The
Independent Spirit Awards (originally known as the
FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in
1984, are awards dedicated to
independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with
acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of
independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit Awards. The Independent Spirit Awards are presented by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.Since 2006, winners have received a trophy depicting a bird sitting atop of a pole with the shoestrings from the previous design wrapped around the pole.