Independent Spirit Award for Best Film

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Independent Spirit Award for Best Film
Awarded forBest Independent Film
CountryUnited States
Presented byFilm Independent
First award1985
Currently held byAnora (2024)
Websitefilmindependent.org

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film (or Best Feature) is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards, presented to recognize the best in independent filmmaking, it was first awarded in 1985 with Martin Scorsese's film After Hours being the first recipient of the award.

Criteria

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In order to be considered as an independent film and therefore being eligible to this category, nomination committees base their decision on four criteria, "uniqueness of vision, original, provocative subject matter, percentage of financing from independent sources and economy of means"; the latter refers to a budget ceiling of $22.5 million.[1] In 2022, Film Independent increased the budget cap for eligible films to $30 million to account for the rising cost of production.[2]

In the following lists, the first titles listed are winners. These are also in bold and in blue background; those not in bold are nominees.

Winners and nominees

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1980s

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Year Winner Director(s) Distributing company(s)
1985
[3] 		After Hours Martin Scorsese The Geffen Film Company/Warner Bros.
Blood Simple Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Circle Films
Smooth Talk Joyce Chopra Goldcrest Films
The Trip to Bountiful Peter Masterson Island Pictures
1986 Platoon Oliver Stone Orion Pictures
Blue Velvet David Lynch De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Down by Law Jim Jarmusch Island Pictures
On Valentine's Day Ken Harrison Angelika Films
Salvador Oliver Stone Hemdale Film Corporation
Stand by Me Rob Reiner Columbia Pictures
1987 River's Edge Tim Hunter Island Pictures
The Big Easy Jim McBride Columbia Pictures
The Dead John Huston Vestron Pictures
Matewan John Sayles Cinecom Pictures
Swimming to Cambodia Jonathan Demme Cinecom Pictures
Tough Guys Don't Dance Norman Mailer The Cannon Group, Inc.
1988 Stand and Deliver Ramon Menendez American Playhouse/Warner Bros.
Hairspray John Waters New Line Cinema
Patti Rocks David Burton Morris FilmDallas Pictures
The Thin Blue Line Errol Morris Miramax Films
Torch Song Trilogy Paul Bogart New Line Cinema
1989 Sex, Lies, and Videotape Steven Soderbergh Miramax Films
Drugstore Cowboy Gus Van Sant International Video Entertainment
Heat and Sunlight Rob Nilsson Silverlight Pictures
Mystery Train Jim Jarmusch Orion Classics
True Love Nancy Savoca United Artists

1990s

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Year Winner Director(s) Distributing company(s)
1990 The Grifters Stephen Frears Miramax Films
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer John McNaughton Greycat Films
The Plot Against Harry Michael Roemer New Yorker Films
Pump Up the Volume Allan Moyle New Line Cinema
To Sleep with Anger Charles Burnett The Samuel Goldwyn Company
1991 Rambling Rose Martha Coolidge New Line/Seven Arts
City of Hope John Sayles The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Hangin' with the Homeboys Joseph Vasquez New Line Cinema
Homicide David Mamet Triumph Films
My Own Private Idaho Gus Van Sant Fine Line Features
1992 The Player Robert Altman Fine Line Features
Bad Lieutenant Abel Ferrara Aries Films
Gas Food Lodging Allison Anders Cineville
Mississippi Masala Mira Nair The Samuel Goldwyn Company
One False Move Carl Franklin I.R.S. Releasing
1993 Short Cuts Robert Altman Fine Line Features
Equinox Alan Rudolph IRS Media
Much Ado About Nothing Kenneth Branagh The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Ruby in Paradise Victor Nuñez October Films
The Wedding Banquet Ang Lee The Samuel Goldwyn Company
1994 Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino Miramax Films
Bullets over Broadway Woody Allen Miramax Films
Eat Drink Man Woman Ang Lee The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Alan Rudolph Fine Line Features
Wes Craven's New Nightmare Wes Craven New Line Cinema
1995 Leaving Las Vegas Mike Figgis United Artists
The Addiction Abel Ferrara October Films
Living in Oblivion Tom DiCillo Sony Pictures Classics
Safe Todd Haynes Sony Pictures Classics
The Secret of Roan Inish John Sayles Sony Pictures Classics
1996 Fargo Joel Coen Gramercy Pictures
Dead Man Jim Jarmusch Miramax Films
The Funeral Abel Ferrara October Films
Lone Star John Sayles Sony Pictures Classics
Welcome to the Dollhouse Todd Solondz Sony Pictures Classics
1997 The Apostle Robert Duvall October Films
Chasing Amy Kevin Smith Miramax Films
Loved Erin Dignam MDP Worldwide
Ulee's Gold Victor Nuñez Orion Pictures
Waiting for Guffman Christopher Guest Sony Pictures Classics
1998 Gods and Monsters Bill Condon Lionsgate Films
Affliction Paul Schrader Lionsgate Films
Claire Dolan Lodge Kerrigan New Yorker Films
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries James Ivory October Films
Velvet Goldmine Todd Haynes Miramax Films
1999
[4][5] 		Election Alexander Payne Paramount Pictures/MTV Films
Cookie's Fortune Robert Altman October Films
The Limey Steven Soderbergh Artisan Entertainment
The Straight Story David Lynch Walt Disney Pictures
Sugar Town Allison Anders and Kurt Voss October Films/USA Films

2000s

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Year Winner Director(s) Distributing company(s)
2000
[6] 		Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ang Lee Sony Pictures Classics
Before Night Falls Julian Schnabel Fine Line Features
George Washington David Gordon Green ContentFilm International
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Jim Jarmusch Artisan Entertainment
Requiem for a Dream Darren Aronofsky
2001
[7] 		Memento Christopher Nolan Newmarket Films
Hedwig and the Angry Inch John Cameron Mitchell Fine Line Features
L.I.E. Michael Cuesta New Yorker Films
Things Behind the Sun Allison Anders Showtime Networks
Waking Life Richard Linklater Fox Searchlight
2002
[8] 		Far from Heaven Todd Haynes Focus Features
The Good Girl Miguel Arteta Fox Searchlight
Lovely & Amazing Nicole Holofcener Lionsgate Films
Secretary Steven Shainberg
Tully Hilary Birmingham Small Planet Pictures
2003
[9] 		Lost in Translation Sofia Coppola Focus Features
American Splendor Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini Fine Line Features/HBO Films
In America Jim Sheridan Fox Searchlight
Raising Victor Vargas Peter Sollett Samuel Goldwyn Films
Shattered Glass Billy Ray Lions Gate Films
2004
[10] 		Sideways Alexander Payne Fox Searchlight
Baadasssss! Mario Van Peebles Sony Pictures Classics
Kinsey Bill Condon Fox Searchlight
Maria Full of Grace Joshua Marston Fine Line Features
Primer Shane Carruth THINKFilm
2005
[11] 		Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee Focus Features
Capote Bennett Miller Sony Pictures Classics
Good Night, and Good Luck George Clooney Warner Independent Pictures
The Squid and the Whale Noah Baumbach Samuel Goldwyn Films
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Tommy Lee Jones Sony Pictures Classics
2006
[12] 		Little Miss Sunshine Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Fox Searchlight
American Gun Aric Avelino IFC Films
The Dead Girl Karen Moncrieff First Look International
Half Nelson Ryan Fleck THINKFilm
Pan's Labyrinth Guillermo del Toro Picturehouse
2007
[13] 		Juno Jason Reitman Fox Searchlight
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Julian Schnabel Miramax Films
I'm Not There Todd Haynes The Weinstein Company
A Mighty Heart Michael Winterbottom Paramount Vantage
Paranoid Park Gus Van Sant IFC Films
2008
[14] 		The Wrestler Darren Aronofsky Fox Searchlight
Ballast Lance Hammer Alluvial Film Company
Frozen River Courtney Hunt Sony Pictures Classics
Rachel Getting Married Jonathan Demme
Wendy and Lucy Kelly Reichardt Oscilloscope Pictures
2009
[15] 		Precious Lee Daniels Lionsgate
(500) Days of Summer Marc Webb Fox Searchlight
Amreeka Cherien Dabis National Geographic Entertainment
The Last Station Michael Hoffman Sony Pictures Classics
Sin Nombre Cary Fukunaga Focus Features

2010s

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Year Winner Director(s) Distributing company(s)
2010
[16] 		Black Swan Darren Aronofsky Fox Searchlight
127 Hours Danny Boyle Fox Searchlight
Greenberg Noah Baumbach Focus Features
The Kids Are All Right Lisa Cholodenko
Winter's Bone Debra Granik Roadside Attractions
2011
[17] 		The Artist Michel Hazanavicius The Weinstein Company
50/50 Jonathan Levine Summit Entertainment
Beginners Mike Mills Focus Features
The Descendants Alexander Payne Fox Searchlight
Drive Nicolas Winding Refn FilmDistrict
Take Shelter Jeff Nichols Sony Pictures Classics
2012
[18] 		Silver Linings Playbook David O. Russell The Weinstein Company
Beasts of the Southern Wild Benh Zeitlin Fox Searchlight
Bernie Richard Linklater Millennium Entertainment
Keep the Lights On Ira Sachs Music Box Films
Moonrise Kingdom Wes Anderson Focus Features
2013
[19] 		12 Years a Slave Steve McQueen Fox Searchlight
All Is Lost J. C. Chandor Lionsgate
Frances Ha Noah Baumbach IFC Films
Inside Llewyn Davis Joel Coen and Ethan Coen CBS Films
Nebraska Alexander Payne Paramount Vantage
2014
[20] 		Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Alejandro G. Iñárritu Fox Searchlight
Boyhood Richard Linklater IFC Films
Love Is Strange Ira Sachs Sony Pictures Classics
Selma Ava DuVernay Paramount Pictures
Whiplash Damien Chazelle Sony Pictures Classics
2015
[21] 		Spotlight Tom McCarthy Open Road Films
Anomalisa Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson Paramount Pictures
Beasts of No Nation Cary Joji Fukunaga Bleecker Street/Netflix
Carol Todd Haynes The Weinstein Company
Tangerine Sean Baker Magnolia Pictures
2016
[22] 		Moonlight Barry Jenkins A24
American Honey Andrea Arnold A24
Chronic Michel Franco Monument Releasing
Jackie Pablo Larraín Fox Searchlight
Manchester by the Sea Kenneth Lonergan Amazon Studios/Roadside Attractions
2017
[23] 		Get Out Jordan Peele Universal Pictures/Blumhouse Productions
Call Me by Your Name Luca Guadagnino Sony Pictures Classics
The Florida Project Sean Baker A24
Lady Bird Greta Gerwig
The Rider Chloé Zhao Sony Pictures Classics
2018
[24] 		If Beale Street Could Talk Barry Jenkins Annapurna Pictures
Eighth Grade Bo Burnham A24
First Reformed Paul Schrader
Leave No Trace Debra Granik Bleecker Street
You Were Never Really Here Lynne Ramsay Amazon Studios
2019
[25] 		The Farewell Lulu Wang A24
A Hidden Life Terrence Malick Fox Searchlight
Clemency Chinonye Chukwu Neon
Marriage Story Noah Baumbach Netflix
Uncut Gems Benny Safdie and Joshua Safdie A24

2020s

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Year Winner Director(s) Distributing company(s)
2020
[26][27] 		Nomadland Chloé Zhao Searchlight Pictures
First Cow Kelly Reichardt A24
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom George C. Wolfe Netflix
Minari Lee Isaac Chung A24
Never Rarely Sometimes Always Eliza Hittman Focus Features
2021
[28] 		The Lost Daughter Maggie Gyllenhaal Netflix
A Chiara Jonas Carpignano Neon
C’mon C’mon Mike Mills A24
The Novice Lauren Hadaway IFC Films
Zola Janicza Bravo A24
2022
[29] 		Everything Everywhere All at Once Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert A24
Bones and All Luca Guadagnino MGM/United Artists Releasing
Our Father, the Devil Ellie Foumbi Resolve Media
Tár Todd Field Focus Features
Women Talking Sarah Polley MGM/United Artists Releasing
2023
[30] 		Past Lives Celine Song A24
All of Us Strangers Andrew Haigh Searchlight Pictures
American Fiction Cord Jefferson Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
May December Todd Haynes Netflix
Passages Ira Sachs Mubi
We Grown Now Minhal Baig Sony Pictures Classics
2024
[31][32] 		Anora Sean Baker Neon
I Saw the TV Glow Jane Schoenbrun A24
Nickel Boys RaMell Ross Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
Sing Sing Greg Kwedar A24
The Substance Coralie Fargeat Mubi
2025
[33] 		Peter Hujar's Day Ira Sachs Janus Films/Sideshow
The Plague Charlie Polinger Independent Film Company
Sorry, Baby Eva Victor A24
Train Dreams Clint Bentley Netflix
Twinless James Sweeney Lionsgate Films/Roadside Attractions

Distributors with most wins and nominations (2 or more)

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  • Columbia/Sony Pictures Classics - 20 (one win)
  • Fox Searchlight/Searchlight Pictures - 17 (eight wins)
  • A24 - 15 (four wins)
  • Universal/Focus Features - 13 (four wins)
  • Miramax - 9 (three wins)
  • Samuel Goldwyn - 8 (no wins)
  • Lionsgate - 8 (two wins)
  • Fine Line Features - 7 (two wins)
  • October Films - 7 (one win)
  • IFC Films - 6 (no wins)
  • MGM/United Artists/Amazon - 6 (one win)
  • New Line Cinema - 6 (one win)
  • Netflix - 6 (one win)
  • Paramount/Paramount Vantage - 5 (one win)
  • The Weinstein Company - 4 (two wins)
  • Orion Pictures - 4 (one win)
  • Warner Bros/Warner Independent Films - 3 (two wins)
  • Island Pictures - 3 (one win)
  • Neon - 3 (one win)
  • Artisan Entertainment - 3 (no wins)
  • New Yorker Films - 3 (no wins)
  • Bleecker Street - 2 (no wins)
  • Mubi - 2 (no wins)

References

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  3. ^ Film Independent Spirit Awards - 34 Years of Nominees and Winners
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  33. ^ Spirit Awards 2026 Nominations: Full List – Variety
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