The Film Independent Spirt Award nominations have been announced, and Ira Sachs’ PETER HUJAR’S DAY leads all films with five nominations, including acting nominations for Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall.
TRAIN DREAMS, BLUE SUN PALACE, SORRY, BABY, LURKER and ONE OF THEM DAYS each received four nominations, while THE PLAGUE and TWINLESS tied with three each.
Here’s a full list of the nominations, along with where you can watch them:
Best Feature
Peter Hujar’s Day
Producers: Jonah Disend, Jordan Drake
- Currently in theaters; SVOD/VOD/Digital estimate: February 2026 (The Criterion Channel)
The Plague
Producers: Derek Dauchy, Joel Edgerton, Roy Lee, Lucy McKendrick, Steven Schneider, Lizzie Shapiro
- Coming to US theaters on December 24th
Sorry, Baby
Producers: Mark Ceryak, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski
- Streaming on HBO Max, Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Train Dreams
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman
- Streaming on Netflix
Twinless
Producers: David Permut, James Sweeney
- Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best First Feature
(Award given to director and producer)
Blue Sun Palace
Director: Constance Tsang
Producers: Sally Sujin Oh, Eli Raskin, Tony Yang
- Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Dust Bunny
Director/Producer: Bryan Fuller
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee
- Coming to US theaters on December 12th
East of Wall
Director/Producer: Kate Beecroft
Producers: Shannon Moss, Melanie Ramsayer, Lila Yacoub
- Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Lurker
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby
- Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
One of Them Days
Director: Lawrence Lamont
Producers: Deniese Davis, Poppy Hanks, James Lopez, Issa Rae, Sara Rastogi
- Streaming on Netflix; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
John Cassavetes Award
Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. (Award given to the writer, director and producer)
The Baltimorons
Director/Writer/Producer: Jay Duplass
Writer/Producer: Michael Strassner
Producers: David Bonnett Jr., Drew Langer
- Streaming on AMC+; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Boys Go to Jupiter
Director/Writer: Julian Glander
- Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Eephus
Director/Writer/Producer: Carson Lund
Writer/Producer: Michael Basta
Writer: Nate Fisher
Producers: David Entin, Tyler Taormina
- Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Esta Isla (This Island)
Directors/Writers/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos
- Current US distribution unknown
Familiar Touch
Director/Writer/Producer: Sarah Friedland
Producers: Alexandra Byer, Matthew Thurm
- Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best Director
Clint Bentley, Train Dreams – Streaming on Netflix
Mary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Lloyd Lee Choi, Lucky Lu – Current US distribution unknown
Ira Sachs, Peter Hujar’s Day – Currently in theaters
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best Screenplay
Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Splitsville – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Angus MacLachlan, A Little Prayer – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
James Sweeney, Twinless – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Christian Swegal, Sovereign – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best First Screenplay
Andrew DeYoung, Friendship – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Elena Oxman, Outerlands – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Alex Russell, Lurker – Streaming on MUBI, Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Syreeta Singleton, One of Them Days – Streaming on Netflix; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Constance Tsang, Blue Sun Palace – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best Lead Performance
Everett Blunck, The Plague – Coming to US theaters on December 24th
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Chang Chen, Lucky Lu – Current US distribution unknown
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams – Streaming on Netflix
Dylan O’Brien, Twinless – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Keke Palmer, One of Them Days – Streaming on Netflix; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Théodore Pellerin, Lurker – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Tessa Thompson, Hedda – Streaming on Prime Video
Ben Whishaw, Peter Hujar’s Day – Currently in theaters
Best Supporting Performance
Naomi Ackie, Sorry, Baby – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Zoey Deutch, Nouvelle Vague – Streaming on Netflix
Kirsten Dunst, Roofman – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental; Coming to Paramount+ and MGM+ on December 9th
Rebecca Hall, Peter Hujar’s Day – Currently in theaters
Nina Hoss, Hedda – Streaming on Prime Video
Jane Levy, A Little Prayer – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Archie Madekwe, Lurker – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Kali Reis, Rebuilding – Currently in theaters
Jacob Tremblay, Sovereign – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Haipeng Xu, Blue Sun Palace – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best Breakthrough Performance
Liz Larsen, The Baltimorons – Streaming on AMC+; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Misha Osherovich, She’s the He – Current US distribution unknown
Kayo Martin, The Plague – Coming to US theaters on December 24th
SZA, One of Them Days – Streaming on Netflix; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Tabatha Zimiga, East of Wall – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Best Cinematography
Alex Ashe, Peter Hujar’s Day – Currently in US theaters
Norm Li, Blue Sun Palace – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
David J. Thompson, Warfare – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams – Streaming on Netflix
Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, Dust Bunny – Coming to US theaters on December 12th
Best Editing
Ben Leonberg, Good Boy – Streaming on Shudder; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Carson Lund, Eephus – Streaming on MUBI; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Fin Oates, Warfare – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Sara Shaw, Splitsville – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Sofía Subercaseaux, The Testament of Ann Lee – Coming to US theaters on December 25th
Robert Altman Award
(Award given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
The Long Walk – Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Director: Francis Lawrence
Casting Director: Rich Delia
Ensemble Cast: Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing
Best Documentary
(Award given to the director and producer)
Come See Me in the Good Light – Streaming on Apple TV
Director/Producer: Ryan White
Producers: Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen
Endless Cookie – Coming to US theaters on December 5th
Director: Peter Scriver
Director/Producer: Seth Scriver
Producers: Dan Bekerman, Alex Ordanis, Jason Ryle, Chris Yurkovich
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow – Current US distribution unknown
Director/Producer: Julia Loktev
The Perfect Neighbor – Streaming on Netflix
Director/Producer: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne
The Tale of Silyan – Currently in US theaters
Director/Producer: Tamara Kotevska
Producers: Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi, Jordanco Petkovski
Best International Film
(Award given to the director)
All That’s Left of You – Currently in US theaters
Palestine, Jordan, Germany, Cyprus
Director: Cherien Dabis
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl – Streaming on HBO Max; Available on VOD/Digital for sale/rental
Zambia, UK, Ireland
Director: Rungano Nyoni
A Poet – Coming to US theaters on January 30th, 2026
Colombia
Director: Simón Mesa Soto
The Secret Agent – Currently in US theaters
Brazil
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Sirāt – Coming to US theaters in January 2026
Spain
Director: Oliver Laxe
Producers Award
The Producers Award, now in its 29th year, honors an emerging producer who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrates the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Emma Hannaway
Luca Intili
Tony Yang
Someone to Watch Award
The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 32nd year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Tatti Ribeiro, director of Valentina
Neo Sora, director of Happyend
Annapurna Sriram, director of Fucktoys
Truer Than Fiction Award
The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 31st year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Tony Benna, director of André is an Idiot
Rajee Samarasinghe, director of Your Touch Makes Others Invisible
Brittany Shyne, director of Seeds
Here are the television nominations:
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
(Award given to the creator, executive producer and co-executive producer)
Citizen Nation
Creator: Bret Sigler
Executive Producers: Christopher Buck, Kyra Darnton
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time
Executive Producers: Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn, Ryan Coogler, Myles Estey, Ted Skillman, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Peter Nicks, Kalia King, Carolyn Payne, Sean David Johnson
Co-Executive Producer: Kelli Buchanan
Pee-wee as Himself
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Executive Producers: Issa Rae, Montrel McKay, John Maggio, Rachel Dretzin, John Ealer, Jonathan Berry, Dave Becky, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Co-Executive Producers: Esther Dere, Zachary Herrmann
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae
Executive Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow, Amy Kaufman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker
Co-Executive Producer: Mark Becker
Best New Scripted Series
(Award given to the creator, executive producer and co-executive producer)
Adolescence
Creators/Executive Producers: Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham
Executive Producers: Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller
Co-Executive Producers: Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm
Common Side Effects
Creators/Executive Producers: Joe Bennett, Steve Hely
Executive Producers: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, Dustin Davis, James Merrill, Sean Buckelew, Benjy Brooke, Kelly Crews, Suzanna Makkos
Co-Executive Producer: Dave King
Forever
Creator/Executive Producer: Mara Brock Akil
Executive Producers: Regina King, Susie Fitzgerald, Shana C. Waterman, Reina King, Anthony Hemingway, Judy Blume, Erika Harrison, Sara E. White
Co-Executive Producer: Jerron Horton
Mr Loverman
Executive Producers: Lennie James, Hong Khaou, Jo McClellan, Faye Ward, Hannah Farrell, Hannah Price
North of North
Creators/Executive Producers: Stacey Aglok MacDonald, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
Executive Producers: Garry Campbell, Anya Adams, Susan Coyne, Miranda de Pencier
Co-Executive Producers: Teresa M. Ho, Michael Goldbach, Kathryn Borel Jr., JP Larocque
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Sydney Chandler, Alien: Earth
Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Ethan Hawke, The Lowdown
Lennie James, Mr Loverman
Anna Lambe, North of North
Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Lovie Simone, Forever
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman
Babou Ceesay, Alien: Earth
Sharon D. Clarke, Mr Loverman
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Stephen McKinley Henderson, A Man on the Inside
Poorna Jagannathan, Deli Boys
Xosha Roquemore, Forever
Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex
Ben Whishaw, Black Doves
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Asif Ali, Deli Boys
Wally Baram, Overcompensating
Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Michael Cooper Jr., Forever
Ernest Kingsley Junior, Washington Black
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
Chief of War
Ensemble Cast: Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale’o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Udom
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