Independent Spirit Award for Best Director
The 2023 recipient: Celine Song
Awarded forBest Director
CountryUnited States
Presented byFilm Independent
First awarded1985
Currently held byCeline Song for Past Lives (2023)
Websitefilmindependent.org

The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Director is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.

History

It was first presented in 1985 with Joel Coen and Martin Scorsese being the first winners of the category for Blood Simple and After Hours, respectively.

Directors Barry Jenkins, Tom McCarthy, Joel Coen and Alexander Payne are the only winners who have received this award more than once, with two wins each. Todd Haynes holds the record of most nominations with six (winning one for Far from Heaven), followed by Gus Van Sant with five. Martha Coolidge was the first female director to win the award, receiving it in 1991. Chloé Zhao was the first female of color to win the category in 2020.

Winners and nominees

Joel Coen, half of the established Coen Brothers, has won this award twice, for Blood Simple in 1985 and Fargo in 1996.
Martin Scorsese won in 1985 for After Hours.
Oliver Stone won for Platoon.
John Huston received the award posthumously for The Dead.

1980s

Year Recipient(s) Film
1985
[1][2]		 Joel Coen Blood Simple
Martin Scorsese After Hours
Joyce Chopra Smooth Talk
Peter Masterson The Trip to Bountiful
1986 Oliver Stone Platoon
Jim Jarmusch Down by Law
David Lynch Blue Velvet
Rob Reiner Stand by Me
Oliver Stone Salvador
1987 John Huston The Dead
Jonathan Demme Swimming to Cambodia
Tim Hunter River's Edge
Jim McBride The Big Easy
John Sayles Matewan
1988 Ramon Menendez Stand and Deliver
David Burton Morris Patti Rocks
Errol Morris The Thin Blue Line
Oliver Stone Talk Radio
John Waters Hairspray
1989 Steven Soderbergh Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Jim Jarmusch Mystery Train
Charles Lane Sidewalk Stories
Nancy Savoca True Love
Gus Van Sant Drugstore Cowboy
Charles Burnett won for To Sleep with Anger.
Robert Altman won for Short Cuts.
Quentin Tarantino received the award for Pulp Fiction.
Wes Anderson won for Rushmore.
Alexander Payne has won the award twice, for Election (1999) and Sideways (2004).

1990s

Year Recipient(s) Film
1990 Charles Burnett To Sleep with Anger
Reginald Hudlin House Party
John McNaughton Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Allan Moyle Pump Up the Volume
Michael Roemer The Plot Against Harry
1991 Martha Coolidge Rambling Rose
Todd Haynes Poison
Richard Linklater Slacker
Gus Van Sant My Own Private Idaho
Joseph Vásquez Hangin' with the Homeboys
1992 Carl Franklin One False Move
Allison Anders Gas Food Lodging
Abel Ferrara Bad Lieutenant
Tom Kalin Swoon
Quentin Tarantino Reservoir Dogs
1993 Robert Altman Short Cuts
Ang Lee The Wedding Banquet
Victor Nuñez Ruby in Paradise
Robert Rodriguez El Mariachi
John Turturro Mac
1994 Quentin Tarantino Pulp Fiction
John Dahl Red Rock West
Ang Lee Eat Drink Man Woman
Roman Polanski Death and the Maiden
Alan Rudolph Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
1995 Mike Figgis Leaving Las Vegas
Michael Almereyda Nadja
Ulu Grosbard Georgia
Todd Haynes Safe
John Sayles The Secret of Roan Inish
1996 Joel Coen Fargo
Abel Ferrara The Funeral
David O. Russell Flirting with Disaster
Todd Solondz Welcome to the Dollhouse
Robert M. Young Caught
1997 Robert Duvall The Apostle
Larry Fessenden Habit
Victor Nuñez Ulee's Gold
Paul Schrader Touch
Wim Wenders The End of Violence
1998
[3]		 Wes Anderson Rushmore
Todd Haynes Velvet Goldmine
Lodge Kerrigan Claire Dolan
Paul Schrader Affliction
Todd Solondz Happiness
1999
[4][5]		 Alexander Payne Election
Harmony Korine Julien Donkey-Boy
Doug Liman Go
David Lynch The Straight Story
Steven Soderbergh The Limey
Ang Lee has won twice, for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Todd Haynes won for Far from Heaven.
Sofia Coppola won for Lost in Translation.
Julian Schnabel won for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
Tom McCarthy has won for The Visitor (2008) and Spotlight (2015).

2000s

Year Recipient(s) Film
2000
[6]		 Ang Lee Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Darren Aronofsky Requiem for a Dream
Miguel Arteta Chuck & Buck
Christopher Guest Best in Show
Julian Schnabel Before Night Falls
2001
[7]		 Christopher Nolan Memento
Michael Cuesta L.I.E.
Cheryl Dunye Stranger Inside
Richard Linklater Waking Life
John Cameron Mitchell Hedwig and the Angry Inch
2002
[8]		 Todd Haynes Far from Heaven
Joe Carnahan Narc
Nicole Holofcener Lovely & Amazing
Bernard Rose Ivans Xtc
Gus Van Sant Gerry
2003
[9]		 Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation
Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini American Splendor
Jim Sheridan In America
Peter Sollett Raising Victor Vargas
Gus Van Sant Elephant
2004
[10]		 Alexander Payne Sideways
Shane Carruth Primer
Joshua Marston Maria Full of Grace
Walter Salles The Motorcycle Diaries
Mario Van Peebles Baadasssss!
2005
[11]		 Ang Lee Brokeback Mountain
Gregg Araki Mysterious Skin
Noah Baumbach The Squid and the Whale
George Clooney Good Night, and Good Luck
Rodrigo García Nine Lives
2006
[12]		 Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Little Miss Sunshine
Robert Altman A Prairie Home Companion
Ryan Fleck Half Nelson
Karen Moncrieff The Dead Girl
Steven Soderbergh Bubble
2007
[13]		 Julian Schnabel The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Todd Haynes I'm Not There
Tamara Jenkins The Savages
Jason Reitman Juno
Gus Van Sant Paranoid Park
2008
[14]		 Tom McCarthy The Visitor
Ramin Bahrani Chop Shop
Jonathan Demme Rachel Getting Married
Lance Hammer Ballast
Courtney Hunt Frozen River
2009
[15]		 Lee Daniels Precious
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen A Serious Man
Cary Fukunaga Sin Nombre
James Gray Two Lovers
Michael Hoffman The Last Station
Darren Aronofsky won for Black Swan.
Steve McQueen won for 12 Years a Slave.
Richard Linklater won for Boyhood.
Barry Jenkins has won for Moonlight (2006) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
Jordan Peele won for Get Out.

2010s

Year Recipient(s) Film
2010
[16]		 Darren Aronofsky Black Swan
Danny Boyle 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik Winter's Bone
John Cameron Mitchell Rabbit Hole
2011
[17]		 Michel Hazanavicius The Artist
Mike Mills Beginners
Jeff Nichols Take Shelter
Alexander Payne The Descendants
Nicolas Winding Refn Drive
2012
[18]		 David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook
Wes Anderson Moonrise Kingdom
Julia Loktev The Loneliest Planet
Ira Sachs Keep the Lights On
Benh Zeitlin Beasts of the Southern Wild
2013
[19]		 Steve McQueen 12 Years a Slave
Shane Carruth Upstream Color
J. C. Chandor All Is Lost
Jeff Nichols Mud
Alexander Payne Nebraska
2014
[20]		 Richard Linklater Boyhood
Damien Chazelle Whiplash
Ava DuVernay Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
David Zellner Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
2015
[21]		 Tom McCarthy Spotlight
Sean Baker Tangerine
Cary Joji Fukunaga Beasts of No Nation
Todd Haynes Carol
Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson Anomalisa
David Robert Mitchell It Follows
2016
[22]		 Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Andrea Arnold American Honey
Pablo Larraín Jackie
Jeff Nichols Loving
Kelly Reichardt Certain Women
2017
[23]		 Jordan Peele Get Out
Sean Baker The Florida Project
Jonas Carpignano A Ciambra
Luca Guadagnino Call Me by Your Name
Safdie Brothers Good Time
Chloé Zhao The Rider
2018
[24]		 Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Could Talk
Debra Granik Leave No Trace
Tamara Jenkins Private Life
Lynne Ramsay You Were Never Really Here
Paul Schrader First Reformed
2019
[25]		 Safdie Brothers Uncut Gems
Robert Eggers The Lighthouse
Alma Har'el Honey Boy
Julius Onah Luce
Lorene Scafaria Hustlers

2020s

Year Recipient(s) Film
2020
[26][27]		 Chloé Zhao Nomadland
Lee Isaac Chung Minari
Emerald Fennell Promising Young Woman
Eliza Hittman Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Kelly Reichardt First Cow
2021
[28]		 Maggie Gyllenhaal The Lost Daughter
Janicza Bravo Zola
Lauren Hadaway The Novice
Mike Mills C'mon C'mon
Ninja Thyberg Pleasure
2022
[29] 		Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Everything Everywhere All at Once
Todd Field Tár
Kogonada After Yang
Sarah Polley Women Talking
Halina Reijn Bodies Bodies Bodies
2023
[30] 		Celine Song Past Lives
Andrew Haigh All of Us Strangers
Todd Haynes May December
William Oldroyd Eileen
Ira Sachs Passages


Multiple nominations (3 or more)

Multiple wins

References

  1. ^ Film Independent Spirit Awards - 34 Years of Nominees and Winners
  2. ^ Barry Jenkins expected to join tiny group of double directing champs at Spirit Awards - GoldDerby
  3. ^ The 1999 Spirit Awards: Gods, Monsters, Sex and Dog Turds|IndieWire
  4. ^ "'The Limey,' 'Election' Got the Spirit". Hollywood.com. January 14, 2000. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "'Election' Elected by Spirit Awards". Hollywood.com. March 26, 2000. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. ^ "Tiger Takes 3 Spirit Awards". ABC News. March 24, 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  7. ^ ""Memento" Has the Spirit". E! Online. March 23, 2002. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  8. ^ Hernandez, Eugene; Brooks, Brian (March 22, 2003). ""Far From Heaven" Sweeps 2003 Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  9. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2004). ""Lost In Translation" Tops Independent Spirit Awards, "Station Agent" Another Big Winner". IndieWire. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  10. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2005). "Sideways Wins Six at Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  11. ^ Germain, David (March 4, 2006). "'Brokeback' named best independent film". USA Today. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  12. ^ McNary, Dave (February 24, 2007). "'Sunshine' brightens Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  13. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 23, 2008). "'Juno' tops Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  14. ^ Brooks, Brian (February 21, 2009). ""The Wrestler" Leads 2009 Spirit Award Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  15. ^ Breznican, Anthony (March 6, 2010). "'Precious' dominates Spirit Awards with 5 prizes". USA Today. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  16. ^ Knegt, Peter (February 27, 2011). ""Black Swan" Lead Spirit Award Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  17. ^ McNary, Dave (February 25, 2012). "'The Artist' dominates Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  18. ^ "Independent Spirit Awards 2013: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 23, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  19. ^ Atkinson, Katie. "Independent Spirit Awards 2014: The winners list". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  20. ^ "Spirit Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "Spirit Awards 2016: Complete Winners List". Variety. February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  22. ^ Earl, William (February 26, 2017). "2017 Independent Spirit Awards: Full Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  23. ^ Nyren, Erin (March 3, 2018). "2018 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners List (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  24. ^ Welk, Brian (February 24, 2019). "Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Complete Winners List". TheWrap. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Blyth, Antonia (February 8, 2020). "Independent Spirit Awards Redresses Female Balance With Wins For Lulu Wang, Olivia Wilde & Julia Reichert – Complete Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  26. ^ Grobar, Matt (April 22, 2021). "'Nomadland' Wins Independent Spirit Awards For Best Picture, Director, Editing & Cinematography, Further Solidifying Oscars Prospects". Deadline. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  27. ^ Sharf, Zack (April 23, 2021). "2021 Independent Spirit Awards Winner's List". IndieWire. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  28. ^ Long, Brent; Tangcay, Jazz (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  29. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 22, 2022). "Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Everything Everywhere' Leads With Eight Noms". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "Film Independent Spirit Awards (2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
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