The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Award nominees were announced on December 4, 2024, celebrating creative independence, original, provocative subject matter, diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in filmmaking.
Congratulations to the Tisch alumni nominated for an award! This year, 17 alumni are nominated for 17 awards across 14 categories.
See the full list of nominees here, and join us in celebrating the Tisch community on Saturday, February 22, 2025!
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer)
Anora
Sean Baker ’98 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Director/Producer
Samantha Quan ’01 (MFA, Grad Acting), Producer
I Saw the TV Glow
Sarah Winshall ’07 (BA, Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies)
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)
Janet Planet
Annie Baker ’03 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), Director/Producer
Andrew Goldman '07 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Producer
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Baker ’98 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)
Anora
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Annie Baker ’03 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing)
Janet Planet
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Brigette Lundy-Paine ’16 (BFA, Drama)
I Saw the TV Glow
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Jomo Fray ’18 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Nickel Boys
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
His Three Daughters
Elizabeth Olsen ’13 (BFA, Drama), Ensemble Cast
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
Hummingbirds
Miguel Drake-McLaughlin ’01 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Co-Director/Producer
PRODUCERS AWARD presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey – The Producers Award, now in its 28th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.
Sarah Winshall ’07 (BA, Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies)
Zoë Worth ’11 (BFA, Drama)
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 31st year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
Nicholas Colia ’19 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Director of Griffin in Summer
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
Ren Faire
Ronald Bronstein ’96 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Executive Producer
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
English Teacher
Jonathan Krisel ’00 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Executive Producer
Shōgun
Michael De Luca ’95 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Executive Producer
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Cristin Milioti (Drama)
The Penguin
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
How to Die Alone
KeiLyn Durrel Jones ’15 (MFA, Grad Acting), Ensemble Cast
*We apologize for any omissions! Please send edits or additions to tsoa.alumni@nyu.edu.