The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $1 million by the Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after actor/screenwriter/director John Cassavetes, a pioneer of American independent film. The award is given to the directors, writers and producers of a 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. The first recipient of the award was the horror film The Blair Witch Project. In 2023, the rules changed to include any feature film budgeted under $1 million. At the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, it was jokingly referred to as the Gena Rowlands Award (after Cassavetes's wife who has passed away), although it continues to be officially known as the John Cassavetes Award.
Winners and nominees 1990s YearFilmDirector(s)Writer(s)Producer(s)1999 The Blair Witch Project Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie La Ciudad David Riker David Riker, Paul S. Mezey Compensation Zeinabu irene Davis Marc Arthur Chery Marc Arthur Chery, Zeinabu Irene Davis Judy Berlin Eric Mendelsohn Rocco Caruso Treasure Island Scott King Adrienne Gruben
2000s YearFilmDirector(s)Writer(s)Producer(s)2000 Chuck & Buck Miguel Arteta Mike White Matthew Greenfield Bunny Mia Trachinger Rebecca Sonnenshine, Mia Trachinger Everything Put Together Marc Forster Marc Forster, Adam Forgash, Catherine Lloyd Burns Sean Furst Groove Greg Harrison Danielle Renfrew Our Song Jim McKay Jim McKay, Paul S. Mezey, Diana E. Williams2001 Jackpot Michael Polish Michael Polish, Mark Polish Acts of Worship Rosemary Rodriguez Nadia Leonelli, Fredrick Sundwall, Rosemary Rodriguez Kaaterskill Falls Josh Apter, Peter Olsen Punks Patrik-Ian Polk Patrik-Ian Polk, Tracey E. Edmonds, Michael McQuarn Virgil Bliss Joe Maggio Joe Maggio, John Maggio2002 Personal Velocity Rebecca MillerRebecca Miller - Believer Magazine Lemore Syvan, Alexis Alexanian, Gary Winick Charlotte Sometimes Eric Byler Marc Ambrose, Eric Byler Dahmer David Jacobson Larry Rattner ivans xtc. Bernard Rose Lisa Enos, Bernard Rose Lisa Enos The Slaughter Rule Alex Smith, Andrew J. Smith Gregory O'Connor, Michael Robinson2003 The Station Agent Tom McCarthyKathryn Tucker —Disruptor Awards Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, Kathryn Tucker Anne B. Real Lisa France Lisa France, Antonio Macia Luis Moro, Jeanine Rohn, Josselyne Herman Saccio Better Luck Tomorrow Justin Lin Ernesto M. Foronda, Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez Julie Asato, Justin Lin, Ernesto M. Foronda Pieces of April Peter Hedges Alexis Alexanian, John S. Lyons, Gary Winick Virgin Deborah Kampmeier Sarah Schenck2004 Mean Creek Jacob Aaron Estes Hagai Shaham, Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson Down to the Bone Debra Granik Debra Granik, Richard Lieske Susan Leber, Anne Rosellini On the Outs Lori Silverbush, Michael Skolnik Lori Silverbush Lori Silverbush, Michael Skolnik Robbing Peter Mario F. de la Vega T. Todd Flinchum, Lisa Y. Garibay, Mario F. de la Vega Unknown Soldier Ferenc Toth Sean Bachrodt, Seth Eisman, Chachi Senior, Ferenc Totho2005 Conventioneers Mora Stephens Mora Stephens, Joel Viertel Joel Viertel Brick Rian Johnson Ram Bergman, Mark G. Mathis Jellysmoke Mark Banning Mark Banning, Cliff Charles, Mad Matthewz The Puffy Chair Jay Duplass Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass Mark Duplass Room Kyle Henry Allen Bain, Darren Goldberg, Jesse Scolaro 2006 Quinceañera Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland Anne Clements 12 and Holding Michael Cuesta Anthony Cipriano Leslie Urdang, Michael Cuesta, Brian Bell, Jenny Schweitzer Chalk Mike Akel Chris Mass, Maike Akel Mike Akel, Angela Alvarez, Graham Davidson, Chris Mass Four Eyed Monsters Arin Crumley, Susan Buice Old Joy Kelly Reichardt Jonathan Raymond, Kelly Reichardt Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Anish Savjani, Neil Kopp 2007 August Evening Chris Eska Connie Hill, Jason Wehling Owl and the Sparrow Stephane Gauger Nguyen Van Quan, Doan Nhat Nam, Stephane Gauger The Pool Chris Smith Chris Smith, Randy Russell Kate Noble Quiet City Aaron Katz Aaron Katz, Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler Shotgun Stories Jeff Nichols David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Jeff Nichols2008 In Search of a Midnight Kiss Alex Holdridge Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy Prince of Broadway Sean Baker Sean Baker, Darren Dean Darren Dean The Signal David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry Jacob Gentry, Alexander Motlagh Take Out Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou Turn the River Chris Eigeman Ami Armstrong2009 Humpday Lynn Shelton Big Fan Robert D. Siegel Jean Kouremetis, Elan Bogarin The New Year Parade Tom Quinn Steve Beal, Tom Quinn Treeless Mountain So Yong Kim Bradley Rust Gray, Ben Howe, Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, So Yong Kim Zero Bridge Tariq Tapa Hilal Ahmed Langoo, Josée Lajoie, Tariq Tapa
2010s YearFilmDirector(s)Writer(s)Producer(s)2010 Daddy Longlegs Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie Casey Neistat, Tom Scott The Exploding Girl Bradley Rust Gray Karin Chien, Ben Howe, So Yong Kim Lbs. Matthew Bonifacio Matthew Bonifacio, Carmine Famiglietti Lovers of Hate Bryan Poyser Megan Gilbride Obselidia Diane Bell Chris Byrne, Matthew Medlin2011 Pariah Dee Rees Nekisa Cooper Bellflower Evan Glodell Vincent Grashaw, Evan Glodell Circumstance Maryam Keshavarz Karin Chien, Maryam Keshavarz, Melissa Lee The Dynamiter Matthew Gordon Brad Ingelsby Kevin Abrams, Matthew Gordon, Merrilee Holt, Art Jones, Mike Jones, Nate Tuck, Amile Wilson Hello Lonesome Adam Reid2012 Middle of Nowhere Ava DuVernayHoward Barish - Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Public Understanding & Film Independent Paul Garnes, Howard Barish, Ava DuVernay Breakfast with Curtis Laura Colella Mosquita y Mari Aurora Guerrero Chad Burris The Color Wheel Alex Ross Perry Alex Ross Perry, Carlen Altman Alex Ross Perry Starlet Sean Baker Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker Blake Ashman-Kipervaser, Kevin Chinoy, Patrick Cunningham, Chris Maybach, Francesca Silvestri2013 This Is Martin Bonner Chad Hartigan Cherie Saulter Computer Chess Andrew Bujalski Houston King, Alex Lipschultz Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus Sebastián Silva Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín Museum Hours Jem Cohen Paolo Calamita, Gabriele Kranzelbinder Pit Stop Yen Tan Yen Tan, David Lowery Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele, Kelly Williams2014 Land Ho! Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy Blue Ruin Jeremy Saulnier Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani It Felt Like Love Eliza Hittman Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner, Eliza Hittman Man from Reno Dave Boyle Dave Boyle, Joel Clark, Michael Lerman Ko Mori Test Chris Mason Johnson Chris Martin 2015 Krisha Trey Edward Shults Trey Edward Shults, Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, and Wilson Smith Advantageous Jennifer Phang Jennifer Phang, Jacqueline Kim Robert Chang, Ken Jeong, Moon Molson, Theresa Navarro, Jennifer Phang, Jacqueline Kim Christmas, Again Charles Poekel Heaven Knows What Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear McClard Out of My Hand Takeshi Fukunaga Donari Braxton, Takeshi Fukunaga Donari Braxton, Mike Fox 2016 Spa Night Andrew Ahn David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas Free in Deed Jake Mahaffy Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel Hunter Gatherer Josh Locy Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman Lovesong So Yong Kim Bradley Rust Gray, So Yong Kim David Hansen, Bradley Rust Gray, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac Nakom Kelly Daniela Norris, T. W. Pittman Kelly Daniela Norris, Isaac Adakudugu Giovanni Ximėnez, Kelly Daniela Norris, T. W. Pittman, Isaac Adakudugu 2017 Life and Nothing More Antonio Méndez Esparza Amadeo Hernández Bueno, Alvaro Portanet Hernández, Pedro Hernández SantosFSU film professor wins prestigious Independent Spirit Award - Florida State University News Dayveon Amman Abbasi Steven Reneau, Amman Abbasi Lachion Buckingham, Alexander Uhlmann, Amman Abbasi A Ghost Story David Lowery Adam Donaghey, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston Most Beautiful Island Ana Asensio Ana Asensio, Larry Fessenden, Noah Greenberg, Chadd Harbold, Jenn Wexler The Transfiguration Michael O'Shea Susan Leber 2018 En el séptimo díaCongratulations to Director Jim McKay for His Independent Spirit Award|R.E.M.HQ Jim McKay Alex Bach, Jim McKay, Lindsey Cordero, Caroline Kaplan, Michael Stipe A Bread Factory Patrick Wang Daryl Freimark, Patrick Wang, Matt Miller Never Goin' Back Augustine Frizzell Liz Cardenas, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston Sócrates Alexandre Moratto Alexandre Moratto, Thayná Mantesso Ramin Bahrani, Alexandre Moratto, Jefferson Paulino, Tammy Weiss Thunder Road Jim Cummings Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Weissner 2019 Give Me LibertyGIVE ME LIBERTY wins the John Cassavetes Award at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Film Independent on YouTube Kirill Mikhanovsky Alice Austen, Kirill Mikhanovsky Val Abel, Wally Hall, Kirill Mikhanovsky, Alice Austen, Michael Manasseri, George Rush, Sergey Shtern Burning Cane Phillip Youmans Phillip Youmans, Ojo Akinlana, Jakob Johnson, Karen Kaia Livers, Mose Mayer, Wendell Pierce, Isaac Webb, Cassandra Youmans Colewell Tom Quinn Tom Quinn, Joshua Blum, Alexandra Byer, Craig Shilowich, Matthew Thurm Premature Rashaad Ernesto Green Rashaad Ernesto Green, Zora Howard Darren Dean, Joy Ganes, Rashaad Ernesto Green Wild Nights with Emily Madeleine Olnek Madeleine Olnek, Anna Margarita Albelo, Casper Andreas, Max Rifkind-Barron
2020s