CAROL, BEASTS OF NO NATION & More Nominated for 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards

By: Nov. 24, 2015
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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.

"Spotlightis 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 Globeinvestigating 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, Mrcia 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: Chlo 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 Srensen

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: Cline Sciamma

Mustang

(France, Turkey)

Director: Deniz Gamze Ergven

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

(Sweden)

Director: Roy Andersson

Son of Saul

(Hungary)

Director: Lszl Nemes

19 th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD The 19 th 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

22 nd ANNUAL KIEHL'S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD The 22 nd 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: Chlo Zhao

21 st TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD The 21 st 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

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

7

Abramorama / HBO Documentary Films

Heart of a Dog, Best Documentary

1

Array Releasing

Out of My Hand, John Cassavetes Award

1

Bleecker Street / Netflix

Beasts of No Nation, Best Cinematography

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

5

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

James White, Best Male Lead

James White, Best Supporting Female

3

Film Buff

The Russian Woodpecker, Best Documentary

1

The Film Collaborative

(T)ERROR, Best Documentary

Manos Sucias, Best First Feature

Manos Sucias, Best Editing

3

Film Presence / Netflix

Advantageous, John Cassavetes Award

1

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Best First Screenplay

1

Magnolia Pictures

Best of Enemies, Best Documentary

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

7

Music Box Films

Meru, Best Documentary

1

Open Road Films

Spotlight, Best Director

Spotlight, Best Editing

Spotlight, Best Feature

Spotlight, Best Screenplay

Spotlight, Robert Altman Award

5

Oscilloscope Laboratories

Embrace of the Serpent, Best International Film

1

Paramount Pictures

Anomalisa, Best Director

Anomalisa, Best Feature

Anomalisa, Best Screenplay

Anomalisa, Best Supporting Female

4

Phase 4 Films / EOne

Glass Chin, Best Supporting Female

1

RADiUS-TWC

Heaven Knows What, Best Editing

Heaven Knows What, John Cassavetes Award

It Follows, Best Cinematography

It Follows, Best Director

It Follows, Best Editing

5

Revolver Entertainment

God Bless the Child, Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award

1

RLJ Entertainment

Bone Tomahawk, Best Screenplay

Bone Tomahawk, Best Supporting Male

2

Roadside Attractions

Love & Mercy, Best Supporting Male

1

Sony Pictures Classics

The Diary of a TEENAGE Girl, Best Female Lead

The Diary of a TEENAGE Girl, Best First Feature

The Diary of a TEENAGE Girl, Best First Screenplay

Son of Saul, Best International Film

4

Strand Releasing

Girlhood, Best International Film

1

Sundance Selects

Mediterranea, Best First Feature

Mediterranea, Best First Screenplay

Mediterranea, Best Male Lead

3

The Weinstein Company

Carol, Best Cinematography

Carol, Best Director

Carol, Best Feature

Carol, Best Female Lead

Carol, Best Female Lead

Carol, Best Screenplay

6

No Distributor

Among the Believers, Truer Than Fiction Award

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

# of films without distributor 7

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

Best Feature

Best Screenplay

Best Supporting Female

4

Beasts of No Nation

Best Cinematography

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Supporting Male

5

Best of Enemies

Best Documentary

1

Bone Tomahawk

Best Screenplay

Best Supporting Male

2

Carol

Best Cinematography

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Female Lead

Best Female Lead

Best Screenplay

6

Christmas, Again

John Cassavetes Award



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