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Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award

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Independent Spirit Awards

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Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay

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Kelly ThomasSpa Night, Kelly Thomas, Winner, Ki Jin KimSpa Night, Ki Jin Kim, Winner, Giulia CarusoSpa Night, Giulia Caruso, Winner, David ArinielloSpa Night, David Ariniello, Winner, Andrew AhnSpa Night, Andrew Ahn, Winner, Alex LipschultzLovesong, Alex Lipschultz, Nominee, Isaac AdakuduguNakom, Isaac Adakudugu, Nominee, Johnny MacLovesong, Johnny Mac, Nominee, Michael BowesFree in Deed, Michael Bowes, Nominee, Sara MurphyHunter Gatherer, Sara Murphy, Nominee, Wilson SmithKrisha, Wilson Smith, Winner, Chase JolietKrisha, Chase Joliet, Winner, Trey Edward ShultsKrisha, Trey Edward Shults, Winner, Justin R ChanKrisha, Justin R Chan, Winner, Oscar BoysonHeaven Knows What, Oscar Boyson, Nominee, Charles PoekelChristmas - Again, Charles Poekel, Nominee, Jacqueline KimAdvantageous, Jacqueline Kim, Nominee, Robert M ChangAdvantageous, Robert M Chang, Nominee, Theresa NavarroAdvantageous, Theresa Navarro, Nominee, Mike FoxOut of My Hand, Mike Fox, Nominee, Sara MurphyLand Ho!, Sara Murphy, Winner, Mynette LouieLand Ho!, Mynette Louie, Winner, Aaron KatzLand Ho!, Aaron Katz, Winner, Christina JenningsLand Ho!, Christina Jennings, Winner, Martha StephensLand Ho!, Martha Stephens, Winner, Joel ClarkMan From Reno, Joel Clark, Nominee, Vincent SavinoBlue Ruin, Vincent Savino, Nominee, Eliza HittmanIt Felt Like Love, Eliza Hittman, Nominee, Michael LermanMan From Reno, Michael Lerman, Nominee, Ko MoriMan From Reno, Ko Mori, Nominee, Cherie SaulterThis Is Martin Bonner, Cherie Saulter, Winner, Chad HartiganThis Is Martin Bonner, Chad Hartigan, Winner, Gabriele KranzelbinderMuseum Hours, Gabriele Kranzelbinder, Nominee, Pablo LarraínCrystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus, Pablo Larraín, Nominee, Alex LipschultzComputer Chess, Alex Lipschultz, Nominee, James M JohnstonPit Stop, James M Johnston, Nominee, Houston KingComputer Chess, Houston King, Nominee, Paolo CalamitaMuseum Hours, Paolo Calamita, Nominee, Kelly Glenn WilliamsPit Stop, Kelly Glenn Williams, Nominee, Jonathan DuffyPit Stop, Jonathan Duffy, Nominee, Paul GarnesMiddle of Nowhere, Paul Garnes, Winner, Ava DuVernayMiddle of Nowhere, Ava DuVernay, Winner, Howard BarishMiddle of Nowhere, Howard Barish, Winner, Patrick CunninghamStarlet, Patrick Cunningham, Nominee, Aurora GuerreroMosquita y Mari, Aurora Guerrero, Nominee, Chris MaybachStarlet, Chris Maybach, Nominee, Chris BergochStarlet, Chris Bergoch, Nominee, Sean BakerStarlet, Sean Baker, Nominee, Alex Ross PerryThe Color Wheel, Alex Ross Perry, Nominee, Carlen AltmanThe Color Wheel, Carlen Altman, Nominee

The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by the Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after actor/screenwriter/director John Cassavetes, a pioneer of American independent film.

Contents

During the first year, the award was given to a feature film that featured a first-time director with the film being budgeted under $500,000. Films budgeted higher were eligible for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. From 2001 onward, the award has been given to any feature film budgeted under $500,000 regardless of how many films the director has made.

1990s

  • 1999: The Blair Witch Project – Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, directors; Gregg Hale and Robin Cowie, producers
  • La Ciudad (The City) – David Riker, director and producer; Paul S. Mezey, producer
  • Compensation – Zeinabu irene Davis, director and producer; Marc Arthur Chery, producer
  • Judy Berlin – Eric Mendelsohn, director; Rocco Caruso, producer
  • Treasure Island – Scott King, director; Adrienne Gruben, producer

    • 2000s

  • 2000: Chuck & Buck – Miguel Arteta, director; Matthew Greenfield; producer; Mike White, screenwriter
  • Bunny – Mia Trachinger, director/screenwriter/producer; Rebecca Sonnenshine, producer
  • Everything Put Together – Marc Forster, director/screenwriter; Adam Forgash, screenwriter; Sean Furst and Catherine Lloyd Burns, producers
  • Groove – Greg Harrison, director/screenwriter; Danielle Renfrew, producer
  • Our Song – Jim McKay, director/screenwriter/producer; Paul S. Mezey and Diana E. Williams, producers
  • 2001: Jackpot – Michael Polish, screenwriter/director; Mark Polish, screenwriter/producer
  • Acts of Worship
  • Kaaterskill Falls
  • Punks
  • Virgil Bliss
  • 2002: Personal Velocity – Rebecca Miller, screenwriter/director; Lemore Syvan, Alexis Alexanian, and Gary Winick, producers
  • Charlotte Sometimes
  • Dahmer
  • ivans xtc.
  • The Slaughter Rule
  • 2003: The Station Agent – Tom McCarthy, screenwriter/director; Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, and Kathryn Tucker, producers
  • Anne B. Real
  • Better Luck Tomorrow
  • Pieces of April
  • Virgin
  • 2004: Mean Creek – Jacob Aaron Estes, screenwriter/director; Hagai Shaham, Rick Rosenthal, and Susan Johnson, producers
  • Down to the Bone
  • On the Outs
  • Robbing Peter
  • Unknown Soldier
  • 2005: Conventioneers – Mora Stephens, screenwriter/director; Joel Viertel, screenwriter/producer
  • Brick
  • Jellysmoke
  • The Puffy Chair
  • Room
  • 2006: Quinceañera
  • 12 and Holding
  • Chalk
  • Four Eyed Monsters
  • Old Joy
  • 2007: August Evening – Chris Eska, screenwriter/director; Connie Hill and Jason Wehling, producers
  • Owl and the Sparrow
  • The Pool
  • Quiet City
  • Shotgun Stories
  • 2008: In Search of a Midnight Kiss – Alex Holdridge, screenwriter/director; Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy, producers
  • Prince of Broadway
  • The Signal
  • Take Out
  • Turn the River
  • 2009: Humpday – Lynn Shelton, screenwriter/director; Steven Schardt and Jennifer Maas, producers
  • Big Fan
  • The New Year Parade
  • Treeless Mountain
  • Zero Bridge

    • 2010s

  • 2010: Daddy Longlegs – Ben Safdie & Joshua Safdie, screenwriters/directors; Casey Neistat and Tom Scott, producers
  • The Exploding Girl
  • Lbs.
  • Lovers of Hate
  • Obselidia
  • 2011: Pariah – Dee Rees, screenwriter/director, Nekisa Cooper, producer
  • Bellflower
  • Circumstance
  • The Dynamiter
  • Hello Lonesome
  • 2012: Middle of Nowhere – Ava DuVernay, screenwriter/director, Paul Garnes and Howard Barish, producers
  • Breakfast with Curtis
  • The Color Wheel
  • Mosquita y Mari
  • Starlet
  • 2013: This Is Martin Bonner – Writer/Director: Chad Hartigan, Producer: Cherie Saulter
  • Computer Chess – Writer/Director: Andrew Bujalski, Producers: Houston King and Alex Lipschultz
  • Crystal Fairy – Writer/Director: Sebastián Silva, Producers: Juan de Dios Larraín and Pablo Larraín
  • Museum Hours – Writer/Director: Jem Cohen, Producers: Paolo Calamita and Gabriele Kranzelbinder
  • Pit Stop – Writer/Director: Yen Tan, Writer: David Lowery, Producers: Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele, and Kelly Williams
  • 2014: Land Ho! – Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens, Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie and Sara Murphy
  • Blue Ruin – Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier, Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani
  • It Felt Like Love – Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman, Producers: Shrihari Sathe and Laura Wagner
  • Man from Reno – Writer/Director: Dave Boyle, Writers: Joel Clark and Michael Lerman, Producer: Ko Mori
  • Test – Writer/Director: Chris Mason Johnson, Producer: Chris Martin
  • 2015: Krisha – Writer/Director/Producer: Trey Edward Shults; Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, and Wilson Smith
  • Advantageous – Writer/Director/Producer: Jennifer Phang; Writer/Producer: Jacqueline Kim; Producers: Robert Chang, Ken Jeong, Moon Molson, Theresa Navarro
  • Christmas, Again – Writer/Director/Producer: Charles Poekel
  • Heaven Knows What – Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie; Writers: : Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie; Producers: : Oscar Boyson and Sebastian Bear McClard
  • Out of My Hand – Writer/Director: Takeshi Fukunaga; Writer/Producer: Donari Braxton; Producer: Mike Fox
  • 2016: Spa Night – Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn; Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas
  • Free In Deed – Writer/Director: Jake Mahaffy; Producers: Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel
  • Hunter Gatherer – Writer/Director: Josh Locy; Producers: Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman
  • Lovesong – Writer/Director: So Yong Kim; Writer/Producer: Bradley Rust Gray; Producers: David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac
  • Nakom – Writer/Director/Producer: T.W. Pittman; Director/Producer: Kelly Daniela Norris; Writer/Producer: Isaac Adakudugu; Producer: Giovanni Ximėnez

    • References

    Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA