Indie Series Awards: A Legacy Timeline
A year-by-year look at how a scrappy online idea became the premier global celebration of independently produced scripted series.
2009 — The Spark
The idea for an awards show dedicated to indie, web-first scripted series takes shape — a bold move at a time when the industry barely acknowledged digital storytelling. The mission: honor creativity, not budgets.
2010 — Year One: The First Ceremony
The inaugural show, still known as the Indie Soap Awards, debuts online.
Winners recorded their acceptance speeches on webcams — raw, earnest, and straight from the heart.
This was the year the movement officially had a voice.
Winners recorded their acceptance speeches on webcams — raw, earnest, and straight from the heart.
This was the year the movement officially had a voice.
2011 — Stepping Into the Real World
The ISAs go live for the first time.
Alvin Ailey Studios in New York. A real stage. A real audience. An Emmy-winning host.
A clear message: indie creators deserve a spotlight, not a sidebar.
Alvin Ailey Studios in New York. A real stage. A real audience. An Emmy-winning host.
A clear message: indie creators deserve a spotlight, not a sidebar.
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2012 — The Split: Comedy & Drama
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The field grows so quickly that the Awards formally separate into Drama and Comedy categories.
It’s a quietly revolutionary shift — acknowledging that indie creators aren’t just making content; they’re building genres.
It’s a quietly revolutionary shift — acknowledging that indie creators aren’t just making content; they’re building genres.
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2013 — Craft Takes Center Stage
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The show expands its craft categories, recognizing directing, writing, acting, editing, and design work.
For the first time, creators see the ISAs not just as an awards show — but as a professional standard.
2014 — The West Coast Leap
The 5th Annual ISAs move to the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
A packed house, a red carpet, and a host with serious Hollywood credentials.
The indie world arrives in Los Angeles, and the industry takes notice.
2015–2017 — The Field Explodes
Submissions surge. Categories expand again.
Creators from around the world — Europe, South America, Australia — begin entering in record numbers.
The Awards shed the last remnants of their “niche” reputation.
2018 — Genre Diversity Rolls In
Sci-fi, thrillers, LGBTQ+ narratives, period pieces, mockumentaries — if you can dream it, someone is making it.
The ISAs evolve to match the moment, with new categories and broadened judging to reflect the explosion of styles.
2019 — A Truly International Stage
Series from multiple continents compete head-to-head.
The ISA brand becomes global, with nominees flying in from all corners of the map.
Indie creators now have a worldwide platform.
2020 — The Resilient Year
In the face of industry shutdowns, the indie world refuses to go silent.
Creators pivot, innovate, and adapt — and the ISAs continue, proving the community’s strength and independence.
2021–2023 — The Era of Professionalization
Web-first series are no longer “alternatives.”
Budgets increase. Cinematic quality skyrockets.
The ISAs now stand as a barometer for exceptional work outside the studio system.
2024–Present — Legacy Status
The Indie Series Awards officially enters its mature phase.
New categories. New formats. New audiences.
Yet the core mission remains unchanged: champion independent artists and celebrate the stories only they can tell.