Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance is an award presented annually at the Independent [Spirit Awards] to honor outstanding performances given by a new talent in an independent film. It was first presented in 1995 at the 10th [Independent Spirit Awards] as Best Debut Performance, which was won by Sean Nelson for his performance in the film Fresh.
The category was then discontinued in 2005, but it was later re-introduced as Best Breakthrough Performance at the 2023 ceremony. The Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series category was added ahead of the 2024 ceremony.