2021 Independent Spirit Award Winners

FEATURE CATEGORIES

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

Nomadland
Producers: Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Chloé Zhao

BEST DIRECTOR

Chloé Zhao
Nomadland

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Carey Mulligan
Promising Young Woman

BEST MALE LEAD

Riz Ahmed
Sound of Metal

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Youn Yuh-jung
Minari

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Paul Raci
Sound of Metal

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)

Sound of Metal
Director: Darius Marder
Producers: Bill Benz, Kathy Benz, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche

BEST SCREENPLAY

Emerald Fennell
Promising Young Woman

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Andy Siara
Palm Springs

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

Crip Camp
Directors/Producers: Jim LeBrecht, Nicole Newnham
Producer: Sara Bolder

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast

One Night in Miami…
Director: Regina King
Casting Directors: Kimberly R. Hardin
Ensemble Cast: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000 (Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

Residue
Writer/Director: Merawi Gerima

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Joshua James Richards
Nomadland

BEST EDITING

Chloé Zhao
Nomadland

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

Quo Vadis, Aida?
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Director: Jasmila Žbanić

PRODUCERS AWARD – The Producers Award, now in its 24th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.

Gerry Kim

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 27th year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.

Ekwa Msangi
Director of Farewell Amor

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 26th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.

Elegance Bratton
Director of Pier Kids

TV CATEGORIES

BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

I May Destroy You
Creator/Executive Producer: Michaela Coel
Executive Producers: Phil Clarke, Roberto Troni

BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

Immigration Nation

Executive Producers: Christina Clusiau, Shaul Schwarz, Dan Cogan, Jenny Raskin, Brandon Hill, Christian Thompson
Co-Executive Producers: Andrey Alistratov, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg, Lauren Haber

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Shira Haas
Unorthodox

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Amit Rahav
Unorthodox

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

I May Destroy You
Ensemble Cast: Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Wruche Opia,
Stephen Wight