30th Film Independent #SpiritAwards NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED - $75,000 in grants to be awarded to filmmakers - LOS ANGELES (November 25, 2014) – Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced nominations for the 2015 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hollywood, with actors Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Love is Strange, Selma and Whiplash. As we celebrate 30 years of great independent film, said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent, this year’s nominees are an astonishingly strong group of films and filmmakers which demonstrate the uniqueness of vision we honor at this show. Inherent Vice was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is a testament to the spirit of Altman’s tradition of artistic collaboration,” said Welsh. “The film features an exquisite ensemble of actors masterfully directed and cast.” Film Independent also awarded a Special Distinction Award to Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher for its uniqueness of vision, honesty of direction and screenwriting, superb acting and achievement on every level of filmmaking. Due to Spirit Awards guidelines, Inherent Vice and Foxcatcher were not eligible for individual nominations. Winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 21, 2015. The awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. This year the show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 PM PT/ 5:00 PM ET. Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be highlighted during the awards ceremony and announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 341 submissions this year and applied the following guidelines in determining the nominations: uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter, economy of means (with particular attention paid to total production cost and individual compensation) and percentage of financing from independent sources. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees are comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, critics, casting directors, film festival programmers and other working film professionals. Over the past 30 years the Film Independent Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premiere awards show for the independent film community. Artists who have received industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Joel and Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams, Lena Dunham and many more. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, The Lincoln Motor Company, Bank of America, Heineken and IFC. T-Mobile is the Official Arrivals Show Sponsor and FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2015 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent. The Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs. To inquire about individual seating and tables at the Spirit Awards, please contact Jennifer Murby at [email protected] or 310.432.1253. For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit spiritawards. 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 Shes 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 Shes 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, Kiehls Someone to Watch Award 3 Magnolia Pictures Force Majeure, Best International Film 1 Monument Releasing Shes Lost Control, Best First Feature Shes 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, Kiehls 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., Kiehls 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 Kiehls 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. Kiehls 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 Strange 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 Shes 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 Kiehls 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 4 ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS Now in its 30th year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American and international independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience. The winners of the Spirit Awards are voted upon by Film Independent and IFP Members. Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, the Robert Altman Award, Best International Film and Best Documentary. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award and the LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, The Lincoln Motor Company, Bank of America, Heineken and IFC. T-Mobile is the Official Arrivals Show Sponsor and FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2015 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:46:11 +0000