A legendary list of LGBTQ+ noms at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards!
(L-R) I Saw the TV Glow; The People's Joker; Katy O'Brian
A24; Altered Innocence; A24
It's always great to see an awards season full of queer nominees!
Queer films and artists dominated the nominations at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. I Saw the TV Glow earned six nominations, leading all films alongside Anora, which also had six.
Following the Gotham Awards, the Independent Spirit Awards recognize excellence in independent cinema.
One of the things that makes the Independent Spirit Awards so unique is that it has a $30 million cap on production budgets for films, meaning that some movies like Conclave and Emilia Pérez don't qualify.
As of 2022, the Independent Spirit Awards have gender neutral acting categories, opening the field up to nonbinary actors, who scored two nominations, one in the Supporting Performance category and one in Breakthrough Performance.
Keep scrolling to check out the LGBTQ+ nominations at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards — and make sure tune in to watch the ceremony on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
'I Saw the TV Glow' — Best Feature
Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy Paine in 'I Saw the TV Glow.'
A24
This brilliant existential horror film that perfectly encapsulates the feelings of being trans and not transitioning is one of the big surprises of the awards, leading all films along with Anora with six nominations, including here in Best Feature. It's up against Anora, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, and The Substance.
'In the Summers' — Best First Feature
'In the Summers.'
Music Box Films
Queer Colombian-American director Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio's first film is loosely based on her childhood visiting her father in Colombia during the summers. It won the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic at Sundance.
'Problemista' — Best First Feature
Julio Torres in 'Problemista.'
A24
Julio Torres' first film, Problemista, scored a nomination here thanks to its brilliant new look at the American Dream. The movie follows a young immigrant who dreams of being a toy designer and gets a job working for an eccentric art critic in order to secure a visa. Torres is also nominated for Best First Screenplay.
'Big Boys' — John Cassavetes Award
Isaac Krasner and David Johnson III in 'Big Boys.'
Perfect Dog Pictures
This award is given to the best feature made for under $1 million. Big Boys follows a young man on a camping trip who develops a new crush on another boy there.
'The People's Joker' — John Cassavetes Award
Vera Drew in 'The People's Joker.'
Altered Innocence
Writer/Director Vera Drew just won the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Director for this film and now is up for another award! The People's Joker is the most creative comic book movie you'll ever see, combining the filmmaker's coming out as a trans woman with the origin story of The Joker and a story about trying to break into the comedy scene.
Jane Schoenbrun — Best Director, Best Screenplay
Jane Schoenbrun on the set of 'I Saw the TV Glow.'
A24
Jane Schoenbrun is nominated for both Best Director and Best Screenplay for their work on I Saw the TV Glow. It's the only film nominated in both categories.
Colman Domingo — Best Lead Performance
Colman Domingo in 'Sing Sing.'
A24
Domingo won the Gotham Award for Best Lead for his performance as a wrongfully incarcerated man in Sing Sing, and picked up another nomination here. Could the Oscars be next? Definitely.
Hunter Schafer — Best Lead
Hunter Schafer in 'Cuckoo.'
Neon
One pleasant surprise is seeing trans actress Hunter Schafer nominated for Best Lead for her turn as a Final Girl in the horror movie Cuckoo.
Justice Smith — Best Lead
Justice Smith in 'I Saw the TV Glow.'
A24
We are overjoyed to see Justice Smith pick up a nomination for his layered and haunting role as a teen, young adult, and older man throughout this horror masterpiece.
Brigette Lundy-Paine — Best Supporting Performance
Brigette Lundy-Paine in 'I Saw the TV Glow.'
A24
Smiths' TV Glow co-star is one of two nonbinary performers nominated this year. They play a disaffected teen in the movie who helps to open the main character's eyes.
Katy O'Brian — Breakthrough Performance
Katy O'Brian in 'Love Lies Bleeding.'
A24
Katy O'Brian was one of 2024 most giant breakthrough performers for her role as a troubled lesbian bodybuilder in the stunning thriller Love Lies Bleeding.
Mason Alexander Park — Breakthrough Performance
Mason Alexander Park in 'National Anthem.'
LD Entertainment
Mason Alexander Park, a nonbinary actor, was nominated for playing a queer drag queen and rodeo performer in National Park, a coming-of-age film.
Maisy Stella — Breakthrough Performance
Maisy Stella in 'My Old Ass.'
Amazon MGM Studios
Maisy Stella, who is queer, plays a teen who takes mushrooms, meets her future self, and questions her sexuality in this comedy.
