The
Independent Spirit Awards (originally known as the
FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in
1984-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.*Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
, are awards dedicated to
independent filmmakersAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
.
Winners were typically presented with
acrylic glassPoly poly is a transparent thermoplastic. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
pyramidA pyramid is a building where the outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least four faces...
s containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of
independent filmAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
s. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit Awards. The Independent Spirit Awards are presented by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.
The
Independent Spirit Awards (originally known as the
FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in
1984-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.*Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
, are awards dedicated to
independent filmmakersAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
.
Winners were typically presented with
acrylic glassPoly poly is a transparent thermoplastic. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
pyramidA pyramid is a building where the outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least four faces...
s containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of
independent filmAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
s. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit Awards. The Independent Spirit Awards are presented by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. In 2007 the ceremony was slightly changed to
Film Independent's Spirit Awards. Since 2006, winners have received a trophy depicting a bird sitting atop of a pole with the shoestrings from the previous design wrapped around the pole.
The awards show is held inside a tent on the beach in
Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica is a city in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and Venice on the...
, usually on the day before the
Academy AwardsThe Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
(since 1999; originally the Saturday before). Since 1994, the show has been broadcast on the
Independent Film ChannelThe Independent Film Channel is a cable network that airs independent film and related programming uncut and uncensored, 24 hours a day...
.
The 2009 awards took place on February 21, 2009.
Categories
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female is given in recognition of achievements by actresses in leading roles in independent films.-1980s:*1985: Geraldine Page - The Trip to Bountiful**Rosanna Arquette - After Hours...
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
- Best Cinematography
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.-Wins and nominations:1986...
- Best Documentary Feature
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.-Winners and nominees:2001*Dark Days...
- Best Director
The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Director is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent.-1990s:*1990: Charles Burnett - To Sleep with Anger**Reginald Hudlin - House Party...
- Best Film
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:*1985: After Hours**Blood Simple.**Smooth Talk**The Trip to Bountiful*1986: Platoon**Blue Velvet...
- Best First Feature
The Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:*1987: She's Gotta Have It**A Great Wall**Belizaire the Cajun**Hoosiers**True Stories*1988: Dirty Dancing**Anna...
- Best Screenplay
The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Screenplay is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent.-2000s:*2000: You Can Count on Me - Kenneth Lonergan**Chuck & Buck - Mike White**Love & Sex - Valerie Breiman...
- Best First Screenplay
The Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.-Wins and nominations:1995*David O...
- Best Foreign Language Film
-2000s:*2000: Dancer in the Dark • Denmark**Fa yeung nin wa • France/Hong Kong**Malli • India**The War Zone • UK**Zamani barayé masti asbha • Iran...
- John Cassavetes Award
The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers...
- Robert Altman Award
- Acura Someone to Watch Award
- Piaget Producers Award
- Truer than Fiction Award
The Truer than Fiction Award is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent. The award was introduced in 1997, and the name of the corporate sponsor of the award has changed numerous times...
External links