The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Award winners were announced on February 22nd, 2025, 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, 7 alumni won 7 awards for their work on 5 projects.
See the full list of winners here, and the Tisch nominees here.
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
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Baker ’98 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)
Anora
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
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)
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
Shōgun
Michael De Luca ’95 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Executive Producer
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.
