Film Independent announces 2024 Spirit Awards emerging filmmaker grants

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organisation that produces the Spirit Awards, announced that the winners of the 2024 Emerging Filmmaker Awards – three filmmakers who will each receive a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant – will be announced at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch, taking place on Sunday, January 6 at official hotel partner Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, CA.

Every year, exceptional emerging filmmakers are acknowledged by the Spirit Awards, with nominees and winners chosen by committee. The three awards are: The Someone to Watch Award, recognising talented narrative filmmakers of singular vision who have not yet received appropriate recognition; The Producers Award, presented by Official Spirit Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, honoring emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films; and the Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of nonfiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. Past winners include Mollye Asher, Jessica Beshir, Elegance Bratton, Mel Eslyn, Debra Granik, Nikyatu Jusu, Gerry Kim, Shaka King, Bing Liu, Kelly Reichardt, Lizzie Shapiro and Chloé Zhao, to list a few.

“The Emerging Filmmaker Awards are an essential part of the Spirit Awards, recognising remarkable new talent in both directing and producing,” said Josh Welsh, Film Independent President. “We’re excited to share who the recipients of these awards will be when we announce them on January 6 at Hotel Case del Mar.”

Film and television submissions for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards are being accepted through October 6. The Spirit Awards and Emerging Filmmaker Awards Nominees will be announced on December 5, on Film Independent’s YouTube, Facebook and X channels. Winners will be revealed at the ceremony taking place Sunday, February 25, 2024 in Santa Monica. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round slate of programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity and inclusion in the industry.