The nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards are out. Four of the five Best Features could be Academy Award nominees for Best Picture– Whiplash, Boyhood, Birdman, and Selma. Their 5th nominee is Love is Strange. Very odd that The Imitation Game isn’t included, but that’s really an Oscar movie. Boyhood director Richard Linklater is hugely popular at the Spirit Awards. But I do think Ava DuVernay and Selma are going to rock that tent in February.
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2015 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak
BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle Whiplash
Ava DuVernay Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater Boyhood
David Zellner Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
BEST SCREENPLAY
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy Nightcrawler
Jim Jarmusch Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias Love is Strange
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah
Dear White People Director/Producer: Justin Simien Producers: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe
Nightcrawler Director: Dan Gilroy Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak
Obvious Child Director: Gillian Robespierre Producer: Elisabeth Holm
She’s Lost Control Director/Producer: Anja Marquardt Producers: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Desiree Akhavan Appropriate Behavior
Sara Colangelo Little Accidents
Justin Lader The One I Love
Anja Marquardt She’s Lost Control
Justin Simien Dear White People
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
Blue Ruin Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
It Felt Like Love Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman Producers: Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner
Land Ho! Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz & Martha Stephens Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy
Man From Reno Writer/Director: Dave Boyle Writers: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman Producer: Ko Mori
Test Writer/Director/Producer: Chris Mason Johnson Producer: Chris Martin
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Marion Cotillard The Immigrant
Rinko Kikuchi Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Julianne Moore Still Alice
Jenny Slate Obvious Child
Tilda Swinton Only Lovers Left Alive
BEST MALE LEAD
André Benjamin Jimi: All Is By My Side
Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
John Lithgow Love is Strange
David Oyelowo Selma
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Patricia Arquette Boyhood
Jessica Chastain A Most Violent Year
Carmen Ejogo Selma
Andrea Suarez Paz Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Emma Stone Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Riz Ahmed Nightcrawler
Ethan Hawke Boyhood
Alfred Molina Love is Strange
Edward Norton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
J.K. Simmons Whiplash
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Darius Khondji The Immigrant
Emmanuel Lubezki Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Sean Porter It Felt Like Love
Lyle Vincent A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Bradford Young Selma
BEST EDITING
Sandra Adair Boyhood
Tom Cross Whiplash
John Gilroy Nightcrawler
Ron Patane A Most Violent Year
Adam Wingard The Guest
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
20,000 Days on Earth Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Producers: Dan Bowen, James Wilson
CITIZENFOUR Director/Producer: Laura Poitras Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky
Stray Dog Director: Debra Granik Producer: Anne Rosellini
The Salt of the Earth Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders Producer: David Rosier
Virunga Director/Producer: Orlando von Einsiedel Producer: Joanna Natasegara
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
Force Majeure (Sweden) Director: Ruben Östlund
Ida (Poland) Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan (Russia) Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Mommy (Canada) Director: Xavier Dolan
Norte, the End of History (Philippines) Director: Lav Diaz
Under the Skin (United Kingdom) Director: Jonathan Glazer
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
Inherent Vice Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon
SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD
Foxcatcher Director/Producer: Bennett Miller Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum
18th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 18th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.
Chad Burris Elisabeth Holm Chris Ohlson
21st ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 21st annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
H. Directors: Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia
The Retrieval Director: Chris Eska
20th ANNUAL LENSCRAFTERS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 20th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by LensCrafters is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LensCrafters.
Approaching the Elephant Director: Amanda Rose Wilder
Evolution of a Criminal Director: Darius Clark Monroe
The Kill Team Director: Dan Krauss
The Last Season Director: Sara Dosa
BY DISTRIBUTOR
Distributor Nominations
#
A24
A Most Violent Year, Best Editing
A Most Violent Year, Best Screenplay
A Most Violent Year, Best Supporting Female
Obvious Child, Best Female Lead
Obvious Child, Best First Feature
Under the Skin, Best International Film
6
Amplify
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Director
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Female Lead
Little Accidents, Best First Screenplay
3
The Cinema Guild Norte, The End of History, Best International Film 1
Drafthouse Films 20,000 Days on Earth, Best Documentary 1
Fox Searchlight Pictures Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Cinematography
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Director
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Male Lead
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Supporting Female
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Best Supporting Male
6
Gravitas Ventures Appropriate Behavior, Best First Screenplay 1
IFC Films Boyhood, Best Director
Boyhood, Best Editing
Boyhood, Best Feature
Boyhood, Best Supporting Female
Boyhood, Best Supporting Male
5
Kino Lorber A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best Cinematography
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best First Feature
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Magnolia Pictures Force Majeure, Best International Film 1
Monument Releasing She’s Lost Control, Best First Feature
She’s Lost Control, Best First Screenplay
2
Music Box Films Ida, Best International Film 1
Netflix Virunga, Best Documentary 1
Open Road Films
Nightcrawler, Best Editing
Nightcrawler, Best First Feature
Nightcrawler, Best Male Lead
Nightcrawler, Best Screenplay
Nightcrawler, Best Supporting Male
5
Oscilloscope Pictures Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, Best Supporting Female
The Kill Team, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
2
Paramount Pictures Selma, Best Cinematography
Selma, Best Director
Selma, Best Feature
Selma, Best Male Lead
Selma, Best Supporting Female
5
Picturehouse The Guest, Best Editing 1
RADiUS-TWC Blue Ruin, John Cassavetes Award
The One I Love, Best First Screenplay
2
RADiUS-TWC / HBO Documentary Films / Participant Media CITIZENFOUR, Best Documentary
1
Roadside Attractions Mommy, Best International Film
1
Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate Dear White People, Best First Feature
Dear White People, Best First Feature
2
Sony Pictures Classics
Foxcatcher, Special Distinction Award
Land Ho!, John Cassavetes Award
Leviathan, Best International Film
Love is Strange, Best Feature
Love is Strange, Best Male Lead
Love is Strange, Best Screenplay
Love is Strange, Best Supporting Male
Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Female Lead
Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Screenplay
The Salt of the Earth, Best Documentary
Still Alice, Best Female Lead
Whiplash, Best Director
Whiplash, Best Editing
Whiplash, Best Feature
Whiplash, Best Supporting Male
15
The Weinstein Company Big Eyes, Best Screenplay
The Immigrant, Best Cinematography
The Immigrant, Best Female Lead
3
Variance Films It Felt Like Love, Best Cinematography
It Felt Like Love, John Cassavetes Award
The Retrieval, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Variance Films / Wolfe Video Test, John Cassavetes Award 1
Warner Bros. Inherent Vice, Robert Altman Award 1
XLrator Media Jimi: All Is By My Side, Best Male Lead 1
No Distributor Approaching the Elephant, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
Evolution of a Criminal, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
H., Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
The Last Season, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
Man From Reno, John Cassavetes Award
Stray Dog, Best Documentary
6
46 FILMS NOMINATED
FILM TITLE CATEGORIES #
20,000 Days on Earth Best Documentary 1
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Best Cinematography
Best First Feature
Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
A Most Violent Year Best Editing Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female 3
Approaching the Elephant LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Appropriate Behavior Best First Screenplay 1
Big Eyes Best Screenplay 1
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Supporting Female
Best Supporting Male
6
Blue Ruin John Cassavetes Award 1
Boyhood Best Director
Best Editing
Best Feature
Best Supporting Female
Best Supporting Male
5
CITIZENFOUR Best Documentary 1
Dear White People Best First Feature
Best First Screenplay
2
Evolution of a Criminal
LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Force Majeure Best International Film 1
Foxcatcher Special Distinction 1
H. Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
Ida Best International Film 1
Inherent Vice Robert Altman Award 1
It Felt Like Love Best Cinematography
John Cassavetes Award
2
Jimi: All Is By My Side Best Male Lead 1
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter Best Director
Best Female Lead
2
Land Ho! John Cassavetes Award 1
Leviathan Best International Film 1
Little Accidents Best First Screenplay 1
Love is Strang Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Male
4
Man From Reno John Cassavetes Award 1
Mommy Best International Film 1
Nightcrawler Best Editing
Best First Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Male
5
Norte, The End of History Best International Film 1
Obvious Child Best Female Lead
Best First Feature
2
Only Lovers Left Alive Best Female Lead
Best Screenplay
2
Selma Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Supporting Female
5
She’s Lost Control Best First Feature
Best First Screenplay
2
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Best Supporting Female 1
Still Alice Best Female Lead 1
Stray Dog Best Documentary 1
Test John Cassavetes Award 1
The Guest Best Editing 1
The Immigrant Best Cinematography
Best Female Lead
2
The Kill Team LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The Last Season LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The One I Love Best First Screenplay 1
The Retrieval Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
The Salt of the Earth Best Documentary 1
Under the Skin Best International Film 1
Virunga Best Documentary 1
Whiplash Best Director
Best Editing
Best Feature
Best Supporting Male
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/11/25/6564606/30th-film-independent-spirit-awards.html#storylink=cpy