The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Award nominees were announced on December 3, 2025, celebrating creative independence, original, provocative subject matter, diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in filmmaking.
Congratulations to the Tisch alumni and former students nominated for an award! This year, 9 alumni received 9 nominations for their work on 7 projects. See the full list of nominees here, and the NYU Tisch nominees below. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer)
Peter Hujar’s Day
Producers: Jonah Disend ’96 (MA, GSAS/Performance Studies)
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. (Award given to the writer, director and producer)
Esta Isla (This Island)
Directors/Writers/Producers: Cristian Carretero ’14 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film),
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos ’09 (MFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing)
BEST DIRECTOR
Mary Bronstein ’01 (BFA, Drama)
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
BEST EDITING
Sara Shaw ’18 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Splitsville
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (Award given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
The Long Walk
Ensemble Cast: Ben Wang ’ 20 (BFA, Drama)
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow
Director/Producer: Julia Loktev ’00 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer and Co-Executive Producer)
Pee-wee as Himself
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf ’05 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & Television), Ronald Bronstein ’96 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & Television)
*We apologize for any omissions! Please send edits or additions to tsoa.alumni@nyu.edu.