Since 1993, the Film Independent Spirit Awards have been held at Santa Monica State Beach, and the dreamy California coast couldn’t be a more appropriate vibe for the unique award season event that’s all about shining a spotlight on some of the most interesting voices in cinema. Mixing up the film world’s indie glitterati is one of the most intriguing details of the Spirit Awards. Where else are you likely to see John Waters and Cate Blanchett share approving glances over their fiercely abstract ensembles from across the red carpet?!
This year, several innovative creatives with ties to the Sundance Institute will make the rounds at the awards show, as 20 incredible Sundance-supported projects have been nominated for the 40th edition of the Film Independent Spirit Awards. From Jesse Eisenberg’s witty A Real Pain to Megan Park’s charming My Old Ass, Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn’s inspiring series Penelope, and gripping documentaries Gaucho Gaucho and Sugarcane — all of which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival — we’re so excited to see so many compelling works in the mix. We’re also thrilled to see that Sarah Winshall, the producer of I Saw the TV Glow, will be getting the Producers Award.
Topping the list with five nominations (along with Anora from Sundance Institute alum Sean Baker) is Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow, which stars Justice Smith, who is nominated for Best Lead Performance, and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Another 2024 Fest premiere, it secured noms for Best Feature and Best Directors, among others. Championing emerging filmmakers — and those who can make masterpieces on a budget — the Spirit Awards don’t nominate projects that cost more than $30 million to produce, so all of the projects recognized are shining examples of creative independence.
Below, see the complete list of all the Sundance-supported projects nominated for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, hosted by actor Aidy Bryant and taking place on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Santa Monica State Beach and prepare to root for the nominees when the show streams live on the IMDb and Film Independent YouTube channels.
Best Feature
I Saw the TV Glow — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best First Feature
Dìdi (弟弟) — Supported by the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship, Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship, and the Institute’s Directors and Screenwriters Labs and premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble.
In the Summers — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic award.
Best Director
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Screenplay
A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where director Jesse Eisenberg won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic.
My Old Ass, Megan Park — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
A Different Man, Aaron Schimberg — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
I Saw the TV Glow, Jane Schoenbrun — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Lead Performance
Keith Kupferer in Ghostlight — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Justice Smith in I Saw the TV Glow — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
June Squibb in Thelma — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Supporting Performance
Joan Chen in Dìdi (弟弟) — Supported by the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship, Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship, and the Institute’s Directors and Screenwriters Labs and premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble.
Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where director Jesse Eisenberg won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic.
Carol Kane in Between the Temples — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Kani Kusruti in Girls Will Be Girls — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where Preeti Panigrahi won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting.
Brigette Lundy-Paine in I Saw the TV Glow — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Adam Pearson in A Different Man — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Breakthrough Performance
Katy O’Brian in Love Lies Bleeding — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
René Pérez Joglar in In the Summers — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic award.
Maisy Stella in My Old Ass — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Editing
Dìdi (弟弟), Arielle Zakowski — Supported by the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship, Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship, and the Institute’s Directors and Screenwriters Labs and premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble.
Producers Award presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey
Sarah Winshall, I Saw the TV Glow — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
John Cassavetes Award
Ghostlight — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Girls Will Be Girls — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic award and Preeti Panigrahi won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting.
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Megan Stott in Penelope — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Best Documentary
Gaucho Gaucho — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Sound.
Hummingbirds — Supported by Sundance Institute’s 2020 Documentary Film Grant and the 2021 Women In Film/Sundance Institute Financing Intensive.
No Other Land — Supported by Sundance Institute’s 2021 Documentary Fund and the 2023 Documentary Edit and Story Lab.
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation.
Truer Than Fiction Award
Sugarcane, Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie — Supported by the 2022 Sundance Documentary Film Grant and 2022 Catalyst Forum and premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary.
FRIDA, Carla Gutiérrez — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
A Photographic Memory, Rachel Elizabeth Seed — Supported by the 2019 Sundance Documentary Film Grant and the Documentary Edit and Story Lab.
