Film Independent Spirit Awards 2025 Winners List

The 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards took place on Saturday, celebrating independent and low-budget film projects and television. Anora, Mikey Madison, and director Sean Baker were the big winners in the film category, while Baby Reindeer and Shōgun stood out in the TV acting category. The ceremony, hosted by Aidy Bryant, was held in Santa Monica and streamed live on Film Independent’s YouTube channel and X (formerly Twitter) feed.

The Indie Spirits are unique in the awards season landscape as they focus on smaller film productions, with a maximum budget limit of $28 million for movies. There is no budget cap for TV shows, but they must be new productions. This distinction sets the Indie Spirits apart, making them a platform for recognizing emerging talent and innovative storytelling in the industry.

Nava Mau, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jessica Gunning accept awards during the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty;Kevin Winter/Getty

Unlike other awards shows, the Indie Spirits occasionally diverge from the Oscars, highlighting smaller-budget films that may not get as much recognition elsewhere. The gender-neutral acting categories at the Indie Spirits also set them apart, ensuring inclusivity and diversity in the awards process.

The acting categories at the Indie Spirits include Best Lead Performance, Best Supporting Performance, and Best Breakthrough Performance for both film and TV, along with a Best Ensemble Cast category for TV shows. This streamlined approach focuses on the core elements of performance and storytelling.

Anora and I Saw the TV Glow led the film category nominations, with Anora securing three awards. Shōgun received multiple nominations in the TV field, winning the Best New Scripted Series award. Other projects like Dìdi, Baby Reindeer, and English Teacher also received recognition for their outstanding contributions.

Explore the full list of winners below.

MOVIES

Best Feature

WINNER: Anora
I Saw the TV Glow
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
The Substance

Best Director

Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Alonso Ruizpalacios, La Cocina
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow

Best First Feature

WINNER: Dìdi
In the Summers
Janet Planet
The Piano Lesson
Problemista

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Best Lead Performance

Amy Adams, Nightbitch
Ryan Destiny, The Fire Inside
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Keith Kupferer, Ghostlight
WINNER: Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Hunter Schafer, Cuckoo
Justice Smith, I Saw the TV Glow
June Squibb, Thelma
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Best Supporting Performance

Yura Borisov, Anora
Joan Chen, Dìdi
WINNER: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
Jack Haven, I Saw the TV Glow
Carol Kane, Between the Temples
Karren Karagulian, Anora
Kani Kusruti, Girls Will Be Girls
Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, Sing Sing
Adam Pearson, A Different Man

Best Breakthrough Performance

Isaac Krasner, Big Boys
Katy O’Brian, Love Lies Bleeding
Mason Alexander Park, National Anthem
René Pérez Joglar, In the Summers
WINNER: Maisy Stella, My Old Ass

Best Screenplay

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Heretic
WINNER: Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Megan Park, My Old Ass
Aaron Schimberg, A Different Man
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow

Best First Screenplay

Joanna Arnow, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed
Annie Baker, Janet Planet
India Donaldson, Good One
Julio Torres, Problemista
WINNER: Sean Wang, Dìdi

Best Documentary

Gaucho Gaucho
Hummingbirds
WINNER: No Other Land
Patrice: The Movie
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Credit: ew.com