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The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by the
Film Independent The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass ...
, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after
actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...
/
screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...
/ director
John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and direc ...
, a pioneer of American independent film.


History

Created for the 15th Independent Spirit Awards, it was originally called the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (Under $500,000). After that, the rules changed so that any feature film budgeted under $500,000 could be eligible (regardless of how many films the director has made), hence the new name.


Winners


1990s

* 1999: ''
The Blair Witch Project ''The Blair Witch Project'' is a 1999 American supernatural horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It is a fictional story of three student filmmakers—Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Josh ...
'' –
Daniel Myrick Daniel Myrick (born September 3, 1963) is an American film director, most famous for horror films, especially for co-directing and writing the 1999 psychological horror ''The Blair Witch Project'' with Eduardo Sánchez. They won the Independent ...
and Eduardo Sanchez, directors; Gregg Hale and Robin Cowie, producers ** ''La Ciudad ( The City)'' –
David Riker David Riker is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his award-winning film '' The City (La Ciudad),'' a neo-realist film about the plight of Latin American immigrants living in New York City. Riker is also the writer an ...
, director and producer; Paul S. Mezey, producer ** '' Compensation'' –
Zeinabu irene Davis Zeinabu irene Davis (born April 13, 1961) is an American filmmaker and professor in the Department of Communication
, director and producer; Marc Arthur Chery, producer ** '' Judy Berlin'' –
Eric Mendelsohn Eric Mendelsohn (born November 1, 1964) is an American film director and screenwriter. Biography Two of his films have been screened in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes: '' Through an Open Window'' in 1992 and '' Judy Berlin'' in 1999., ...
, director; Rocco Caruso, producer ** ''
Treasure Island ''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...
'' – Scott King, director; Adrienne Gruben, producer


2000s

* 2000: ''
Chuck & Buck ''Chuck & Buck'' is a 2000 American black comedy drama film directed by Miguel Arteta. It was written by and starred Mike White in the leading role. Plot Buck O'Brien is a 27-year-old amateur playwright with the maturity level of an adolescent. W ...
'' –
Miguel Arteta Miguel Arteta (born 1965) is a Puerto Rican director of film and television, known for his independent film ''Chuck & Buck'' (2000), for which he received the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, and for the films '' The Good Girl'' (2002 ...
, director;
Matthew Greenfield Matthew Greenfield is the president of Searchlight Pictures, which has produced five Best Picture winners, including Slumdog Millionaire, Birdman, 12 Years a Slave, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland. Greenfield and fellow Searchlight president ...
; producer; Mike White, screenwriter ** ''Bunny'' – Mia Trachinger, director/screenwriter/producer; Rebecca Sonnenshine, producer ** ''
Everything Put Together ''Everything Put Together'' is a 2000 drama film directed by Marc Forster starring Radha Mitchell, Megan Mullally and Louis Ferreira. The story focuses on a Californian couple expecting a child and their group of friends who are confronted with t ...
'' –
Marc Forster Marc Forster (born 30 November 1969) is a Swiss filmmaker. He is best known for directing the feature films ''Monster's Ball'', '' Finding Neverland'', '' Stranger than Fiction'', ''The Kite Runner'', ''Quantum of Solace'', ''World War Z'', and ' ...
, director/screenwriter; Adam Forgash, screenwriter; Sean Furst and Catherine Lloyd Burns, producers ** ''
Groove Groove or Grooves may refer to: Music * Groove (music) * Groove (drumming) * The Groove (band), an Australian rock/pop band of the 1960s * The Groove (Sirius XM), a US radio station * Groove 101.7FM, a former Perth, Australia, radio station ...
'' – Greg Harrison, director/screenwriter; Danielle Renfrew, producer ** '' Our Song'' –
Jim McKay James Kenneth McManus (September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known professionally as Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist. McKay was best known for hosting ABC's '' Wide World of Sports'' (1961–1998). His introd ...
, director/screenwriter/producer; Paul S. Mezey and Diana E. Williams, producers * 2001: ''
Jackpot Jackpot or Jackpot! may refer to: * A prize, such as a progressive jackpot * Gardena jackpots, a poker variant * Jackpot, Nevada, a community on the Nevada–Idaho state border Comics * Jackpot (comics), several comic book characters * ''Jackp ...
'' –
Michael Polish Mark Polish and Michael Polish (born October 30, 1970), known informally as the Polish brothers, are American twin screenwriters and film producers. Michael usually directs their films, and Mark often has an acting role. Life The Polish brothe ...
, screenwriter/director;
Mark Polish Mark Polish and Michael Polish (born October 30, 1970), known informally as the Polish brothers, are American twin screenwriters and film producers. Michael usually directs their films, and Mark often has an acting role. Life The Polish brothe ...
, screenwriter/producer ** ''
Acts of Worship is a 1965 short story collection by the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. The title story is the tale of a Professor's visit to three Kumano shrines, accompanied by his shy and submissive middle-aged housekeeper, and his reasons for doing so. The ...
'' ** ''
Kaaterskill Falls Kaaterskill Falls is a two-stage waterfall on Spruce Creek in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York, between the hamlets of Haines Falls and Palenville in Greene County. The two cascades total 260 feet (79 m) in height, making Kaaterskil ...
'' ** '' Punks'' ** ''Virgil Bliss'' * 2002: '' Personal Velocity'' –
Rebecca Miller Rebecca Augusta Miller, Lady Day-Lewis (born September 15, 1962) is an American filmmaker and novelist. She is known for her films ''Angela'', '' Personal Velocity: Three Portraits'', '' The Ballad of Jack and Rose'', ''The Private Lives of Pipp ...
, screenwriter/director; Lemore Syvan,
Alexis Alexanian Alexis Alexanian is an American independent film producer. She was the President of New York Women in Film & Television New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is a non-profit membership organization for professional women in film, televis ...
, and
Gary Winick Gary Scott Winick (March 31, 1961February 27, 2011) was an American filmmaker whose films as a director include ''Tadpole'' (2002) and '' 13 Going on 30'' (2004), and who also produced such films as ''Pieces of April'' (2003) and ''November'' ( ...
, producers ** '' Charlotte Sometimes'' ** '' Dahmer'' ** '' ivans xtc.'' ** ''
The Slaughter Rule ''The Slaughter Rule'' is a 2002 independent film directed by Alex Smith and Andrew J. Smith and starring Ryan Gosling and David Morse (actor), David Morse. The film, set in contemporary Montana, explores the relationship between a small-town hig ...
'' * 2003: ''
The Station Agent ''The Station Agent'' is a 2003 American independent psychological comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom McCarthy in his directorial debut. It stars Peter Dinklage as a man who seeks solitude in an abandoned train station in the Newfound ...
'' –
Tom McCarthy Thomas McCarthy (also Tom and Tommy) may refer to: Academia *Thomas A. McCarthy (born 1940), American professor of philosophy *Thomas J. McCarthy (born 1956), American professor of polymer chemistry at the University of Massachusetts *J. Thomas Mc ...
, screenwriter/director; Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, and Kathryn Tucker, producers ** '' Anne B. Real'' ** ''
Better Luck Tomorrow ''Better Luck Tomorrow'' is a 2002 American crime-drama film directed by Justin Lin. The film is about Asian American overachievers who become bored with their lives and enter a world of petty crime and material excess. ''Better Luck Tomorrow'' i ...
'' -
Justin Lin Justin Lin (, born October 11, 1971) is a Taiwanese-American film director. His films have grossed US$2.3 billion worldwide as of March 2017. He is best known for his directorial work on '' Better Luck Tomorrow'' (2002), the '' Fast & Furious'' ...
, screenwriter/director/producer; Julie Asato and Ernesto Foronda, producers ** ''
Pieces of April ''Pieces of April'' is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Hedges. Marking Hedges' directorial debut, the film stars Katie Holmes, Derek Luke, Sean Hayes, Alison Pill, Oliver Platt and Patricia Clarkson. The film ...
'' -
Peter Hedges Peter Simpson Hedges (born July 6, 1962) is an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, film director and film producer. Early life Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was raised, the son of Carole (Simpson), a psychotherapis ...
, screenwriter/director;
Gary Winick Gary Scott Winick (March 31, 1961February 27, 2011) was an American filmmaker whose films as a director include ''Tadpole'' (2002) and '' 13 Going on 30'' (2004), and who also produced such films as ''Pieces of April'' (2003) and ''November'' ( ...
, producer ** ''
Virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
'' * 2004: '' Mean Creek'' –
Jacob Aaron Estes Jacob Aaron Estes (born September 6, 1972) is an American screenwriter and film director known for the award winning film '' Mean Creek'', ''The Details'' and ''Don't Let Go''. Career Estes was a theatre major at the University of California, ...
, screenwriter/director; Hagai Shaham,
Rick Rosenthal Richard L. Rosenthal, Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American film instructor and director, known for directing '' Halloween II'' and '' Halloween: Resurrection''. Early life, family and education Rosenthal was born in New York City, the son o ...
, and Susan Johnson, producers ** '' Down to the Bone'' ** '' On the Outs'' ** ''Robbing Peter'' ** ''Unknown Soldier'' * 2005: '' Conventioneers'' – Mora Stephens, screenwriter/director; Joel Viertel, screenwriter/producer ** ''
Brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
'' -
Rian Johnson Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film ''Brick'' (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitio ...
, director/screenwriter ** ''Jellysmoke'' ** ''
The Puffy Chair ''The Puffy Chair'' is a 2005 mumblecore road film written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass. It stars Mark Duplass, Katie Aselton and Rhett Wilkins. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005, and went on to ...
'' - Mark and
Jay Duplass Lawrence Jay Duplass (born March 7, 1973) is an American filmmaker, actor and author widely known for his films '' The Puffy Chair'' (2005), ''Cyrus'' (2010), and ''Jeff, Who Lives at Home'' (2011), made in collaboration with his younger brother, ...
, director/producer/screenwriters ** ''Room'' * 2006: ''
Quinceañera A (also , , , and ) is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. It has pre-Columbian roots in Mexico (Aztecs) and is widely celebrated by girls throughout Latin America. The girl celebrating her 15th birthday is a (; feminine form of "15- ...
'' -
Richard Glatzer Richard Glatzer (January 28, 1952 – March 10, 2015) was an American writer and director. Early life Glatzer was born in Flushing, Queens. He grew up in Westbury, Long Island, and Livingston, New Jersey, then gained a bachelor's degree at the ...
&
Wash Westmoreland Paul Westmoreland (born 4 March 1966), known professionally as Wash Westmoreland and previously known as Wash West, is a British director who has worked in television, documentaries, and independent films. He frequently collaborated with his hus ...
, directors/screenwriters, Anne Clements, producer ** ''
12 and Holding ''12 and Holding'' is a 2005 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Michael Cuesta and starring Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho, Zoe Weizenbaum, and Jeremy Renner. The film is distributed by IFC Films and was released on May 19, 2006 in limi ...
'' ** ''
Chalk Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. C ...
'' ** ''
Four Eyed Monsters ''Four Eyed Monsters'', an American 2005 film by Susan Buice and Arin Crumley. It roughly follows Buice and Crumley's real life relationship; the couple initially communicated only through artistic means inspired to continue their online digital ...
'' ** '' Old Joy''-
Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt (; born March 3, 1964) is an American film director and screenwriter. She is known for her minimalist films closely associated with slow cinema, many of which deal with working-class characters in small, rural communities. Reich ...
, director/screenwriter * 2007: '' August Evening'' – Chris Eska, screenwriter/director; Connie Hill and Jason Wehling, producers ** ''
Owl and the Sparrow ''Owl and the Sparrow'' (''Cú và chim se sẻ'' in Vietnamese) is a 2007 film by Stephane Gauger that follows the fictional story of three Vietnamese individuals (a runaway child, a zoo keeper and a flight attendant) over a period of five days ...
'' ** '' The Pool'' ** '' Quiet City'' ** '' Shotgun Stories'' * 2008: ''
In Search of a Midnight Kiss ''In Search of a Midnight Kiss'' is a 2007 American independent romantic comedy film written and directed by Alex Holdridge. It was listed on the National Board of Review's Top 10 Independent Films of 2008, won the Independent Spirit John Cassavet ...
'' –
Alex Holdridge Alex Holdridge is an American writer/director currently based in Berlin, Germany. Holdridge began making movies in the early 2000s in Austin, Texas. His first full-length film, ''Wrong Numbers'', was a low-budget comedy about two 18-year-old g ...
, screenwriter/director;
Seth Caplan Seth Caplan is an American film producer who lives in Los Angeles, CA. His works include, ''First Girl I Loved,'' ''In Search of a Midnight Kiss'', '' Flatland: The Movie'', and '' Teenage Dirtbag''. Seth grew up in Chicago, Illinois where he at ...
and
Scoot McNairy John Marcus "Scoot" McNairy (born November 11, 1977) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his roles in '' Monsters'', ''Argo'', ''Killing Them Softly'', ''12 Years a Slave'', '' Gone Girl'', and '' Batman v Superman: Dawn of J ...
, producers ** '' Prince of Broadway'' - Sean Baker - director/screenwriter/producer ** '' The Signal'' ** ''
Take Out A take-out or takeout (U.S., Canada, and the Philippines); carry-out or to-go (Scotland and some dialects in the U.S. and Canada); takeaway (England, Wales, Australia, Lebanon, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and occasionally in Nort ...
'' - Sean Baker, director/screenwriter/producer ** ''
Turn the River ''Turn the River'' is a 2007 drama film written and directed by Chris Eigeman. It stars Famke Janssen, Jaymie Dornan, Rip Torn, Matt Ross, Lois Smith, Marin Hinkle, Terry Kinney, Jordan Bridges, and Ari Graynor. The film debuted at the Hamptons ...
'' * 2009: ''
Humpday ''Humpday'' is a 2009 American mumblecore comedy-drama film directed, produced, and written by Lynn Shelton and starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. International distributio ...
'' –
Lynn Shelton Lynn Shelton (August 27, 1965 – May 16, 2020) was an American filmmaker, known for writing, directing, and producing such films as ''Humpday'' and ''Your Sister's Sister''. She was associated with the mumblecore genre. Early life Shelton was b ...
, screenwriter/director; Steven Schardt and Jennifer Maas, producers ** ''
Big Fan ''Big Fan'' is a 2009 American film written and directed by Robert D. Siegel, and starring Patton Oswalt, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Michael Rapaport, and Scott Ferrall. The story revolves around the bleak yet amiable life of the self-de ...
'' -
Robert D. Siegel Robert D. Siegel is an American screenwriter and film director. He is most known for his work on '' The Wrestler'' and '' The Founder''. ''The Wrestler'' won the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival and earned several Best Picture nom ...
, screenwriter/director ** '' The New Year Parade'' ** '' Treeless Mountain'' ** ''
Zero Bridge The Zero Bridge is an old wooden arch bridge located in the city of Srinagar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It crosses the Jhelum river in a roughly North-South direction connecting Sonwar in the north to Rajbagh in the Sou ...
''


2010s

* 2010: '' Daddy Longlegs'' – Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie, screenwriters/directors;
Casey Neistat Casey Owen Neistat (; born March 25, 1981) is an American YouTube personality, filmmaker, vlogger and co-founder of the multimedia company Beme, which was later acquired by CNN. In 2018, he founded ''368'', a creative space for creators to c ...
and Tom Scott, producers ** ''
The Exploding Girl ''The Exploding Girl'' is a 2009 American independent film written and directed by Bradley Rust Gray, starring Zoe Kazan and Mark Rendall. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2009 and was released theatrically in the United S ...
'' ** '' Lbs.'' ** ''Lovers of Hate'' ** ''
Obselidia ''Obselidia'' is a 2010 American drama film written and directed by Diane Bell, starring Michael Piccirilli, Gaynor Howe and Frank Hoyt Taylor. The film won two awards at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival: the Excellence in Cinematography award a ...
'' * 2011: '' Pariah'' – Dee Rees, screenwriter/director, Nekisa Cooper, producer ** '' Bellflower'' ** '' Circumstance'' ** '' The Dynamiter'' ** '' Hello Lonesome'' * 2012: '' Middle of Nowhere'' –
Ava DuVernay Ava Marie DuVernay (; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee ...
, screenwriter/director, Paul Garnes and Howard Barish, producers ** '' Breakfast with Curtis'' ** '' The Color Wheel'' -
Alex Ross Perry Alex Ross Perry (born July 14, 1984) is an American filmmaker and actor. Early life Perry was born to a Jewish family in 1984 and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he worked on a local television news program during high school.Renninger, ...
, director/screenwriter/producer ** ''
Mosquita y Mari ''Mosquita y Mari'' is a 2012 coming-of-age film written and directed by Aurora Guerrero and starring Fenessa Pineda and Venecia Troncoso. It premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Plot When Yolanda Olveros meets her new neighbor Mari Ro ...
'' ** '' Starlet'' - Sean Baker, director/screenwriter/producer * 2013: '' This Is Martin Bonner'' – Writer/Director: Chad Hartigan, Producer: Cherie Saulter ** ''
Computer Chess Computer chess includes both hardware (dedicated computers) and software capable of playing chess. Computer chess provides opportunities for players to practice even in the absence of human opponents, and also provides opportunities for analysi ...
'' – Writer/Director:
Andrew Bujalski Andrew Bujalski (born April 29, 1977) is an American film director, screenwriter and actor, who has been called the "godfather of mumblecore." Life and career Bujalski, born in Boston in 1977, is the son of artist-turned-businesswoman Sheil ...
, Producers: Houston King and Alex Lipschultz ** ''
Crystal Fairy ''Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus'' (''Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus and 2012'' as presented onscreen) is a 2013 Chilean adventure comedy film written and directed by Sebastián Silva. The film stars Michael Cera and Gaby Hoffmann. At t ...
'' – Writer/Director: Sebastián Silva, Producers: Juan de Dios Larraín and
Pablo Larraín Pablo Larraín Matte (; born 19 August 1976) is a Chilean filmmaker. He has directed nine feature films and co-directed one television series, including the Academy Award-nominated films '' No'' (2012), '' Neruda'' (2016), '' Jackie'' (2016) an ...
** ''
Museum Hours ''Museum Hours'' is a 2012 Austrian-American drama film written and directed by Jem Cohen. The film is set in and around Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum. Plot When a Vienna museum guard befriends an enigmatic visitor, the grand Kunsthistorisch ...
'' – Writer/Director:
Jem Cohen Jem Alan Cohen (born 1962) is an Afghan-born American filmmaker based in New York City. Cohen is especially known for his observational portraits of urban landscapes, blending of media formats ( sixteen-millimetre, Super 8, videotape) and coll ...
, Producers: Paolo Calamita and Gabriele Kranzelbinder ** ''
Pit Stop In motorsports, a pit stop is a pause for refuelling, new tyres, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, as a penalty, or any combination of the above. These stops occur in an area called the pits, most commonly accessed via a pit lan ...
'' – Writer/Director: Yen Tan, Writer: David Lowery, Producers: Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele, and Kelly Williams * 2014: ''
Land Ho! ''Land Ho!'' is a 2014 adventure comedy film, co-written and co-directed by Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz. The film made its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014. It also screened at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, ...
'' – Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz and
Martha Stephens Martha Stephens (born March 12, 1984) is an American film writer and director. Stephens was born in West Virginia and raised in eastern Kentucky. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking, whe ...
, Producers: Christina Jennings,
Mynette Louie Mynette Louie is an American film producer of Chinese descent. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy and Critics Choice Award in 2018 for HBO's ''The Tale'', won the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award for '' Land Ho!'', and won ...
and Sara Murphy ** '' Blue Ruin'' – Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier, Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani ** ''
It Felt Like Love ''It Felt Like Love'' is a 2013 independent drama film, the first feature film directed by Eliza Hittman. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later acquired by Variance Films, receiving a limited theatrical release in March 2014. ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman, Producers: Shrihari Sathe and Laura Wagner ** '' Man from Reno'' – Writer/Director:
Dave Boyle Dave Boyle (born 1982) is an American director, writer, editor, and actor. He has written and directed several movies that utilize primarily Asian or Asian-American casts, including the feature films '' Big Dreams Little Tokyo'' (2006), '' Whit ...
, Writers: Joel Clark and Michael Lerman, Producer: Ko Mori ** ''
Test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
'' – Writer/Director: Chris Mason Johnson, Producer: Chris Martin * 2015: ''
Krisha ''Krisha'' is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Trey Edward Shults in his feature-length directorial debut, starring his real-life aunt Krisha Fairchild, and is the feature-length adaption of the 2014 short film ''Krisha'' also ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer:
Trey Edward Shults Trey Edward Shults (born October 6, 1988) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. He is best known as the director and writer of the drama '' Krisha'' (2015), the psychological horror film ''It Comes at Night'' (2017), and dra ...
; Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, and Wilson Smith ** ''
Advantageous ''Advantageous'' is a 2015 American science fiction drama film starring Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Kim. The film was released exclusively on Netflix on June 23, 2015. Plot Set in the near ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer:
Jennifer Phang Jennifer Phang is an American filmmaker (writer, director, producer), most known for her feature films ''Advantageous'' (2015) and ''Half-Life'' (2008). ''Advantageous'' premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, winning a Special Jury Award fo ...
; Writer/Producer:
Jacqueline Kim Jacqueline Joan Kim is an American writer, actress, filmmaker and composer. She was nominated for a FIND Independent Spirit award for Best Supporting Actress in the film '' Charlotte Sometimes''. Early life Kim was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, t ...
; Producers: Robert Chang,
Ken Jeong Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong (, ; born July 13, 1969) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, producer, writer and licensed physician. He rose to prominence for playing Leslie Chow in ''The Hangover'' film series (2009–2013) and Ben Chang in the ...
, Moon Molson, Theresa Navarro ** ''
Christmas, Again ''Christmas, Again'' is a 2014 drama romance written, directed, and produced by Charles Poekel. The film features Kentucker Audley in the lead role as a Christmas-tree salesman returning to New York City. The film had its premiere at the 2014 L ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Charles Poekel ** ''
Heaven Knows What ''Heaven Knows What'' is a 2014 psychological drama film directed by Ben and Joshua Safdie and written by Ronald Bronstein and Joshua Safdie. The film stars Arielle Holmes, Buddy Duress, Ron Braunstein, Eleonore Hendricks, Caleb Landry Jon ...
'' – Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie; Writers: Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie; Producers: Oscar Boyson and Sebastian Bear McClard ** '' Out of My Hand'' – Writer/Director:
Takeshi Fukunaga Takeshi Fukunaga is a Japanese filmmaker based in New York. His first feature film, '' Out of My Hand'' (2015) premiered in the Panorama section at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival and won the US Fiction Award at the 2015 Los Angeles ...
; Writer/Producer: Donari Braxton; Producer: Mike Fox * 2016: ''
Spa Night ''Spa Night'' is a 2016 American drama film directed by Andrew Ahn and starring Joe Seo. It was shown in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. At Sundance, Joe Seo won the Special Jury Award for Breakthroug ...
'' – Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn; Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas ** '' Free In Deed'' – Writer/Director: Jake Mahaffy; Producers: Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel ** ''
Hunter Gatherer A traditional hunter-gatherer or forager is a human living an ancestrally derived lifestyle (sociology), lifestyle in which most or all food is obtained by foraging, that is, by gathering food from local sources, especially edible wild plants bu ...
'' – Writer/Director: Josh Locy; Producers: Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman ** '' Lovesong'' – Writer/Director: So Yong Kim; Writer/Producer: Bradley Rust Gray; Producers: David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac ** '' Nakom'' – Writer/Director/Producer: T.W. Pittman; Director/Producer: Kelly Daniela Norris; Writer/Producer: Isaac Adakudugu; Producer: Giovanni Ximėnez * 2017: ''
Life and Nothing More ''Life and Nothing More'' is a 2017 Spanish drama film directed by Antonio Méndez Esparza. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It was produced by Aquí y Allí Films (Pedro ...
'' – Writer/Director:
Antonio Méndez Esparza Antonio Méndez Esparza (; born 7 January 1976) is a Spanish filmmaker based in the United States. He teaches at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts. Life and career Méndez Esparza was born in Madrid, where he obtained a ...
; Producers: Amadeo Hernández Bueno, Alvaro Portanet Hernández, Pedro Hernández Santos ** '' Dayveon'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Amman Abbasi; Writer: Steven Reneau; Producers: Lachion Buckingham, Alexander Uhlmann ** ''
A Ghost Story ''A Ghost Story'' is a 2017 American supernatural drama film written and directed by David Lowery and starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, with Will Oldham, Liz Cardenas Franke, Sonia Acevedo, and Rob Zabrecky in supporting roles; Kesha appear ...
'' – Writer/Director: David Lowery; Producers: Adam Donaghey, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston ** ''
Most Beautiful Island ''Most Beautiful Island'' is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Ana Asensio. The film stars Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little, Nicholas Tucci, Larry Fessenden and Caprice Benedetti. The film was released on November 3, 2 ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Ana Asensio; Producers: Larry Fessenden, Noah Greenberg, Chadd Harbold, Jenn Wexler ** '' The Transfiguration'' – Writer/Director: Michael O’Shea; Producer: Susan Leber * 2018: '' En el séptimo día'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Jim McKay; Producers: Alex Bach, Lindsey Cordero, Caroline Kaplan, Michael Stipe ** ''
A Bread Factory ''A Bread Factory'' is a 2018 American two-part indie comedy drama film written and directed by Patrick Wang. It features an ensemble cast and depicts a fictional community arts center in a small upstate New York town that struggles under eco ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Patrick Wang; Producers: Daryl Freimark, Matt Miller ** '' Never Goin' Back'' – Writer/Director: Augustine Frizzell; Producers: Liz Cardenas, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston ** ''Sócrates'' – Writer/Director/Producer: Alex Moratto; Writer: Thayná Mantesso; Producers: Ramin Bahrani, Jefferson Paulino, Tammy Weiss **'' Thunder Road'' – Writer/Director:
Jim Cummings James Jonah Cummings (born November 3, 1952) is an American voice actor. Since beginning his career in the 1980s, he has appeared in almost 400 roles. Cummings has frequently worked with The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros., including as t ...
; Producers: Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Weissner * 2019: ''
Give Me Liberty ''Give Me Liberty'' is an American four-issue comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics in 1990. It was created and written by Frank Miller and drawn by Dave Gibbons. The title of the series comes from a famous quotation by American ...
'' – Writer/Director/Producer:
Kirill Mikhanovsky Kirill Mikhanovsky is a Russian-American director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, best known for directing the critically acclaimed 2019 American comedy drama ''Give Me Liberty''. Biography Mikhanovsky grew up in Moscow. While attending the ...
; Writer/Producer:
Alice Austen Elizabeth Alice Austen (March 17, 1866 – June 9, 1952) was an American photographer working in Staten Island. Biography Alice Austen was born in 1866 to Alice Cornell Austen and Edward Stopford Munn. Austen's father abandoned the family ...
; Producers: Val Abel, Wally Hall, Michael Manasseri, George Rush, Sergey Shtern **''
Burning Cane ''Burning Cane'' is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Phillip Youmans in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Wendell Pierce, Karen Kaia Livers, Dominique McClellan and Braelyn Kelly. Set in rural Louisiana, we follow He ...
'' **'' Colewell'' **''
Premature Premature may refer to: * ''Premature'' (2014 film), an American comedy film * ''Premature'' (2019 film), an American romantic drama film * '' PREMature'', a 2015 British television drama miniseries See also * Premature aging, of an organism * ...
'' **''
Wild Nights with Emily ''Wild Nights with Emily'' is a 2018 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Madeleine Olnek. It stars Molly Shannon as Emily Dickinson, as well as Amy Seimetz, Susan Ziegler, Brett Gelman, Jackie Monahan, Kevin Seal, Dana Melanie, ...
''


2020s

* 2020: ''Residue'' – Writer/Director: Merawi Gerima ** '' The Killing of Two Lovers'' ** '' La Leyenda Negra'' ** ''
Lingua Franca A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, vehicular language, or link language, is a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups ...
'' ** '' Saint Frances'' * 2021: ''
Shiva Baby ''Shiva Baby'' is a 2020 comedy film written and directed by Emma Seligman. The film stars Rachel Sennott as Danielle, a directionless young bisexual Jewish woman who attends a with her parents, Joel (Fred Melamed) and Debbie (Polly Draper). ...
'' - Writer/Director/Producer:
Emma Seligman Emma Seligman (born May 3, 1995) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter, best known for their feature directorial debut ''Shiva Baby'' (2020). Career As a teenager, Emma Seligman contributed film reviews to '' The Huffington Post''. They st ...
; Producers: Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller; Lizzie ShapiroSHIVA BABY wins the JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards on official YouTube channel
/ref> **'' Cryptozoo'' - Writer/Director:
Dash Shaw Dash Shaw is an American comic book writer/artist and animator. He is the author of the graphic novels ''Cosplayers'', ''Doctors'', ''New School'', and ''Bottomless Belly Button'', published by Fantagraphics. Additionally, Shaw has written ''Love ...
** ''
Jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
'' ** ''Sweet Thing'' **'' This Is Not a War Story''


Multiple nominees

* Sean Baker - 3 (no wins) *
Jim McKay James Kenneth McManus (September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known professionally as Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist. McKay was best known for hosting ABC's '' Wide World of Sports'' (1961–1998). His introd ...
- 2 (one win) *
Gary Winick Gary Scott Winick (March 31, 1961February 27, 2011) was an American filmmaker whose films as a director include ''Tadpole'' (2002) and '' 13 Going on 30'' (2004), and who also produced such films as ''Pieces of April'' (2003) and ''November'' ( ...
- 2 (one win) * Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie - 2 (one win)


References


External links


Homepage
{{IS Awards Chron J Awards established in 1999