This year at the Directors Close-Up, we’re celebrating the immensely talented nominees of the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

The series will consist of nine online sessions taking place over the course of two weeks; January 27-31 at 12:00 pm PT, and February 3-6 at 5:30 pm PT.

Below you’ll find the official schedule for DCU 2025 but, before you start scrolling, series passes are available exclusively to Film Independent Members – and they’re free! You’ve registered for yours, right?
 
Not a Member? Join now.

Please note: If you are joining or renewing, please allow up to one business day for your Membership to be processed. Individuals who purchase passes after 8:00 am PT on January 24 are not guaranteed live access to the first event of the series. All aspects of the Director’s Close-Up series (schedule, format, participants, etc.) are subject to change without prior notice.
 
Check back regularly for more details, speakers and panelists, and more.
 

Monday, January 27

The Spirit of Independence

12:00 pm PT

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Alonso Ruizpalacios, La Cocina
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow

Moderated by Jennifer Wilson (Senior Programmer, Film Independent)
 

Tuesday, January 28

Best New Scripted Series

12:00 pm PT

Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Diarra Kilpatrick, Diarra From Detroit
Rachel Kondo, Shōgun
Justin Marks, Shōgun
Julio Torres, Fantasmas

Moderated by Wendy Calhoun (Writer/EP; Prodigal Son, Empire)
 

Wednesday, January 29

Best International Film

12:00 pm PT

Agnieszka Holland, Green Border
Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light
Gints Zilbalodis, Flow

Moderated by Robert Abele (film critic/journalist)
 

Thursday, January 30

Best Documentary

12:00 pm PT

Estefania Contreras, Hummingbirds
Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Hummingbirds
Michael Dweck, Gaucho Gaucho
Johan Grimonprez, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Gregory Kershaw, Gaucho Gaucho
Ted Passon, Patrice: The Movie

Moderated by David Wilson (Festival Director, True/False Film Fest)
 

Friday, January 31

Best First Feature

12:00 pm PT

Annie Baker, Janet Planet
Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio, In the Summers
Julio Torres, Problemista
Sean Wang, Didi
Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson

Moderated by Shelby Stone (Executive Producer, The Chi)
 

Monday, February 3

John Cassavetes Award

5:30 pm PT

Vera Drew, The People’s Joker
Morrisa Maltz, Jazzy
Kelly O’Sullivan, Ghostlight
Corey Sherman, Big Boys
Shuchi Talati, Girls Will Be Girls
Alex Thompson, Ghostlight

Moderated by Darrien Michele Gipson (Executive Director, SAGindie)
 

Tuesday, February 4

Best New Non-Scripted/Documentary Series

5:30 pm PT

Lauren Greenfield, Social Studies
David Gauvey Herbert, Ren Faire
Pagan Harleman, Photographer
Lance Oppenheim, Ren Faire
Justin Simien, Hollywood Black
Chai Vasarhelyi, Photographer
Johanna Woolford Gibbon, Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color

Moderated by PJ Raval (Director; Who We Become, Call Her Ganda)
 

Wednesday, February 5

Best Screenplay

5:30 pm PT

Scott Beck, Heretic
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Megan Park, My Old Ass
Aaron Schimberg, A Different Man
Bryan Woods, Heretic

Moderated by Daniel Waters
 

Thursday, February 6

Best First Screenplay

5:30 pm PT

Joanna Arnow, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed
Annie Baker, Janet Planet
India Donaldson, Good One
Julio Torres, Problemista
Sean Wang, Didi

Moderated by Ritesh Mehta
 

Accessibility

Film Independent is committed to hosting events that are accessible. For inquiries regarding accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@filmindependent.org or 323 556 9305.