6th Independent Spirit Awards


The 6th Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent filmmaking for 1990, were announced on March 23, 1991 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The nominations were announced on January 20, 1991. It was hosted by Buck Henry.

Winners and nominees

Best FeatureBest Director
The GriftersHenry: Portrait of a Serial KillerThe Plot Against HarryPump Up the VolumeTo Sleep with AngerCharles Burnett - To Sleep with Anger
Best Male LeadBest Female Lead
Danny Glover - To Sleep with Anger
  • Martin Priest - The Plot Against Harry
  • Christopher Reid - House Party
  • Michael Rooker - Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
  • Christian Slater - Pump Up the Volume
    		• Anjelica Huston - The Grifters
  • Mary Alice - To Sleep with Anger
  • Eszter Balint - Bail Jumper
  • Carolyn Farina - Metropolitan
  • Joanne Woodward - Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
    • Best Supporting MaleBest Supporting Female
    Bruce Davison - Longtime Companion
  • Willem Dafoe - Wild at Heart
  • Robin Harris - House Party
  • Ben Lang - The Plot Against Harry
  • Tom Towles - Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
    		• Sheryl Lee Ralph - To Sleep with Anger
  • Tracy Arnold - Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
  • Ethel Ayler - To Sleep with Anger
  • Tisha Campbell - House Party
  • A.J. Johnson - House Party
    • Best ScreenplayBest First Feature
    To Sleep with Anger - Charles BurnettHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - John McNaughton and Richard FireMetropolitan - Whit StillmanThe Plot Against Harry - Michael RoemerPump Up the Volume - Allan MoyleMetropolitan - Whit StillmanHouse Party - Reginald Hudlin and Warrington HudlinLightning Over Braddock: A Rustbowl Fantasy - Tony BubaThe Natural History of Parking Lots - Everett Lewis and Aziz GhazalTwister - Michael Almereyda and Wieland Schulz-Keil
    Best CinematographyBest Foreign Film
    Wild at Heart - Frederick ElmesHouse Party - Peter DemingKing of New York - Bojan BazelliLife Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive - Amir MokriThe Plot Against Harry - Robert M. YoungSweetie • AustraliaBlack Rain • JapanA City of Sadness • TaiwanThe Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover • France/Netherlands/UKFreeze, Die, Come to Life • Soviet Union

    Special awards

    Friend of Independents Award

    [Independent Spirit [John Cassavetes Award|John Cassavetes Award]]

    Special Distinction Award