31st Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced

31st Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced

$75,000 IN GRANTS TO BE AWARDED TO FILMMAKERS

SPIRIT AWARDS TO BE BROADCAST LIVE EXCLUSIVELY ON IFC, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.

"This year's nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking," said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. "It's an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards."

Spotlight 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.

"Spotlight is a remarkable film that excels on every level, but the Nominating Committee thought it was especially deserving of the Robert Altman Award," said Welsh. "The film is beautifully cast with every member of the ensemble working together to tell the story of the Boston Globe investigating allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church."

Winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, in a new location this year just north of the Santa Monica Pier. 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 9, 2016, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 362 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.

In addition to celebrating the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking, the Spirit Awards is also the primary fundraiser for Film Independent's year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry. To learn more about table sales, attendance and donations please contact jmurby@filmindependent.org 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.com.

To download the new Film Independent Spirit Awards logo and laurels, click here


2016 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS


BEST FEATURE

(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not
awarded.)


Anomalisa

Producers: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman, Dino
Stamatopoulos, Rosa Tran


Beasts of No Nation

Producers: Daniel Crown, Idris Elba, Cary Joji Fukunaga,
Amy Kaufman, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker


Carol

Producers: Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen
Woolley


Spotlight

Producers: Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole
Rocklin, Michael Sugar


Tangerine

Producers: Sean Baker, Karrie Cox, Marcus Cox, Darren
Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou


BEST FIRST FEATURE

(Award given to the director and producer)


The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Director: Marielle Heller

Producers: Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck,
Madeline Samit


James White

Director: Josh Mond

Producers: Max Born, Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, Melody
Roscher, Eric Schultz


Manos Sucias

Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka

Producers: Elena Greenlee, Márcia Nunes


Mediterranea

Director: Jonas Carpignano

Producers: Jason Michael Berman, Chris Columbus, Jon
Coplon, Christoph Daniel, Andrew Kortschak, John
Lesher, Ryan Lough, Justin Nappi, Alain Peyrollaz, Gwyn
Sannia, Marc Schmidheiny, Victor Shapiro, Ryan Zacarias


Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Director/Producer: Chloé Zhao

Producers: Mollye Asher, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Angela C.
Lee, Forest Whitaker


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.


Advantageous

Writer/Director/Producer: Jennifer Phang

Writer/Producer: Jacqueline Kim

Producers: Robert Chang, Ken Jeong, Moon Molson, Theresa
Navarro


Christmas, Again

Writer/Director/Producer: Charles Poekel


Heaven Knows What

Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie

Writers: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

Producers: Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear McClard


Krisha

Writer/Director/Producer: Trey Edward Shults

Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, Wilson Smith


Out of My Hand

Writer/Director: Takeshi Fukunaga

Writer/Producer: Donari Braxton

Producer: Mike Fox


BEST DIRECTOR


Sean Baker

Tangerine


Cary Joji Fukunaga

Beasts of No Nation


Todd Haynes

Carol


Duke Johnson & Charlie Kaufman

Anomalisa


Tom McCarthy

Spotlight


David Robert Mitchell

It Follows


BEST SCREENPLAY


Charlie Kaufman

Anomalisa


Donald Margulies

The End of the Tour


Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer

Spotlight


Phyllis Nagy

Carol


S. Craig Zahler

Bone Tomahawk


BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY


Jesse Andrews

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl


Jonas Carpignano

Mediterranea


Emma Donoghue

Room


Marielle Heller

The Diary of a Teenage Girl


John Magary

Story by Russell Harbaugh and Myna Joseph

The Mend


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY


Cary Joji Fukunaga

Beasts of No Nation


Michael Gioulakis

It Follows


Ed Lachman

Carol


Reed Morano

Meadowland


Joshua James Richards

Songs My Brothers Taught Me


BEST EDITING


Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie

Heaven Knows What


Tom McArdle

Spotlight


Nathan Nugent

Room


Julio C. Perez IV

It Follows


Kristan Sprague

Manos Sucias


BEST FEMALE LEAD


Cate Blanchett

Carol


Brie Larson

Room


Rooney Mara

Carol


Bel Powley

The Diary of a Teenage Girl


Kitana Kiki Rodriguez

Tangerine


BEST MALE LEAD


Christopher Abbott

James White


Abraham Attah

Beasts of No Nation


Ben Mendelsohn

Mississippi Grind


Jason Segel

The End of the Tour


Koudous Seihon

Mediterranea


BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE


Robin Bartlett

H.


Marin Ireland

Glass Chin


Jennifer Jason Leigh

Anomalisa


Cynthia Nixon

James White


Mya Taylor

Tangerine


BEST SUPPORTING MALE


Kevin Corrigan

Results


Paul Dano

Love & Mercy


Idris Elba

Beasts of No Nation


Richard Jenkins

Bone Tomahawk


Michael Shannon

99 Homes


ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD -(Given to one film's director, casting
director and ensemble cast)


Spotlight

Director: Tom McCarthy

Casting Directors: Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee

Ensemble Cast: Billy Crudup, Paul Guilfoyle, Neal Huff,
Brian d'Arcy James, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams,
Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Jamey Sheridan, John
Slattery, Stanley Tucci


BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)


(T)ERROR

Directors/Producers: Lyric R. Cabral & David Felix
Sutcliffe

Producer: Christopher St. John


Best of Enemies

Directors/Producers: Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville


Heart of a Dog

Director/Producer: Laurie Anderson

Producer: Dan Janvey


The Look of Silence

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer

Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen


Meru

Directors/Producers: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai
Vasarhelyi

Producer: Shannon Ethridge


The Russian Woodpecker

Director/Producer: Chad Gracia

Producers: Ram Devineni, Mike Lerner


BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)


Embrace of the Serpent

(Colombia)

Director: Ciro Guerra


Girlhood

(France)

Director: Céline Sciamma


Mustang

(France, Turkey)

Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven


A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

(Sweden)

Director: Roy Andersson


Son of Saul

(Hungary)

Director: László Nemes


19th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD - The 19th 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.


Darren Dean

Mel Eslyn

Rebecca Green and Laura D. Smith


22nd ANNUAL KIEHL'S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD - The 22nd 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.


God Bless the Child

Directors: Robert Machoian & Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck


King Jack

Director: Felix Thompson


Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Director: Chloé Zhao


21st TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD - The 21st annual Truer
Than Fiction Award 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.


Among the Believers

Directors: Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi


Incorruptible

Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi


A Woman Like Me

Directors: Elizabeth Giamatti and Alex Sichel





BY DISTRIBUTOR


Distributor NOMINATIONS # Nominations
----------- ----------- -------------

A24 The End of the Tour, Best Male Lead 7

The End of the Tour, Best Screenplay

Krisha, John Cassavetes Award

Mississippi Grind, Best Male Lead

Room, Best Editing

Room, Best Female Lead

Room, Best First Screenplay
--- ---------------------------

Abramorama /HBO
Documentary Films Heart of a Dog, Best Documentary 1
------------------ -------------------------------- ---

Array Releasing Out of My Hand, John Cassavetes Award 1
--------------- ------------------------------------- ---

Bleecker Street / Beasts of No Nation, Best
Netflix Cinematography 5

Beasts of No Nation, Best Director

Beasts of No Nation, Best Feature

Beasts of No Nation, Best Male Lead

Beasts of No Nation, Best Supporting
Male
--- -------------------------------------

Broad Green Pictures 99 Homes, Best Supporting Male 1
-------------------- ------------------------------ ---

Cinedigm Meadowland, Best Cinematography 1
-------- ------------------------------- ---

Cinelicious Pics The Mend, Best First Screenplay 1
---------------- ------------------------------- ---

Cohen Media Group Mustang, Best International Film 1
----------------- -------------------------------- ---

Drafthouse Films /
Participant Media The Look of Silence, Best Documentary 1
------------------ ------------------------------------- ---

The Film Arcade James White, Best First Feature 3

James White, Best Male Lead

James White, Best Supporting Female
--- -----------------------------------

Film Buff The Russian Woodpecker, Best
Documentary 1
--------- ----------------------------- ---

The Film
Collaborative (T)ERROR, Best Documentary 3

Manos Sucias, Best First Feature

Manos Sucias, Best Editing
--- --------------------------

Film Presence /
Netflix Advantageous, John Cassavetes Award 1
--------------- ----------------------------------- ---

Fox Searchlight Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Best
Pictures First Screenplay 1
--------------- ------------------------------------- ---

Magnolia Pictures Best of Enemies, Best Documentary 7

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on
Existence,

Best International Film

Results, Best Supporting Male

Tangerine, Best Director

Tangerine, Best Feature

Tangerine, Best Female Lead

Tangerine, Best Supporting Female
--- ---------------------------------

Music Box Films Meru, Best Documentary 1
--------------- ---------------------- ---

Open Road Films Spotlight, Best Director 5

Spotlight, Best Editing

Spotlight, Best Feature

Spotlight, Best Screenplay

Spotlight, Robert Altman Award
--- ------------------------------

Oscilloscope Embrace of the Serpent, Best
Laboratories International Film 1
------------ ----------------------------- ---

Paramount Pictures Anomalisa, Best Director 4

Anomalisa, Best Feature

Anomalisa, Best Screenplay

Anomalisa, Best Supporting Female
--- ---------------------------------

Phase 4 Films / EOne Glass Chin, Best Supporting Female 1
-------------------- ---------------------------------- ---

RADiUS-TWC Heaven Knows What, Best Editing 5

Heaven Knows What, John Cassavetes
Award

It Follows, Best Cinematography

It Follows, Best Director

It Follows, Best Editing
--- ------------------------

Revolver God Bless the Child, Kiehl's Someone to
Entertainment Watch Award 1
-------------- --------------------------------------- ---

RLJ Entertainment Bone Tomahawk, Best Screenplay 2

Bone Tomahawk, Best Supporting Male
--- -----------------------------------

Roadside Attractions Love & Mercy, Best Supporting Male 1
-------------------- ---------------------------------- ---

Sony Pictures The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Best
Classics Female Lead 4

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Best First
Feature

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Best First
Screenplay

Son of Saul, Best International Film
--- ------------------------------------

Strand Releasing Girlhood, Best International Film 1
---------------- --------------------------------- ---

Sundance Selects Mediterranea, Best First Feature 3

Mediterranea, Best First Screenplay

Mediterranea, Best Male Lead
--- ----------------------------

The Weinstein
Company Carol, Best Cinematography 6

Carol, Best Director

Carol, Best Feature

Carol, Best Female Lead

Carol, Best Female Lead

Carol, Best Screenplay
--- ----------------------

No Distributor Among the Believers, Truer Than Fiction
Award # of films without distributor 7

Christmas, Again, John Cassavetes Award

H., Best Supporting Female

Incorruptible, Truer Than Fiction Award

King Jack, Kiehl's Someone to Watch
Award

Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Best
Cinematography

Best First Feature, Kiehl's Someone to
Watch Award

A Woman Like Me, Truer Than Fiction
Award
--- ------------------------------------



44 FILMS NOMINATED


FILM TITLE CATEGORIES #
---------- ---------- ---

(T)ERROR Best Documentary 1
-------- ---------------- ---

99 Homes Best Supporting Male 1
-------- -------------------- ---

Advantageous John Cassavetes Award 1
------------ --------------------- ---

Among the Believers Truer Than Fiction Awards 1
------------------- ------------------------- ---

Anomalisa Best Director 4

Best Feature

Best Screenplay

Best Supporting Female
--- ----------------------

Beasts of No Nation Best Cinematography 5

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Supporting Male
--- --------------------

Best of Enemies Best Documentary 1
--------------- ---------------- ---

Bone Tomahawk Best Screenplay 2

Best Supporting Male
--- --------------------

Carol Best Cinematography 6

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Female Lead

Best Female Lead

Best Screenplay
--- ---------------

Christmas, Again John Cassavetes Award 1
---------------- --------------------- ---

The Diary of a Teenage Girl Best Female Lead 3

Best First Feature

Best First Screenplay
--- ---------------------

Embrace of the Serpent Best International Film 1
---------------------- ----------------------- ---

The End of the Tour Best Male Lead 2

Best Screenplay
--- ---------------

Girlhood Best International Film 1
-------- ----------------------- ---

Glass Chin Best Supporting Female 1
---------- ---------------------- ---

God Bless the Child Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award 1
------------------- ------------------------------ ---

H. Best Supporting Female 1
--- ---------------------- ---

Heart of a Dog Best Documentary 1
-------------- ---------------- ---

Heaven Knows What Best Editing 2

John Cassavetes Award
--- ---------------------

Incorruptible Truer Than Fiction Award 1
------------- ------------------------ ---

It Follows Best Cinematography 3

Best Director

Best Editing
--- ------------

James White Best First Feature 3

Best Male Lead

Best Supporting Female
--- ----------------------

King Jack Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award 1
--------- ------------------------------ ---

Krisha John Cassavetes Award 1
------ --------------------- ---

The Look of Silence Best Documentary 1
------------------- ---------------- ---

Love & Mercy Best Supporting Male 1
------------ -------------------- ---

Manos Sucias Best Editing 2

Best First Feature
--- ------------------

Me and Earl and the Dying
Girl Best First Screenplay 1
------------------------- --------------------- ---

Meadowland Best Cinematography 1
---------- ------------------- ---

Mediterranea Best First Feature 3

Best First Screenplay

Best Male Lead
--- --------------

The Mend Best First Screenplay 1
-------- --------------------- ---

Meru Best Documentary 1
---- ---------------- ---

Mississippi Grind Best Male Lead 1
----------------- -------------- ---

Mustang Best International Film 1
------- ----------------------- ---

Out of My Hand John Cassavetes Award 1
-------------- --------------------- ---

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch
Reflecting on Existence Best International Film 1
------------------------ ----------------------- ---

Results Best Supporting Male 1
------- -------------------- ---

Room Best Editing 3

Best Female Lead

Best First Screenplay
--- ---------------------

The Russian Woodpecker Best Documentary 1
---------------------- ---------------- ---

Son of Saul Best International Film 1
----------- ----------------------- ---

Songs My Brothers Taught Me Best Cinematography 3

Best First Feature

Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award
--- ------------------------------

Spotlight Best Director 5

Best Editing

Best Feature

Best Screenplay

Robert Altman Award
--- -------------------

Tangerine Best Director 4

Best Feature

Best Female Lead

Best Supporting Female
--- ----------------------

A Woman Like Me Truer Than Fiction Award 1
--------------- ------------------------ ---
ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
Now in its 31st year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring 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 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, Best International Film, Best Documentary and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, the Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award and the Truer Than Fiction Award. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, Bank of America, Heineken, American Airlines, Jaguar and IFC. FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2016 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent's Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent's Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent's signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

About IFC
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series like Portlandia, Documentary Now!, Maron and Comedy Bang! Bang! air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. IFC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., and available across multiple platforms. IFC is Always On Slightly Off.

Want to vote?
Film Independent Members vote to determine the winners at the Spirit Awards. Members can attend free Nominee Screening Series in Los Angeles and New York and receive DVD screeners of select nominees by mail. Members must be current by December 4, 2015 to receive full voting benefits.

Join today at filmindependent.org/membership

Media Credential Applications: spiritawards.com/press



SOURCE Film Independent

Film Independent

CONTACT: Alia Quart Khan, Film Independent, Tel: 310.432.1287 or aqkhan@filmindependent.org; or Gina Pence, Ginsberg/Libby, Tel: 323.645.6800 or gina.pence@ginsberglibby.com

Web Site: http://www.filmindependent.org


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