Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay
Awarded forBest Screenplay
CountryUnited States
Presented byFilm Independent
First awarded1985
Currently held byCord Jefferson for American Fiction (2023)
Websitewww.filmindependent.org

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay is one of the annual awards given out by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It was first presented in 1985 with Horton Foote being the first winner of the awards for The Trip to Bountiful.

The category includes both original and adapted screenplays. Despite the creation of the Best First Screenplay category in 1994, first screenplays are also eligible to compete for this award.

Alexander Payne is the most awarded writer in the category with three wins, followed by Neal Jimenez, Gus Van Sant and Jim Taylor with two wins each. Sofia Coppola was the first female writer to win the award.

Winners and nominees

Oliver Stone won for Platoon.
Gus Van Sant has won the award twice, for Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho, the former with Daniel Yost.
Charles Burnett won for To Sleep with Anger.

1980s

Year Film Recipient(s)
1985
[1][2]		 The Trip to Bountiful Horton Foote
After Hours Joseph Minion
Blood Simple Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Smooth Talk Tom Cole
1986 Platoon Oliver Stone
Blue Velvet David Lynch
A Great Wall Peter Wang and Shirley Sun
Salvador Oliver Stone and Richard Boyle
Stand by Me Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans
1987 River's Edge Neal Jimenez
Anna Agnieszka Holland
The Dead Tony Huston
Matewan John Sayles
Swimming to Cambodia Spalding Gray
1988 Stand and Deliver Ramón Menéndez and Tom Musca
Five Corners John Patrick Shanley
Hairspray John Waters
The Moderns Alan Rudolph and Jon Bradshaw
Patti Rocks John Jenkins, Karen Landry, David Burton Morris, and Chris Mulkey
1989 Drugstore Cowboy Gus Van Sant and Daniel Yost
84 Charlie Mopic Patrick Sheane Duncan
Heathers Daniel Waters
Miracle Mile Steve De Jarnatt
Mystery Train Jim Jarmusch

1990s

Robert Altman won for Shortcuts with Frank Barhydt.
Christopher McQuarrie won for The Usual Suspects.
Kevin Smith won for Chasing Amy.
Alexander Payne has won this award thrice, for Election, Sideways and The Descendants, the former two with Jim Taylor and the latter with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
Kenneth Lonergan won for You Can Count on Me.
Year Film Recipient(s)
1990 To Sleep with Anger Charles Burnett
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer John McNaughton and Richard Fire
Metropolitan Whit Stillman
The Plot Against Harry Michael Roemer
Pump Up the Volume Allan Moyle
1991
 My Own Private Idaho Gus Van Sant
Hangin' with the Homeboys Joseph Vásquez
Kafka Lem Dobbs
Mindwalk Floyd Byars and Fritjof Capra
The Rapture Michael Tolkin
1992 The Waterdance Neal Jimenez
Gas Food Lodging Allison Anders
Light Sleeper Paul Schrader
A Midnight Clear Keith Gordon
One False Move Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson
1993 Short Cuts Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt
Combination Platter Edwin Baker and Tony Chan
Household Saints Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay
Ruby in Paradise Victor Nuñez
The Wedding Banquet Ang Lee, Neil Peng, and James Schamus
1994 Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary
Bullets Over Broadway Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath
Eat Drink Man Woman Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus, and Ang Lee
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Alan Rudolph and Randy Sue Coburn
Red Rock West John Dahl and Rick Dahl
1995 The Usual Suspects Christopher McQuarrie
Leaving Las Vegas Mike Figgis
Living in Oblivion Tom DiCillo
Safe Todd Haynes
The Secret of Roan Inish John Sayles
1996 Fargo Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Dead Man Jim Jarmusch
Flirting with Disaster David O. Russell
The Funeral Nicholas St. John
Lone Star John Sayles
1997 Chasing Amy Kevin Smith
The Apostle Robert Duvall
Touch Paul Schrader
Ulee's Gold Victor Nuñez
Waiting for Guffman Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy
1998 The Opposite of Sex Don Roos
Affliction Paul Schrader
Blind Faith Frank Military
Gods and Monsters Bill Condon
The Spanish Prisoner David Mamet
1999 Election Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Dogma Kevin Smith
Guinevere Audrey Wells
The Limey Lem Dobbs
SLC Punk! James Merendino

2000s

Christopher Nolan won for Memento.
Mike White won for The Good Girl.
Sofia Coppola won for Lost in Translation.
Jason Reitman won for Thank You for Smoking.
Tamara Jenkins won for The Savages.
Year Film Recipient(s)
2000
[3]		 You Can Count on Me Kenneth Lonergan
Chuck & Buck Mike White
Love & Sex Valerie Breiman
Two Family House Raymond De Felitta
Waking the Dead Robert Dillon
2001
[4]		 Memento Christopher Nolan
The Believer Henry Bean
In the Bedroom Robert Festinger and Todd Field
Monster's Ball Milo Addica and Will Rokos
Waking Life Richard Linklater
2002
[5]		 The Good Girl Mike White
Lovely & Amazing Nicole Holofcener
Roger Dodger Dylan Kidd
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Jill Sprecher and Karen Sprecher
Tully Hilary Birmingham and Matt Drake
2003
[6]		 Lost in Translation Sofia Coppola
American Splendor Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini
A Mighty Wind Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy (...and the cast)
Pieces of April Peter Hedges
Shattered Glass Billy Ray
2004
[7]		 Sideways Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Baadasssss! Mario Van Peebles and Dennis Haggerty
Before Sunset Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy
The Door in the Floor Tod Williams
Kinsey Bill Condon
2005
[8]		 Capote Dan Futterman
Nine Lives Rodrigo García
The Squid and the Whale Noah Baumbach
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Guillermo Arriaga
The War Within Ayad Akhtar, Joseph Castelo, and Tom Glynn
2006
[9]		 Thank You for Smoking Jason Reitman
Friends with Money Nicole Holofcener
The Illusionist Neil Burger
The Painted Veil Ron Nyswaner
Sorry, Haters Jeff Stanzler
2007
[10]		 The Savages Tamara Jenkins
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Ronald Harwood
Starting Out in the Evening Fred Parnes and Andrew Wagner
Waitress Adrienne Shelly
Year of the Dog Mike White
2008
[11]		 Vicky Cristina Barcelona Woody Allen
Sangre de Mi Sangre Christopher Zalla
Savage Grace Howard A. Rodman
Sugar Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Synecdoche, New York Charlie Kaufman
2009
[12]		 (500) Days of Summer Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Adventureland Greg Mottola
The Last Station Michael Hoffman
The Messenger Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
The Vicious Kind Lee Toland Krieger

2010s

John Ridley won for 12 Years a Slave.
Dan Gilroy won for Nightcrawler.
Barry Jenkins won for Moonlight.
Greta Gerwig won for Lady Bird.
Noah Baumbach won for Marriage Story.
Year Film Recipient(s)
2010
[13]		 The Kids Are All Right Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko
Life During Wartime Todd Solondz
Please Give Nicole Holofcener
Rabbit Hole David Lindsay-Abaire
Winter's Bone Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini
2011
[14]		 The Descendants Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash
The Artist Michel Hazanavicius
Beginners Mike Mills
Footnote Joseph Cedar
Win Win Tom McCarthy
2012
[15]		 Silver Linings Playbook David O. Russell
Keep the Lights On Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
Moonrise Kingdom Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Ruby Sparks Zoe Kazan
Seven Psychopaths Martin McDonagh
2013
[16]		 12 Years a Slave John Ridley
Before Midnight Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy
Blue Jasmine Woody Allen
Enough Said Nicole Holofcener
The Spectacular Now Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
2014
[17]		 Nightcrawler Dan Gilroy
Big Eyes Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
Love Is Strange Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
A Most Violent Year J. C. Chandor
Only Lovers Left Alive Jim Jarmusch
2015
[18]		 Spotlight Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Anomalisa Charlie Kaufman
Bone Tomahawk S. Craig Zahler
Carol Phyllis Nagy
The End of the Tour Donald Margulies
2016
[19]		 Moonlight Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney
20th Century Women Mike Mills
Hell or High Water Taylor Sheridan
Little Men Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
Manchester by the Sea Kenneth Lonergan
2017
[20]		 Lady Bird Greta Gerwig
Beatriz at Dinner Mike White
Get Out Jordan Peele
The Lovers Azazel Jacobs
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Martin McDonagh
2018
[21]		 Can You Ever Forgive Me? Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
Colette Richard Glatzer, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, and Wash Westmoreland
First Reformed Paul Schrader
Private Life Tamara Jenkins
Sorry to Bother You Boots Riley
2019
[22]		 Marriage Story Noah Baumbach
Clemency Chinonye Chukwu
High Flying Bird Tarell Alvin McCraney
To Dust Jason Begue and Shawn Snyder
Uncut Gems Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie

2020s

Emerald Fennell won for Promising Young Woman.
Year Film Recipient(s)
2020
[23]		 Promising Young Woman Emerald Fennell
Bad Education Mike Makowsky
The Half of It Alice Wu
Minari Lee Isaac Chung
Never Rarely Sometimes Always Eliza Hittman
2021
[24]		 The Lost Daughter Maggie Gyllenhaal
C'mon C'mon Mike Mills
Swan Song Todd Stephens
Together Together Nikole Beckwith
Zola Janicza Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris
2022
[25] 		Everything Everywhere All at Once Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
After Yang Kogonada
Catherine Called Birdy Lena Dunham
Tár Todd Field
Women Talking Sarah Polley
2023
[26] 		American Fiction Cord Jefferson
Birth/Rebirth Laura Moss and Brendan J. O'Brien
Bottoms Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott
The Holdovers David Hemingson
Past Lives Celine Song

See also

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. ^ Lyons, Charles (March 25, 2001). "'Tiger' shows most Independent Spirit". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2001.
  4. ^ Harris, Dana (March 23, 2002). "'Memento' tops Indie Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2002.
  5. ^ Harris, Dana (March 22, 2003). "'Heaven' tops Indie Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2003.
  6. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2004). ""Lost In Translation" Tops Independent Spirit Awards, "Station Agent" Another Big Winner". IndieWire. Retrieved February 28, 2004.
  7. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2005). "Sideways Wins Six at Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved February 28, 2005.
  8. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (March 5, 2006). ""Brokeback," "Capote," "Crash," "Transamerica" Honored With Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved March 5, 2006.
  9. ^ Kilday, Gregg (February 25, 2007). "'Sunshine' brightest star at Spirit Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  10. ^ Kilday, Gregg (February 24, 2008). "Indie Spirits: 'Juno' wins best feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  11. ^ Kilday, Gregg (February 21, 2009). "'Wrestler' tops Spirits". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  12. ^ Kilday, Gregg (March 5, 2010). "'Precious' tops Spirit Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Sofia M. (February 26, 2011). "2011 Independent Spirit Awards Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  14. ^ Fernandez, Jay (February 25, 2012). "Indie Spirit Awards 2012: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  15. ^ "Independent Spirit Awards 2013: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 23, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  16. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 1, 2014). "Independent Spirit Awards: '12 Years a Slave' Named Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Spirit Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  18. ^ "Spirit Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  19. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (February 25, 2017). "Spirit Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  20. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 3, 2018). "Spirit Awards: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  21. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (February 23, 2019). "Spirit Awards: 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Wins Best Feature; Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  22. ^ Galuppo, Mia; Nordyke, Kimberly; Howard, Annie (February 8, 2020). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'The Farewell' Takes Best Feature; Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  23. ^ Galuppo, Mia; Nordyke, Kimberly; Drury, Sharareh; Perez, Lexy (April 22, 2021). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'Nomadland' Wins Best Feature, Best Director for Chloe Zhao". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  24. ^ Galuppo, Mia (March 6, 2022). "Spirit Awards: 'The Lost Daughter,' 'Reservation Dogs' Win Big as Ukraine Fuels Onstage Remarks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  25. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 22, 2022). "Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Everything Everywhere' Leads With Eight Noms". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  26. ^ Lang, Brent (2023-12-05). "Spirit Awards 2024 Nominations List: 'Past Lives,' 'May December,' 'American Fiction' Lead With 5 Noms Each". Variety. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
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