9th Independent Spirit Awards


The 9th Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent filmmaking for 1993, were announced on March 19, 1994 at the Hollywood Palladium. Hosted by Robert Townsend.

Controversy

A committee of the governing body of the Independent Features Project/West determined that A Dangerous Woman by Gramercy Pictures, jointly owned by Universal Pictures and Polygram, was not eligible, according to President Cathy Main.

Nominees and winners

Best FeatureBest Director
Short Cuts
Robert Altman - Short Cuts
  • Ang Lee - The Wedding Banquet
  • Victor Nuñez - Ruby in Paradise
  • Robert Rodriguez - El Mariachi
  • John Turturro - Mac
    • Best Male LeadBest Female Lead
    Jeff Bridges - American Heart
  • Vincent D'Onofrio - Household Saints
  • Mitchell Lichtenstein - The Wedding Banquet
  • Matthew Modine - Equinox
  • Tyrin Turner - Menace II Society
    		• Ashley Judd - Ruby in Paradise
  • Suzy Amis - The Ballad of Little Jo
  • May Chin - The Wedding Banquet
  • Ariyan A. Johnson - Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.
  • Emma Thompson - Much Ado About Nothing
    • Best Supporting MaleBest Supporting Female
    Christopher Lloyd - Twenty Bucks
  • David Chung - The Ballad of Little Jo
  • Tate Donovan - Inside Monkey Zetterland
  • Todd Field - Ruby in Paradise
  • Edward Furlong - American Heart
    		• Lili Taylor - Household Saints
  • Lara Flynn Boyle - Equinox
  • Gua Ah-leh - The Wedding Banquet
  • Lucinda Jenney - American Heart
  • Julianne Moore - Short Cuts
    • Best ScreenplayBest First Feature
    Short Cuts - Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt
  • Combination Platter - Edwin Baker and Tony Chan
  • Household Saints - Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay
  • Ruby in Paradise - Victor Nuñez
  • The Wedding Banquet - Ang Lee, Neil Peng and James Schamus
    		• El Mariachi
  • American Heart
  • Combination Platter
  • Mac
  • Menace II Society
    • Best CinematographyBest Foreign Film
    Menace II Society - Lisa Rinzler
  • American Heart - James R. Bagdonas
  • Chain of Desire - Nancy Schreiber
  • Equinox - Elliot Davis
  • Ruby in Paradise - Alex Vlacos
    		• The Piano • Australia/New Zealand'
  • Like Water for Chocolate • Mexico
  • Naked • UK
  • Orlando • UK
  • The Story of Qiu Ju'' • China/Hong Kong

    • Films that received multiple nominations

    Films that won multiple awards

    Special awards

    [John Cassavetes Award]