2025 Independent Spirit Award Nominations

Last week the Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced, but I haven't gotten a chance to talk about them yet. Below is a list of the nominations plus my thoughts. Apologies ahead of time for the weird spacing. I'm traveling this week and can't seem to fix it from my phone. 

BEST FEATURE 

Anora

I Saw the TV Glow

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing

The Substance

I've seen all of these except Sing Sing, which I plan on going to as soon as it opens. It's a nice batch of nominees, with Anora and The Substance being my favorites. 

BEST FIRST FEATURE 

In the Summers

Janet Planet
The Piano Lesson
Problemista
The Piano Lesson is the only one I've seen, and that's a great candidate for First Feature. I keep seeing Janet Planet on Delta's in flight movie selection. I'm going to have to pick it when I fly again later in the week. 
 
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. 
Big Boys
Ghostlight
Girls Will Be Girls
Jazzy
The People’s Joker
I saw The People's Joker just got added to Mubi. I'm going to try to check it out before my subscription expires. 
 
BEST DIRECTOR
Ali Abbasi -The Apprentice
Sean Baker - Anora
Brady Corbet - The Brutalist
Alonso Ruizpalacios -La Cocina
Jane Schoenbrun - I Saw the TV Glow

I'm so happy to see Brady Corbet's name. I have such a soft spot for him after Thirteen and Mysterious Skin.
 
BEST SCREENPLAY
Heretic
A Real Pain
My Old Ass
A Different Man
I Saw the TV Glow

I'm still annoyed with myself that I haven't gotten to the theater to see Heretic yet. That and A Different Man I haven't caught, but the other three are worthy nominees. A Real Pain is my current favorite. 

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed
Janet Planet 
Good One
Problemista
Dìdi

I really didn't like Didi, I'm sorry. 

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
Amy Adams - Nightbitch
Ryan Destiny - The Fire Inside
Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
Keith Kupferer - Ghostlight
Mikey Madison - Anora
Demi Moore - The Substance
Hunter Schafer - Cuckoo
Justice Smith - I Saw the TV Glow
June Squibb - Thelma
Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice

I wish they'd just add an additional nonbinary category instead of combining all genders into one. I'd rather have more winners, not less. Rant aside, there's so many good performances here. 

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Yura Borisov - Anora
Joan Chen - Dìdi
Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
Danielle Deadwyler - The Piano Lesson
Carol Kane - Between the Temples
Karren Karagulian - Anora
Kani Kusruti - Girls Will Be Girls
Brigette Lundy-Paine - I Saw the TV Glow
Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin - Sing Sing
Adam Pearson - A Different Man

Kieran, I love you but you are NOT supporting. Thrilled for Danielle and Yura. 

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Isaac Krasner - Big Boys
Katy O’Brian - Love Lies Bleeding
Mason Alexander Park - National Anthem
René Pérez Joglar - In the Summers
Maisy Stella - My Old Ass

Katy O'Brian is a great choice! Love to see her there. I really enjoyed Maisy in My Old Ass as well. She was adorable. 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Nickel Boys
Janet Planet
La Cocina
The Fire Inside
Nickel Boys certainly did something with their cinematography... If you saw my review last week, you know what I'm getting at. 

BEST EDITING
Jazzy
The Apprentice
Nightbitch
September 5
Dìdi
 
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
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., Jay O. Sanders

His Three Daughters is one of my favorites of the year! Happy for all involved. 

BEST DOCUMENTARY 
Gaucho Gaucho
Hummingbirds
No Other Land
Patrice: The Movie
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
I have No Other Land in my inbox right now. Bumping it up immediately. 
 
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM 
All We Imagine as Light
Black Dog
Flow
Green Border
Hard Truths
Likewise with All We Imagine is Light. Definitely watching that as well.
 
PRODUCERS AWARD 
Alex Coco
Sarah Winshall
Zoë Worth

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD 
Nicholas Colia
Sarah Friedland
Pham Thien An

 
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD 
Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
Carla Gutiérrez
Rachel Elizabeth Seed


BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Hollywood Black
Photographer
Ren Faire

Social Studies

BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES 

Baby Reindeer

Diarra From Detroit

English Teacher 

Shogun 
Fantasmas

Still on my Shogun high, so happy to see them and Baby Reindeer. 

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Brian Jordan Alvarez - English Teacher

Richard Gadd - Baby Reindeer
Lily Gladstone - Under the Bridge

Kathryn Hahn - Agatha All Along

Cristin Milioti - The Penguin

Julianne Moore - Mary & George

Hiroyuki Sanada - Shōgun

Anna Sawai - Shōgun

Andrew Scott - Ripley
Julio Torres - Fantasmas

Kathryn Hahn!! Honestly, how do you pick when they're all combined like this?!

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Tadanobu Asano - Shōgun

Enrico Colantoni - English Teacher
Betty Gilpin - Three Women

Chloe Guidry - Under the Bridge

Moeka Hoshi - Shōgun

Stephanie Koenig - English Teacher

Patti LuPone - Agatha All Along
Nava Mau - Baby Reindeer
Ruth Negga - Presumed Innocent
Brian Tee - Expats

Under The Bridge had a lot of issues, but I'm glad Chloe Guidry got nominated for SOMETHING. She was great in it and I expected Lily to be the only one getting love for this show. (which is also very deserved. She was the best thing about it) 

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Jessica Gunning -Baby Reindeer
Diarra Kilpatrick - Diarra From Detroit
Joe Locke - Agatha All Along
Megan Stott - Penelope
Hoa Xuande - The Sympathizer

Diarra Kilpatrick - Diarra From Detroit

Joe Locke - Agatha All Along

Megan Stott - Penelope

Hoa Xuande - The Sympathizer

Yeah, Joe Locke! Maximoffs for life!

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
How to Die Alone