The 18th Independent Spirit Awards, honoring excellence in independent film, took place on March 22, 2003 on Santa Monica beach.
| Feature | Far from Heaven |
| First Feature (More Than $500,000) | Peter Care, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys |
| John Cassavetes Award (Feature Less Than $500,000) | Rebecca Miller, Personal Velocity |
| Male Lead | Derek Luke, Antwone Fisher |
| Female Lead | Julianne Moore, Far from Heaven |
| Supporting Male | Dennis Quaid, Far from Heaven |
| Supporting Female | Emily Mortimer, Lovely & Amazing |
| Debut Performance | Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding |
| Director | Todd Haynes, Far from Heaven |
| Screenplay | Mike White, The Good Girl |
| First Screenplay | Erin Cressida Wilson, Secretary |
| Cinematography | Edward Lachman, Far from Heaven |
| Foreign Film | Alfonso Cuaron, Y Tu Mama Tambien (Mexico) |
| Documentary | Michael Moore, Bowling for Columbine |
| Someone to Watch Award | Przemyslaw Reut, director, Paradox Lake |
| Motorola Producers Award | Effie T. Brown, Real Women Have Curves and Stranger Inside |
| Truer Than Fiction Award | Jennifer Dworkin, Love & Diane |
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