinzler - Three Seasons
- 2001: Matthew Libatique - Requiem for a Dream
- 2002: Peter Deming - Mulholland Drive
- 2003: Edward Lachman - Far From Heaven
- 2004: Declan Quinn - In America
- 2005: Eric Gautier - The Motorcycle Diaries
- 2006: Robert Elswit - Good Night, and Good Luck
- 2007: Guillermo Navarro - Pan's Labyrinth
- 2008: Janusz Kaminski - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
- 2009: Maryse Alberti - The Wrestler
- 2010: Roger Deakins - A Serious Man
Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award
Named for the legendary independent filmmaker, the John Cassavetes Award is presented annually to the creative team of a film with less than a $500,000 budget.
- 2000: The Blair Witch Project
- 2001: Chuck & Buck
- 2002: Jackpot
- 2003: Personal Velocity
- 2004: The Station Agent
- 2005: Mean Creek
- 2006: Conventioneers
- 2007: Quinceanera
- 2008: August Evening
- 2009: In Search of a Midnight Kiss
- 2010: Humpday
Independent Spirit Someone to Watch Award
Started in 1995, this award is meant to honor filmmakers who’ve yet to receive the attention they deserve. An unrestricted grant is also presented to the winner.
- 1995: Clean, Shaven - Lodge Kerrigan
- 1996: Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day - Christopher Munch
- 1997: Habit - Larry Fessenden
- 1998: The Headhunter’s Sister - Scott Saunders
- 1999: Thirteen - David D. Williams
- 2000: Drylongso - Cauleen Smith
- 2001: Everything Put Together - Marc Forster
- 2002: Daydream Believer - Debra Eisenstadt
- 2003: Paradox Lake - Przemyslaw Reut
- 2004: Funny Ha Ha - Andrew Bujalski
- 2005: Chain - Jem Cohen
- 2006: Cavite - Ian Gamazon, Neill Dela Llana
- 2007: Day Night Day Night - Julia Loktev
- 2008: Chop Top - Ramin Bahrani
- 2009: My Effortless Brilliance - Lynn Shelton
- 2010: Easier with Practice - Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Independent Spirit Producers Award
Since 1998, this award has been given to those individuals who’ve shown the ability to produce quality films on a limited budget. Since 2000, an unrestricted grant also accompanies the award.
- 1998: Habit - Scott Macauley
- 1999: Susan A. Stover
- 2000: I’m Losing You - Pamela Koffler
- 2001: The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack - Paul S. Mezey
- 2002: Martin & Orloff - Rene Bastian, Linda Moran
- 2003: Real Women Have Curves - Effie Brown
- 2004: The Jimmy Show - Mary Jane Skalski
- 2005: The Good Girl - Gina Kwon
- 2006: Capote - Caroline Baron
- 2007: Shortbus - Howard Gertler, Tim Perell
- 2008: Paranoid Park - Neil Kopp
- 2009: Frozen River - Heather Rae
- 2010: Santa Mesa - Karin Chien
Independent Spirit Truer Than Fiction Award
Started in 1997, the Truer Than Fiction Award is presented annually to the director of a nonfiction feature film. Beginning in 2000, the recipient also receives an unrestricted grant.
- 1997: When We Were Kings
- 1998: Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control
- 1999: Regret to Inform
- 2000: Night Waltz: The Music of Paul Bowles
- 2001: Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale
- 2002: Hybrid
- 2003: Love and Diane
- 2004: Lost Boys of Sudan
- 2005: Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids
- 2006: Occupation: Dreamland
- 2007: P.O.V.: The Tailenders (#19.4)
- 2008: The Unforeseen
- 2009: The Order of Myths
- 2010: 45365
Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award
The Robert Altman Award is presented annually to a single film’s ensemble cast, director, and casting director. Named in honor of the legendary director known for working with ensemble casts.
- 2008: I’m Not There
- 2009: Synecdoche, New York
- 2010: A Serious Man