Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award
The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by 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.
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. In 2001, the award was given to any feature film budgeted under $500,000 regardless of how many films the director has made.
Winners
- 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
- 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. Willliams, producers
- 2001: Jackpot - Michael Polish, screenwriter/director; Mark Polish, screenwriter/producer
- 2002: Personal Velocity - Rebecca Miller, screenwriter/director; Lemore Syvan, Alexis Alexanian, and Gary Winick, producers
- 2003: The Station Agent - Thomas McCarthy, screenwriter/director; Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, and Kathryn Tucker, producers
- 2004: Mean Creek - Jacob Aaron Estes, screenwriter/director; Hagai Shaham, Rick Rosenthal, and Susan Johnson, producers
- 2005: Conventioneers - Mora Stephens, screenwriter/director; Joel Viertel, screenwriter/producer
- 2006: Quinceanera
- 2007: August Evening - Chris Eska, screenwriter/director; Connie Hill and Jason Wehling, producers
- 2008: In Search of a Midnight Kiss - Alex Holdridge, screenwriter/director; Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy, producers
- 2009: Humpday - Lynn Shelton, screenwriter/director; Steven Schardt and Jennifer Maas, producers
- 2010: Daddy Longlegs - Ben Safdie & Joshua Safdie, screenwriters/directors; Casey Neistat and Tom Scott, producers
- 2011: Pariah - Dee Rees, screenwriter/director, Nekisa Cooper, producer