The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Director is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.

History

It was first presented in 1985 with Joel Coen and Martin Scorsese being the first winners of the category for Blood Simple and After Hours, respectively. Directors Barry Jenkins, Tom McCarthy, Joel Coen and Alexander Payne are the only winners who have received this award more than once, with two wins each. Todd Haynes holds the record of most nominations with six (winning one for Far from Heaven), followed by Gus Van Sant with five. Martha Coolidge was the first female director to win the award, receiving it in 1991. Chloé Zhao was the first female of color to win the category in 2020.

Winners and nominees

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple nominations (3 or more)

Multiple wins