38th Independent Spirit Awards

The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films and television series of 2022, were presented by Film Independent on March 4, 2023. The film nominations were announced live via YouTube on November 22, 2022 by Raúl Castillo and Taylour Paige, while the television nominations were announced on December 13, 2022 by Asia Kate Dillon.

Like last year, the ceremony was separated from its previous longtime berth on the day before the Academy Awards. Instead, there were eight days separating the ceremonies, with the 95th Academy Awards taking place on March 12, 2023. This ceremony occurred during the middle of final Oscar voting, taking place between March 2 and March 7, meaning the winners of this year's Independent Spirit Awards may have had an impact on Oscar voters.

For the first time since 1997, the ceremony wasn't broadcast live on the American basic cable channel IFC but instead streamed live on IMDb's YouTube channel, as well as both Film Independent's YouTube channel and Twitter. American comedian Hasan Minhaj hosted the ceremony.

The A24 absurdist comedy drama Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven awards, including Best Feature, sweeping every category it was nominated for and winning the most awards for a single film in the history of the Independent Spirit Awards.

Changes
This year, gender-neutral categories were introduced. The organization has switched the traditionally separated male and female lead and supporting categories for film and television, and instead combined them with ten nominations each in two new categories: Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance. The same has become true for the television categories with Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series as well as the newly added award for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series. Additionally, a retired film category was re-introduced: Best Breakthrough Performance; it was discontinued in 2005, but is limited to only five nominees. Film Independent has also increased the budget cap for eligible films to $30 million to account for the rising cost of production. Over the years, the budget cap has increased incrementally from $20 million in 2006 to $22.5 million in 2019. The budget cap for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, presented to a film's writer, director and producer, also increased from $500K to $1 million. In response to the continuing effects of COVID-19 on filmmakers and the industry, Film Independent once again waived the theatrical run typically required for eligibility, ensuring more opportunities for independent filmmakers to be recognized and celebrated.

John Cassavetes Award
(The award is given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)

The Cathedral
 * The African Desperate
 * Holy Emy
 * A Love Song
 * Something in the Dirt

Robert Altman Award
(The award is given to the film's director, casting director, and ensemble cast)


 * Women Talking – Sarah Polley (director), John Buchan (casting director), Jason Knight (casting director), Shayla Brown, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, Ben Whishaw, and August Winter

Producers Award
The award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films.


 * Tory Lenosky
 * Liz Cardenas
 * David Grove Churchill Viste

Someone to Watch Award
The award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.


 * Nikyatu Jusu – Nanny
 * Adamma Ebo – Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
 * Araceli Lemos – Holy Emy

Truer than Fiction Award
The award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.


 * Reid Davenport – I Didn't See You There
 * Isabel Castro – Mija
 * Rebeca Huntt – Beba