24th Independent Spirit Awards

The 24th Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent filmmaking for 2008, were announced on February 21, 2009. It was hosted by Steve Coogan.

John Cassavetes Award
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
 * Prince of Broadway
 * The Signal
 * Take Out
 * Turn the River

Truer Than Fiction Award
The Order of Myths
 * Anvil! The Story of Anvil
 * Loot

Producers Award
Heather Rae – Frozen River and Ibid
 * Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy – Treeless Mountain and I'll Come Running
 * Jason Orans – Goodbye Solo and Year of the Fish

Someone to Watch Award
Lynn Shelton – My Effortless Brilliance
 * Barry Jenkins – Medicine for Melancholy
 * Nina Paley – Sita Sings the Blues

Robert Altman Award

 * Synecdoche, New York — Charlie Kaufman, Jeanne McCarthy, Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest and Michelle Williams