2026 Nominee Info
Essential dates, information and details for 2026 Spirit Awards nominees
So, you're a Film Independent Spirit Awards nominee... Congratulations! We put this page together just for you. It's designed to provide important info about everything from the Nominee Screener Program and show details, to who determines the Spirit Award winners and where to stay when you're in town for the big event.
We'll make updates here as additional info pertinent to your Spirit Awards experience becomes available.
Here's a list of key dates for all Spirit Awards nominees:
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 – Deadline for nominees to become Film Independent Members, in order to vote for the 2026 Spirit Awards
Friday, December 26 – Early Deadline to confirm Nominee Screener Program participation (see below)
Tuesday, December 29 –Nominee Screening Room launches
Thursday, January 8, 2026 – Nominee materials due (see below)
Saturday, January 10 – Nominee Brunch at The London West Hollywood
Wednesday, January 12 – Final deadline to confirm participation in the Nominee Screener Program
Monday, January 19 – Tuesday, February 3 – Spirit Awards voting period
Sunday, February 15, 2025 – Spirit Awards Ceremony
If you have questions not covered here, please view our FAQ page, or email Drea Clark, Nominations Producer, at dclark@filmindependent.org.
Voting & Membership
Film Independent Members vote to determine the winners of the Spirit Awards.
The winners of the Spirit Awards are voted upon exclusively* by Members of Film Independent. To be eligible to vote for the 2026 Spirit Awards, Members must be current/active as of December 16, 2025. Members who are current/active by December 16 are also eligible to access screeners for voting consideration, which are provided at the discretion of nominees.
Membership is open to all. We encourage you to become a Member and cast your vote! Join now, or contact Evan Ward-Henninger, Director of Membership, at eward-henninger@filmindependent.org to learn more.
* Winners in the John Cassavetes Award, Someone to Watch, Truer Than Fiction and Producers Award categories are selected by the Spirit Awards nominating committee(s).
Nominee Materials
Here's what we'll need from you...
Now that you're officially a nominee, we'll need some additional materials. Drea Clark, Nominations Producer, will follow up with each nominee's official contact to request the following items, which are required for promotional purposes and the awards ceremony.
Please provide materials via downloadable link to Drea Clark: dclark@filmindependent.org.
Nominee email address (plus representative email(s), if applicable) – Will be used for Nominee Brunch invitations. If direct emails are not provided, please plan to pass along Nominee Brunch invitation to nominee.
Film/television program trailer* – Textless/no bug. If available, please send ASAP.
Clips* – 2-3 clips per nominee. Clips should be :30 sec - 1 min in length and reflect nomination category (e.g. Best Lead Performance clips should feature that performer, Best Cinematography clips should highlight photography, Best Screenplay clips should highlight writing). Clip selection for nominee package(s) is at the discretion of Spirit Awards producers. Requests for specific clips may be forthcoming.
Please note: Acting categories do NOT have clip packages during the show. A freeze-frame still graphic of each nominee will be created. For this purpose, we request a brief clip (:10-15 sec) that features a clear medium close-up to close-up of just the nominated performer.
Headshots and stills – Official photos of nominees in the below categories ONLY (JPEG, 300 dpi resolution):
- For Best Screenplay, Best First Screenplay, Best Editing: headshot of nominee
- For Someone to Watch Award, Truer Than Fiction Award, Producers Award: headshot of nominee
- For Best Director and Best Cinematography: headshot, plus still of nominee on set (if available)
Title treatment – Title as it appears onscreen in film/television program. Preferred format: JPEG (2100x1500 pixels, 300 dpi resolution)
Theme song – Track used in opening credits and/or dedicated marketing. Preferred format: .wav or .mp3
Specifics for Robert Altman Award and Best Ensemble in a New Scripted Series ONLY:
- Stills of all award recipient performers in character OR if character stills do not exist for all recipients, headshots of all award recipient performers
- Promotional clips, BTS packages and interview footage from award recipient title (to be used within nominee package, highlighting both the film/television program and the performers being recognized)
* Preferred format for trailer/clips is Digital Quicktime File
- PRO RES 422HQ (1080p 23.98, 29.97 or 59.94)
- Split Audio Track as separate elements — Ch. 1 DIA, 2 EFX, Ch. 3&4 Stereo Music
Nominee Screener Program
We make it easy to get your film or series in front of Spirit Awards voters.
The Nominee Screener Program is a simple and effective way to provide digital screeners to Film Independent Members for voting consideration. During the consideration period, titles are hosted in the Film Independent Nominee Screening Room powered by Vision Media; a trusted, secure hosting environment that voting Members have utilized since 2016.
To ensure equitable consideration for nominees, participation in the Nominee Screener Program is required.
Nominee Screening Room features include forensic and visible watermarking, access across popular platforms such as Apple TV and Roku, full color artwork and synopses, as well as accessibility features including closed caption and audio description (at the discretion of the nominee). Voters who watch screeners must opt in to a restricted use agreement in order to view content.
Please contact Evan Ward-Henninger at eward-henninger@filmindependent.org between December 3–26, 2025 to include your nominee in our Nominee Screening Room launch.
The final deadline to participate is January 12, 2026.
Tables & Individual Seating
Attend the 2026 Spirit Awards and celebrate alongside fellow nominees and industry leaders!
The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place on Sunday, February 15 at the iconic Hollywood Palladium.
The Spirit Awards is not only the premiere awards show for independent film and television, it serves as the annual fundraising gala for Film Independent, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Attendees directly support Film Independent's year-round work championing bold, original storytellers and building audiences to sustain a thriving community for independent creators. Learn more about the impact of our supporters in our annual Impact Report.
The Spirit Awards relies on distributors, production companies and supporters to seat and celebrate nominees at the show.
Tables of ten are available at three levels: Leadership ($40,000/$39,000 is tax-deductible), Trustee ($30,000/$29,000 is tax-deductible) and Patron ($20,000/$19,000 is tax-deductible).
Individual seating is available exclusively as a benefit of joining Film Independent's annual giving group, Arts Circle, at our Spirit level ($5,000/$4,710 is tax-deductible) or above.
To learn more and attend, contact Jennifer Murby, Director of Development, at jmurby@filmindependent.org. For inquiries regarding accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please reach out: accessibility@filmindependent.org or 323 556 9305.
Please note: All guests must be 13 years or older to attend. Exceptions made only for nominees under the age of 13.
Advertising
Celebrate your nomination by highlighting your contender for our voting community.
We offer a number of options to help you bring attention to and build excitement for your nomination:
Implement a digital FYC campaign across the Film Independent and/or Spirit Awards websites (filmindependent.org, spiritawards.com)
Integrate digital FYC advertising into our weekly Wednesday e-newsletter, reaching more than 75,000 opted-in subscribers
Send a dedicated email to our 7,500+ opted-in Members, or larger list of 26,000+ Members and industry subscribers as an invite to a screening, Q&A or other event, or to provide more info about your nominee(s)
Place a print ad in our Spirit Awards Program Book, distributed digitally to our entire community prior to the Spirit Awards ceremony, and displayed in print on show day for attendees
For additional information or recommendations, contact Rebecca Cavallari, Development Senior Manager, at rcavallari@filmindependent.org.
Publicity
We're here to help you make the most of your Spirit Awards experience.
Nominees may be accompanied by one studio or personal publicist on show day. All PR representatives must apply for a credential in order to attend. Visit our Press Center to begin the application process.
The publicist application period is open through January 23, 2026.
To avoid duplicate/incorrect bookings, please check with studio(s) and/or personal publicists before submitting an application.
If you have any questions regarding Spirit Awards publicity, please email Jason Berger, Publicity Manager, at jberger@filmindependent.org.
Recommended Hotels
Looking for a place to stay?
We recommend these conveniently located Official Hotels of the Spirit Awards for your lodging needs:
The London West Hollywood – 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.
An Urban Oasis of Modern Luxury in the Heart of Los Angeles. Perched in the Hills just steps from the legendary Sunset Strip, the award-winning London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills is a fusion of its namesake cities – chic, modern and inviting, offering a tranquil urban oasis. The spacious, all-suite accommodations combine sophisticated comfort, awe-inspiring views, and a signature sense of California cool and understated European luxury. Special room rates can be booked here.
W Hollywood – 6250 Hollywood Blvd.