Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award

The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $1,000,000 by the Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after actor/screenwriter/director John Cassavetes, a pioneer of American independent film. The award is given to the directors, writers and producers of a film.

History
Created for the 15th Independent Spirit Awards, it was originally called the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (Under $500,000). After that, the rules changed so that any feature film budgeted under $500,000 could be eligible (regardless of how many films the director has made), hence the new name. The first recipient of the award was the horror film The Blair Witch Project. In 2023, the rules changed to include any feature film budgeted under $1,000,000.

Multiple nominees

 * Sean Baker - 3 (no wins)
 * So Yong Kim - 3 (no wins)
 * Bradley Rust Gray - 3 (no wins)
 * George Rush - 2 (two wins)
 * Laura Wagner - 2 (one win)
 * Jim McKay - 2 (one win)
 * Aaron Katz - 2 (one win)
 * Gary Winick - 2 (one win)
 * Giulia Caruso - 2 (one win)
 * Ki Jin Kim - 2 (one win)
 * Jay Van Hoy - 2 (no wins)
 * Lars Knudsen - 2 (no wins)
 * Karin Chien - 2 (no wins)
 * Ben Howe - 2 (no wins)
 * Darren Dean - 2 (no wins)
 * Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie - 2 (one win)