The 2026 Emerging Filmmaker Awards nominees will be announced, along with Spirit Awards film and television nominees in all categories, on December 3, 2025.

PRODUCERS AWARD

The Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films. Past winners include Gina Kwon (Me and You and Everyone We Know), Caroline Baron (Capote) and Effie Brown (Real Women Have Curves).

2025 Producers Award Winner

Sarah Winshall

2024 Producers Award Winner

Monique Walton

2023 Producers Award Winner

Tory Lenosky
 

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD

The Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The recipients of this award become Film Independent Fellows. Past winners include Marc Forster (Everything Put Together), Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha) and Larry Fessenden (Habit).

2025 Someone to Watch Award Winner

Sarah Friedland – director, Familiar Touch

2024 Someone to Watch Award Winner

Monica Sorelle – director, Mountains

2023 Someone to Watch Award Winner

Nikyatu Jusu – director, Nanny
 

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

The Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of nonfiction features who has not yet received significant attention. The recipients of this award become Film Independent Fellows. Past winners include Bing Liu (Minding the Gap), Adele Horne (The Tailenders), Garrett Scott and Ian Olds (Occupation: Dreamland) and Errol Morris (Fast, Cheap & Out of Control).

2025 Truer Than Fiction Award Winner

Rachel Elizabeth Seed – director, A Photographic Memory

2024 Truer Than Fiction Award Winner

Set Hernandez – director, unseen

2023 Truer Than Fiction Award Winner

Reid Davenport – director, I Didn’t See You There