Independent Spirit Awards of 1986

The 1st Independent Spirit Awards were given by Film Independent to honor the best independent film making of 1985.

Best Cinematography

* "After Hours" - Michael Ballhaus
* "Blood Simple" - Barry Sonnenfeld
* "Dim Sum" - Michael Chin
* "Trouble in Mind" - Toyomichi Kurita

Best Director

* "After Hours" - Martin Scorsese
* "Blood Simple" - Joel Coen
* "Smooth Talk" - Joyce Chopra
* "The Trip to Bountiful" - Peter Masterson

Best Feature

* "After Hours" - Amy Robinson, Robert Colesberry, Griffin Dunne
*"Blood Simple" - Ethan Coen
*"Smooth Talk" - Martin Rosen
*"The Trip to Bountiful" - Sterling Van Wagenen , Horton Foote

Best Female Lead

* "After Hours" - Rosanna Arquette
* "Smooth Talk" - Laura Dern
* "The Trip to Bountiful" - Geraldine Page
* "Trouble in Mind" - Lori Singer

Best Foreign Film

* "Dreamchild" - Gavin Millar
* "Kiss of the Spider Woman" - Hector Babenco
* "Ran (film)" - Akira Kurosawa
* "The Hit" - Stephen Frears

Best Male Lead

* "Blood Simple" - M. Emmet Walsh
*"Crossover Dreams" - Ruben Blades
*"Smooth Talk" - Treat Williams
*"Wild Rose" - Tom Bower

Best Screenplay

*"After Hours" - Joseph Minion
*"Blood Simple" - Ethan Coen , Joel Coen
*"Smooth Talk" - Tom Cole
* "The Trip to Bountiful" - Horton Foote