40th Independent Spirit Awards

The 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films and television series of 2024, were presented by Film Independent on February 22, 2025.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The ceremony was held at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, and was hosted by American actress and comedian Aidy Bryant for the second consecutive year; Bryant's hosting duties the previous year was widely praised and made headlines. For the third consecutive year, the ceremony was streamed live on the YouTube channels of both IMDb and Film Independent, and across Film Independent's social media platforms.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

The nominations were announced live via YouTube on December 4, 2024.^[12] Anora and I Saw the TV Glow led the film nominations with five each, followed by Dìdi with four. Shōgun received the most television nominations with five, followed by Baby Reindeer and English Teacher with four each.^[3][13][14]

During the ceremony, longtime Film Independent president Josh Welsh was remembered by acting president Brenda Robinson, who delivered a speech about the "visionary" who died on December 31, 2024, after a five-year battle with colon cancer at age 62. Later in the show, during his acceptance speech for Best Feature, Anora filmmaker Sean Baker also paid tribute to Welsh and his contributions to independent cinema, calling him "a true champion of independent voices and a wonderful, kind human being".^[15][16][17]

The grant recipients of the Emerging Filmmakers Awards were announced on January 4, 2025.^[18]

• Girls Will Be Girls – Shuchi Talati (director/producer/writer); Richa Chadha and Claire Chassagne (producers)
  • Big Boys – Corey Sherman (director/producer/writer); Allison Tate (producer)
  • Ghostlight – Kelly O'Sullivan (director/writer); Alex Thompson (director/producer); Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Chelsea Krant, Eddie Linker, and Alex Wilson (producers)
  • Jazzy – Morrisa Maltz (director/producer/writer); Lainey Shangreaux (writer/producer); Andrew Hajek and Vanara Taing (writers); Miranda Bailey, Tommy Heitkamp, John Way, Natalie Whalen, and Elliott Whitton (producers)
  • The People's Joker – Vera Drew (director/writer); Bri LeRose (writer); Joey Lyons (producer)

(The award is given to the film's director, casting director, and ensemble cast)

• His Three Daughters – Director: Azazel Jacobs; Casting Director: Nicole Arbusto; Ensemble Cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., and Jay O. Sanders

The award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films.

• Sarah Winshall
  • Alex Coco
  • Zoë Worth

The award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.

• Sarah Friedland – Familiar Touch
  • Nicholas Colia – Griffin in Summer
  • Phạm Thiên Ân – Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell

The award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.

• Rachel Elizabeth Seed – A Photographic Memory
  • Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie – Sugarcane
  • Carla Gutiérrez – Frida

The Best International Film winner Flow became the first animated feature to win a Film Independent Spirit Award for any category.^[5][19][20]

• 97th Academy Awards
• 82nd Golden Globe Awards
• 78th British Academy Film Awards
• 45th Golden Raspberry Awards
• 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards
• 30th Critics' Choice Awards

• Official website
• Opening Monologue – Aidy Bryant – 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Film Independent on YouTube
• Show Highlights | The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards hosted by Aidy Bryant at Film Independent on YouTube