News: 31st Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees

$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!

"Carol", "Spotlight", "Beasts of No Nation", "James White", "Songs My Brothers Taught Me", "Tangerine", "Mediterranea" earn multiple nods! 

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced on November 24, 2015 the 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.

"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."

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.

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

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.

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.

XXX

Raymond Lo

LAFF 2015: "POCHA (Manifest Destiny)", Official Zeitgeist Selection

World Premiere

SUNDAY | JUNE 14 | 6:30 PM

REGAL CINEMAS 

LA LIVE 10

In this gorgeously filmed crime thriller, first time feature filmmaker Michael Dwyer and his co-director Kiatlin Mclaughlin bring the intensity to POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - an engaging story of a young woman caught in the cross hairs of life. Chasing the bling of the lux life, Claudia, a twenty-something Chicana, makes bad choices – and gets caught.  Despite the fact that she barely speaks a word of Spanish, her undocumented status gets her deported to Mexico.

After being deported from the U.S.A. for credit card fraud, she is forced to go to her estranged father’s cattle ranch in northern México. Although she can never legally return to the U.S. Claudia refuses to accept life with her estranged father and grandmother in her foreign “homeland,” and she spirals into a dangerous situation with a handsome smuggler. Veronica Sixtos gives a nuanced performance as an emotionally withholding anti-hero who’s trouble for anyone who dares to care about her. Pitched in a heightened style between a slow-burning thriller and a noir western, this smartly conceived allegorical tale confronts the dark side of the American dream.

The film features several extraordinary actors beginning with the hot Roberto Urbina, one of Colombia's finest young actors who is currently playing the Jesse Pinkman character in Metástasis, the Colombian adaptation of Breaking Bad; Veteran actor Julio Cedillo as Claudia's father -  played the title role in Tommy Lee Jones' THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA;  Maria Del Carmen Farias (Mexican Ariel Award nominee for El Sueño de Lu); Jorge Jimenez (director/actor of Hermoso Silencio, a beautifully crafted film); Jesse Garcia (best known for his indie performance in Quinceañera), and amazing newcomer Veronica Sixtos.

Veronica Sixtos and Jesse Garcia were in QUINCEAÑERA (Sundance 2006) and Garcia is now in the Robert Rodriguez series FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.  Julio Cedillo played the title role in Tommy Lee Jones' THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA.  María del Carmen Farías was nominated for an "Ariel" Mexican Academy of Film Award in 2013 for EL SUEÑO DE LU.  Roberto Urbina was in CHE and plays the young meth dealer in the Spanish language version of BREAKING BAD. Both Roberto Urbina and Jorge Jimenez are featured characters in the upcoming Netflix drama NARCOS.

See you at the festival!

LAFF 2015: Official Festival Line-up Announced!

30 Films chosen for U.S. Fiction, Documentary and World Fiction Competitions!

18 World Premieres! 

On Tuesday, May 5th, the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced its official U.S. Fiction, Documentary and World Competition sections.

US Fiction Competition (10)

Original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers.

US Fiction Competition Finalist

·         3rd Street Blackout, dir. Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf, USA, World Premiere
·         A Country Called Home, dir. Anna Axster, USA, World Premiere
·         Bastards Y Diablos, dir. A.D. Freese, USA/Colombia, World Premiere
·         The Girl in the Book, dir. Marya Cohn, USA, World Premiere
·         How He Fell in Love, dir. Marc Meyers, USA, World Premiere
·         It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, dir. Emily Ting, USA, World Premiere
·         Mekko, dir. Sterlin Harjo, USA, World Premiere
·         Out of My Hand, dir. Takeshi Fukunaga, USA/Liberia, N. American Premiere
·         Puerto Ricans in Paris, dir. Ian Edelman, USA/France/Czech Republic, World Premiere
·         Too Late, dir. Dennis Hauck, USA, World Premiere

Documentary Competition (12) 

Documentary Competition Finalist

Sponsored by Netflix and Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television.
Compelling, character-driven non-fiction films from the U.S. and around the world.

·         A New High, dir. Samuel Miron, Stephen Scarpulla, USA, World Premiere
·         The Babuskhas of Chernobyl, dir. Holly Morris, USA/Ukraine, World Premiere
·         Be Here Now (The Andy Whitfield Story), dir. Lilibet Foster, USA/Australia, World Premiere
·         Catching the Sun, dir. Shalini Kantayya, USA, World Premiere
·         In a Perfect World, dir. Daphne McWilliams, USA, World Premiere
·         Incorruptible, dir. Chai Vasarhelyi, Senegal/USA, International Premiere
·         Love Between the Covers, dir. Laurie Kahn, USA, U.S. Premiere
·         Maiko: Dancing Child, dir. Åse Svenheim Drivenes, Japan/Norway, World Premiere
·         Missing People, dir. David Shapiro, USA, U.S. Premiere
·         My Love, Don’t Cross That River, dir. Mo-Young Jin, South Korea, U.S. Premiere
·         Oriented, dir. Jake Winternitz, UK/Palestine/Israel, International Premiere
·         Treasure; From Tragedy to Trans Justice, Mapping a Detroit Story, dir. dream hampton, USA, World Premiere

World Fiction Competition (8)

Unique fiction films from around the world from emerging and established filmmakers, especially curated for LA audiences.

A Midsummer’s Fantasia (Korea)
World Fiction Competition

·         Atomic Heart, dir. Ali Ahmadzadeh, Iran, North American Premiere
·         Ayanda and the Mechanic, dir. Sara Blecher, South Africa, World Premiere
·         Elvira, Te Daria Mi Vida Pero La Estoy Usando (Elvira, I’d Give You My Life But I’m Using It), dir. Manolo Caro, Mexico, International Premiere
·         Flocking (Flocken), dir. Baeta Gardeler, Sweden, North American Premiere
·         Las Malas Lenguas (Sweet and Vicious), dir. Juan Paolo Arias, Colombia, World Premiere
·         A Midsummer’s Fantasia, dir. Jang Kun-Jae, South Korea/Japan, U.S. Premiere
·         Sin Alas (Without Wings), dir. Ben Chace, Cuba, International Premiere
·         White Moss (Belyy Yagel), dir. Vladimir Tumaev, Russian Federation, International Premiere

Now in its 21st year, the Los Angeles Film Festival offers unparalleled access to creative voices through energetic film programming, Master Classes, live performances and conversations with the most compelling artists working today. The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts, web series and music videos, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film at The GRAMMY Museum® and Master Classes. The Los Angeles Film Festival runs from June 10 through June 18.

The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, which returns to downtown Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE for a sixth year has announces a diverse slate of 74 feature films, 60 short films, and over 50 new media works representing 35 countries. New sections this year are the U.S. Fiction and World Fiction Competitions and Launch, as well as the previously announced Buzz, Nightfall and Zeitgeist programs.

Buzz (13)
Los Angeles premieres of celebrated favorites from around the world.

·         JUST ANNOUNCED: Brand: A Second Coming, dir. Ondi Timoner, UK/USA
·         Chuck Norris vs Communism, dir. Illinca Calugareanu, UK/Romania/Germany
·         The Dark Horse, dir. James Napier Robertson, New Zealand
·         Diary of a Teenage Girl, dir. Marielle Heller, USA
·         In Football We Trust, dir. Tony Vainuku, co-dir. Erika Cohn, USA
·         Infinitely Polar Bear, dir. Maya Forbes, USA
·         JUST ANNOUNCED: Jimmy’s Hall, dir. Ken Loach, UK/Ireland/France
·         Manson Family Vacation, dir. J. Davis, USA
·         The Overnight, dir. Patrick Brice, USA
·         People, Places, Things, dir. James C. Strouse, USA
·         JUST ANNOUNCED: The Vanished Elephant, dir. Javier Fuentes León, Peru/Colombia/Spain
·         Victoria, dir. Sebastian Schipper, Germany
·         Sweet Micky for President, dir. Ben Patterson, Haiti/USA

LA Muse (10)
A competitive section of world premieres of fiction and documentary films that are quintessentially L.A.

·      A Beautiful Now, dir. Daniela Amavia, USA, World Premiere
·      Aram, Aram, dir. Christopher Chambers, USA, World Premiere
·      Can You Dig This, dir. Delila Vallot, USA, World Premiere
·      Day Out of Days, dir. Zoe R. Cassavetes, USA, World Premiere
·      The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce, dir. Baron Davis, Chad Gordon, USA, World Premiere
·      The Escort, dir. Will Slocombe, USA, World Premiere
·      Flock of Dudes, dir. Bob Castrone, USA, World Premiere
·      French Dirty, dir. Wade Allain-Marcus & Jesse Allain-Marcus, USA, World Premiere
·      No Más Bebés (No More Babies), dir. Renee Tajima-Peña, USA, World Premiere
·      Weepah Way for Now, dir. Stephen Ringer, USA, World Premiere

Nightfall (8)
From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark. Films premiering for the first time in the U.S. are nominated for the Nightfall Award.

·         Caught, dir. Maggie Kiley, USA, World Premiere
·         The Confines, dir. Eytan Rockaway, USA, World Premiere
·         Crumbs, dir. Miguel Llansó, Spain/Ethiopia/Finland, North American Premiere
·         Crush the Skull, dir. Viet Nguyen, USA, World Premiere
·         Dude Bro Party Massacre III, dir. Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, Jon Salmon, USA, World Premiere
·         Plan Sexenal (Six Year Plan), dir. Santiago Cendejas, Mexico, North American Premiere
·         Ratter, dir. Branden Kramer, USA, LA Premiere
·         Shut In, dir. Adam Schindler, USA, World Premiere

Zeitgeist (6)
A competitive section of curated, World Premiere films that embody key trends in American independent filmmaking. 2015 captures hard knock, coming of age stories.

·         A Girl Like Grace, dir. Ty Hodges, USA, World Premiere
·         Band of Robbers, dir. Aaron Nee & Adam Nee, USA, World Premiere
·         In the Treetops, dir. Matthew Brown, USA, World Premiere
·         Manifest Destiny, dir. Michael Dwyer, Kaitlin McLaughlin, USA, World Premiere
·         Stealing Cars, dir. Bradley Kaplan, USA, World Premiere
·         What Lola Wants, dir. Rupert Glasson, USA, World Premiere

As previously announced, the Opening Night Film is Paul Weitz' "Grandma". There will be Gala Screenings of the first episode of the TV series Scream as well as the feature films Seoul Searching and The Final Girls. Two Pre-Festival Screenings will also be held: Dope will have its LA Premiere on June 8, Inside Out will screen on June 9 and be preceded by a special Master Class with writer/director Pete Docter. Previously announced, this year’s Guest Director is Rodrigo García, Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award and Lily Tomlin will receive the Spirit of Independence Award.

Passes are currently on sale to Film Independent Members and the general public. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide access to networking receptions and the Festival Lounge, where pass holders interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Thursday, May 14 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 19. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfest.com.

The Los Angeles Film Festival team is comprised of Festival Director Stephanie Allain, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell, Associate Director of Programming Roya Rastegar, Senior Programmer Jennifer Cochis, Programmers Jenn Wilson and Drea Clark, Head Shorts Programmer Landon Zakheim, Festival Consultant Maggie Mackay, Manager of Industry Relations Mel Jones, Senior Director of Film Education María Raquel Bozzi, Director of Event Production Shawn Davis and Director of Event Operations Ralph Rivera.  In addition, the Festival’s Associate Feature Film Programmers include Julie Anderson, Christine Davila, Samuel Douek, Steven Jacobson, Lee Jameson, Mark Maynard, Lucy Mukerjee-Brown, Stephanie Owens, Ray Price and So Yun Um; Short Film Programmers Ernesto Foronda, Carlos Hatcher, Meghan McWilliams, Atsuko Okatsuka, Paul Sbrizzi, Cedar Sherber and Jacques Thelemaque and Programming Consultants Adella Ladjevardi, Jai Tiggett, and Josh Mandel.

See you at the festival!

Awards: 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners!

Top honors went to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Whiplash and Nightcrawler

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, handed out top honors to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Whiplash and Nightcrawler at yesterday afternoon’s 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Still Alice, Dear White People, Ida, Land Ho! and CITIZENFOUR also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Inherent Vice received the Robert Altman Award and Foxcatcher received a Special Distinction Award. In addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality, the Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs.

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.

This year’s major category winners were Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance); which won Best Feature, Best Male Lead and Best Cinematography, Boyhood; which won Best Director and Best Supporting Female, Nightcrawler; which won Best First Feature and Best Screenplay and Whiplash; which won Best Supporting Male and Best Editing; Still Alice, which won Best Female Lead;Dear White People, which won Best First Screenplay; Land Ho!, which won the John Cassavetes Award; Ida, which won Best International Film and CITIZENFOUR, which won Best Documentary.

The 8th annual Robert Altman Award was given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice received this award, along with casting director Cassandra Kulukundis and ensemble cast members Josh Brolin, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Sasha Pieterse, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon and Michael Kenneth Williams.

The Special Distinction Award, given to a film for its uniqueness of vision, honesty of direction and screenwriting, superb acting and overall filmmaking achievement, was given to Foxcatcher. The award was given to director/producer Bennett Miller, producers Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, writers E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman, actors Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum.

The 2015 Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship which includes a cash grant of $10,000 was awarded to Christina Choe. This annual award is given to a filmmaker currently participating in a Film Independent Artist Development program with the mission of diversity in mind. Choe, a participant in the 2015 Directing Lab, is currently in active pre-production on her first narrative feature film, Nancy.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, The Lincoln Motor Company, Bank of America, Heineken, American Airlines and IFC. T-Mobile® is the Official Arrivals Show Sponsor, Sauza 901 Tequila is the Official Spirit and FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2015 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent.

The production team for this year’s Spirit Awards includes executive producer and director Joel Gallen, producers Shawn Davis and Rick Austin.

The following is a complete list of the winners:

Best Feature: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole

Best Director: Richard Linklater (IFC Films)

Best Screenplay: Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)

Best First Feature: Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Director: Dan Gilroy, Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak

Best First Screenplay: Justin Simien, Dear White People (Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate)

John Cassavetes Award (For best feature made under $500,000): Land Ho! (Sony Pictures Classics)
Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens, Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy

Best Supporting Female: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood (IFC Films)

Best Supporting Male: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Female Lead: Julianne Moore, Still Alice (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Male Lead: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Robert Altman Award: Inherent Vice (Warner Bros.)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis, Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Sasha Pieterse, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Kenneth Williams.

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Best Editing: Tom Cross, Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best International Film: Ida (Poland – Music Box Films)
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski

Best Documentary: CITIZENFOUR (RADiUS-TWC / HBO Documentary Films / Participant Media)
Director: Laura Poitras; Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky

Special Distinction Award: Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
Director/Producer: Bennett Miller, Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman, Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

For more information or to become a member, visit filmindependent.org.

Awards: Actress Emmy Rossum joins Michael Peña as host of Spirit Award Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch

LOS ANGELES (January 7, 2015) - Film Independent President Josh Welsh announced today that actress Emmy Rossum will co-host with Michael Peña the Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 10 at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood. The nonprofit, that also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film will be celebrating this year’s Spirit Award Nominees and awarding $75,000 in grants to emerging filmmakers.

The event precedes the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards that will take place as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 21. This year the show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 PM PT/ 5:00 PM ET.

“Emmy Rossum is both a past Spirit Award nominee for her work in Songcatcher and a LA Film Festival alum,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh.  “Her film Comet had its premiere at the Festival in 2014. We are thrilled she will be joining us to celebrate this year’s Spirit Award nominees and give out the filmmaker grants.”

Rossum currently stars in Showtime’s dark comedy series, Shameless, which will begin its fifth season on January 11th. The Actress has been captivating audiences with her diverse, extraordinary talents for over a decade. Rossum was recently seen in You’re Not You alongside Josh Duhamel and Hilary Swank. Rossum also appeared in Shawn Christensen’s Before I Disappear, based on the 2012 Oscar-winning short Curfew, which won the prestigious Audience Award at SXSW in March, and starred in Comet opposite Justin Long which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. Other film credits include Warner Bros.’ Beautiful Creatures, DARE alongside Zach Gilford, Dragonball, Poseidon, The Day After Tomorrow with Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Clint Eastwood-directed drama Mystic River.

Rossum’s acting performance in Songcatcher earned her a Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance in 2000. Four years later in 2004, her starring performance as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, as well as the National Board of Review’s Best Female Breakthrough Performance Award and the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Best Young Actress Award in 2005.

Awards: 2015 Independent Spirit Award Nominees!

Lav Diaz' "Norte, The End of History" lands a Spirit nomination!!! 

"A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night", "Birdman", "Boyhood", "Whiplash" all nominated!

NOMINEES

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 - Predicted Winner
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 FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - Predicted Winner
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

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Award given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)

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 - Predicted Winner
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Dave Boyle
WRITERS: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman
PRODUCER: Ko Mori

TEST
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Chris Mason Johnson
PRODUCER: Chris Martin

BEST DIRECTOR
DAMIEN CHAZELLE – Whiplash
AVA DUVERNAY – Selma
ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
RICHARD LINKLATER – Boyhood - Predicted Winner
DAVID ZELLNER – Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

BEST SCREENPLAY
SCOTT ALEXANDER, LARRY KARASZEWSKI – Big Eyes
J.C. CHANDOR – A Most Violent Year
DAN GILROY – Nightcrawler - Predicted Winner
JIM JARMUSCH – Only Lovers Left Alive
IRA SACHS, MAURICIO ZACHARIAS – Love is Strange

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 - Predicted Winner

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 - Predicted Winner
BRADFORD YOUNG – Selma

BEST EDITING
SANDRA ADAIR – Boyhood - Predicted Winner
TOM CROSS – Whiplash
JOHN GILROY – Nightcrawler
RON PATANE – A Most Violent Year
ADAM WINGARD – The Guest

BEST MALE LEAD
ANDRÉ BENJAMIN – Jimi: All Is By My Side
JAKE GYLLENHAAL – Nightcrawler
MICHAEL KEATON - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Predicted Winner
JOHN LITHGOW – Love is Strange
DAVID OYELOWO – Selma

BEST FEMALE LEAD
MARION COTILLARD – The Immigrant
RINKO KIKUCHI – Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
JULIANNE MOORE – Still Alice - Predicted Winner
JENNY SLATE – Obvious Child
TILDA SWINTON – Only Lovers Left Alive

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
RIZ AHMED – Nightcrawler
ETHAN HAWKE – Boyhood
ALFRED MOLINA – Love is Strange
EDWARD NORTON – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Predicted Winner
J.K. SIMMONS – Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
PATRICIA ARQUETTE – Boyhood
JESSICA CHASTAIN – A Most Violent Year - Predicted Winner
CARMEN EJOGO – Selma
ANDREA SUAREZ PAZ - Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
EMMA STONE – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
FORCE MAJEURE (Sweden) - DIRECTOR: Ruben Östlund
IDA (Poland) - DIRECTOR: Pawel Pawlikowski
LEVIATHAN (Russia) - DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev
MOMMY (Canada) - DIRECTOR: Xavier Dolan - Predicted Winner
NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY (Philippines) - DIRECTOR: Lav Diaz
UNDER THE SKIN (United Kingdom) - DIRECTOR: Jonathan Glazer

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 - Predicted Winner
DIRECTORS: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders
PRODUCER: David Rosier

VIRUNGA
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Orlando von Einsiedel
PRODUCER: Joanna Natasegara

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(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, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Kenneth Williams

SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD

FOXCATCHER
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Bennett Miller
WRITERS: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
PRODUCER: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik
CAST: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

Winners will be announced February 21, 2015, one day before the Oscars!

XXX
Raymond Lo