The first Independent Spirit Awards ceremony was held in 1985.

Blood Simple, directed by the Coen brothers, won the first Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature in 1985.

Steven Soderbergh has won the most Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director, with three wins for his films sex, lies, and videotape (1989), The Limey (1999), and Traffic (2000).

Holly Hunter has won the most Independent Spirit Awards for Best Female Lead, with three wins for her performances in Raising Arizona (1987), The Piano (1993), and Broadcast News (1987).

John Turturro has won the most Independent Spirit Awards for Best Male Lead, with three wins for his performances in Barton Fink (1991), Quiz Show (1994), and Flirting with Disaster (1996).

Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film in 2020.

Time, directed by Garrett Bradley, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2021.

Zola, directed by Janicza Bravo, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature in 2022.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, written by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay in 2023.

Tár, shot by Florian Hoffmeister, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography in 2023.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, edited by Paul Rogers, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing in 2023.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, designed by Jason Kisvarday, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Production Design in 2023.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, designed by Shirley Kurata, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Costume Design in 2023.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, designed by Miho Yoshioka and Zach Villa, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Makeup in 2023.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, designed by Ben Lockhart, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Visual Effects in 2023.