FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Melanie Bates, Film Independent Tel: 323.556.9338 or [email protected]
Chris Libby, Ginsberg/Libby Tel: 323.645.6800 or [email protected]
34TH FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
Broadcast Live Exclusively on IFC Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET
AT&T returns as Premier Sponsor, joining American Airlines, IFC and Subaru
LOS ANGELES (November 16, 2018) – This morning, Film Independent announced the nominations for the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hotel in Hollywood, with actors Gemma Chan and Molly Shannon presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Eighth Grade, First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk, Leave No Trace and You Were Never Really Here.
“This year’s nominees reflect the bold originality that is the heart of independent film,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “At a time when huge tent-pole franchises threaten to dominate our film culture, this year’s films and filmmakers offer something completely different – something vital, uncompromising, and needed. The nominees also show that, when it comes to diversity and inclusion, independent film is leading the way for the rest of the industry.”
Suspiria 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.
Winners, who are selected by Film Independent Members, will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The awards ceremony will be held on the beach in Santa Monica, just north of the Santa Monica Pier. The show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT/ 5:00 pm ET. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from over 400 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.
Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 5, 2019.
Film Independent is proud to announce the return of our collaboration with AT&T, who joins once again as Premier Sponsor and Official Wireless & Video Services Partner. American Airlines joins for the fifth year and returns to fund the Bonnie Award, recognizing a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. And we welcome this year’s Official Automotive Partner, Subaru of America.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, [email protected].
To learn more about attending the Spirit Awards and supporting Film Independent please contact Jennifer Murby, Associate Director of Institutional Giving, [email protected].
For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit spiritawards.com.
Media Credential Applications: filmindependent.org/press/
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, receive DVD screeners of select nominees by mail and digital screeners online. Members must be current by December 6, 2018 to receive full voting benefits.
Join today at filmindependent.org/join
2019 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Eighth Grade Producers: Eli Bush, Scott Rudin, Christopher Storer, Lila Yacoub
First Reformed Producers: Jack Binder, Greg Clark, Gary Hamilton, Victoria Hill, David Hinojosa, Frank Murray, Deepak Sikka, Christine Vachon
If Beale Street Could Talk Producers: Dede Gardner, Barry Jenkins, Jeremy Kleiner, Sara Murphy, Adele Romanski
Leave No Trace Producers: Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, Anne Rosellini
You Were Never Really Here Producers: Rosa Attab, Pascal Caucheteux, Rebecca O'Brien, Lynne Ramsay, James Wilson
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
Hereditary Director: Ari Aster Producers: Kevin Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick
Sorry to Bother You Director: Boots Riley Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jonathan Duffy, Charles D. King, George Rush, Forest Whitaker, Kelly Williams
The Tale Director/Producer: Jennifer Fox Producers: Oren Moverman, Laura Rister, Mynette Louie, Simone Pero, Lawrence Inglee, Sol Bondy, Regina K. Scully, Lynda Weinman, Reka Posta
We the Animals Director: Jeremiah Zagar Producers: Andrew Goldman, Christina D. King, Paul Mezey, Jeremy Yaches
Wildlife Director/Producer: Paul Dano Producers: Andrew Duncan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker, Oren Moverman, Ann Ruark, Alex Saks
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.)
A Bread Factory Writer/Director/Producer: Patrick Wang Producers: Daryl Freimark, Matt Miller
En el Séptimo Día Writer/Director/Producer: Jim McKay Producers: Alex Bach, Lindsey Cordero, Caroline Kaplan, Michael Stipe
Never Goin' Back Writer/Director: Augustine Frizzell Producers: Liz Cardenas, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston
Sócrates Writer/Director/Producer: Alex Moratto Writer: Thayná Mantesso Producers: Ramin Bahrani, Jefferson Paulino, Tammy Weiss
Thunder Road Writer/Director: Jim Cummings Producers: Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Weissner
BEST DIRECTOR
Debra Granik Leave No Trace
Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Could Talk
Tamara Jenkins Private Life
Lynne Ramsay You Were Never Really Here
Paul Schrader First Reformed
BEST SCREENPLAY
Richard Glatzer (Writer/Story By), Rebecca Lenkiewicz & Wash Westmoreland Colette
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Tamara Jenkins Private Life
Boots Riley Sorry to Bother You
Paul Schrader First Reformed
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Bo Burnham Eighth Grade
Christina Choe Nancy
Cory Finley Thoroughbreds
Jennifer Fox The Tale
Quinn Shephard (Writer/Story By), Laurie Shephard (Story By) Blame
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ashley Connor Madeline's Madeline
Diego Garcia Wildlife
Benjamin Loeb Mandy
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom Suspiria
Zak Mulligan We the Animals
BEST EDITING
Joe Bini You Were Never Really Here
Keiko Deguchi, Brian A. Kates, Jeremiah Zagar We the Animals
Luke Dunkley, Nick Fenton, Chris Gill, Julian Hart American Animals
Anne Fabini, Alex Hall, Gary Levy The Tale
Nick Houy Mid90s
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Glenn Close The Wife
Toni Collette Hereditary
Elsie Fisher Eighth Grade
Regina Hall Support the Girls
Helena Howard Madeline's Madeline
Carey Mulligan Wildlife
BEST MALE LEAD
John Cho Searching
Daveed Diggs Blindspotting
Ethan Hawke First Reformed
Christian Malheiros Sócrates
Joaquin Phoenix You Were Never Really Here
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Kayli Carter Private Life
Tyne Daly A Bread Factory
Regina King If Beale Street Could Talk
Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie Leave No Trace
J. Smith-Cameron Nancy
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Raúl Castillo We the Animals
Adam Driver BLACKkKLANSMAN
Richard E. Grant Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Josh Hamilton Eighth Grade
John David Washington Monsters and Men
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD - Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
Suspiria Director: Luca Guadagnino Casting Directors: Avy Kaufman, Stella Savino Ensemble Cast: Malgosia Bela, Ingrid Caven, Lutz Ebersdorf, Elena Fokina, Mia Goth, Jessica Harper, Dakota Johnson, Gala Moody, Chloë Grace Moretz, Fabrizia Sacchi, Renée Soutendijk, Tilda Swinton, Sylvie Testud, Angela Winkler
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
Hale County This Morning, This Evening Director/Producer: RaMell Ross Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Su Kim
Minding the Gap Director/Producer: Bing Liu Producer: Diane Quon
Of Fathers and Sons Director: Talal Derki Producers: Hans Robert Eisenhauer, Ansgar Frerich, Eva Kemme, Tobias N. Siebert
On Her Shoulders Director: Alexandria Bombach Producers: Hayley Pappas, Brock Williams
Shirkers Director/Producer: Sandi Tan Producers: Jessica Levin, Maya Rudolph
Won't You Be My Neighbor? Director/Producer: Morgan Neville Producers: Caryn Capotosto, Nicholas Ma
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
Burning South Korea Director: Lee Chang-Dong
The Favourite United Kingdom Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Happy as Lazzaro Italy Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Roma Mexico Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Shoplifters Japan Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu
BONNIE AWARD – Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the second Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.
Debra Granik Tamara Jenkins Karyn Kusama
PRODUCERS AWARD – The 22nd annual Producers Award 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.
Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams Gabrielle Nadig Shrihari Sathe
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 25th annual Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Alex Moratto Director of Sócrates
Ioana Uricaru Director of Lemonade
Jeremiah Zagar Director of We the Animals
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 24th 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.
Alexandria Bombach Director of On Her Shoulders
Bing Liu Director of Minding the Gap
RaMell Ross Director of Hale County This Morning, This Evening
BY DISTRIBUTOR
DISTRIBUTOR NOMINATIONS # A24 Eighth Grade, Best Feature 12 Eighth Grade, Best Female Lead Eighth Grade, Best First Screenplay Eighth Grade, Best Supporting Male First Reformed, Best Director First Reformed, Best Feature First Reformed, Best Male Lead First Reformed, Best Screenplay Hereditary, Best Female Lead Hereditary, Best First Feature Mid90s, Best Editing Never Goin' Back, John Cassavetes Award
Amazon Suspiria, Best Cinematography 6 Studios Suspiria, Robert Altman Award You Were Never Really Here, Best Director You Were Never Really Here, Best Editing You Were Never Really Here, Best Feature You Were Never Really Here, Best Male Lead
Annapurna If Beale Street Could Talk, Best Director 5 Pictures If Beale Street Could Talk, Best Feature If Beale Street Could Talk, Best Supporting Female Sorry to Bother You, Best First Feature Sorry to Bother You, Best Screenplay
Bleecker Street Colette, Best Screenplay 4 Leave No Trace, Best Director Leave No Trace, Best Feature Leave No Trace, Best Supporting Female
The Cinema En el Séptimo Día, John Cassavetes Award 3 Guild Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Best Documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Truer Than Fiction Award
Focus BLACKkKLANSMAN, Best Supporting Male 3 Features Thoroughbreds, Best First Screenplay Won't You Be My Neighbor?, Best Documentary
Fox Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Best Screenplay 3 Searchlight Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Best Supporting Male Pictures The Favourite, Best International Film HBO The Tale, Best Editing 3 The Tale, Best First Feature The Tale, Best First Screenplay
IFC Films Wildlife, Best Cinematography 3 Wildlife, Best Female Lead Wildlife, Best First Feature
Kino Lorber Of Fathers and Sons, Best Documentary 1
Magnolia Minding the Gap, Best Documentary 4 Pictures / Hulu Minding the Gap, Truer Than Fiction Award Shoplifters, Best International Film Support the Girls, Best Female Lead
NEON / Monsters and Men, Best Supporting Male 1 MoviePass Netflix Happy as Lazzaro, Best International Film 6 Private Life, Best Director Private Life, Best Screenplay Private Life, Best Supporting Female Roma, Best International Film Shirkers, Best Documentary
The Orchard American Animals, Best Editing 6 We the Animals, Best Cinematography We the Animals, Best Editing We the Animals, Best First Feature We the Animals, Best Supporting Male We the Animals, Someone to Watch Award
Oscilloscope Madeline's Madeline, Best Cinematography 4 Laboratories Madeline's Madeline, Best Female Lead On Her Shoulders, Best Documentary On Her Shoulders, Truer Than Fiction Award
RLJE Films Mandy , Best Cinematography 1
Samuel Blame, Best First Screenplay 3 Goldwyn Films Nancy, Best First Screenplay Nancy, Best Supporting Female
Sony Pictures The Wife, Best Female Lead 1 Classics Sony Pictures Searching, Best Male Lead 1 Releasing Summit Blindspotting, Best Male Lead 1 Entertainment, A Lionsgate Company Vanishing Thunder Road, John Cassavetes Award 1 Angle Well Go USA Burning, Best International Film 1 Entertainment No Distributor A Bread Factory, Best Supporting Female, John # of films Cassavetes Award without Lemonade, Someone to Watch Award distributor Sócrates, Best Male Lead, John Cassavetes Award, 3 Someone to Watch
44 NOMINATED FILMS
FILM TITLE CATEGORIES #
American Animals Best Editing 1 BLACKkKLANSMAN Best Supporting Male 1 Blame Best First Screenplay 1 Blindspotting Best Male Lead 1 A Bread Factory Best Supporting Female 2 John Cassavetes Award Burning Best International Film 1
Can You Ever Forgive Best Screenplay 2 Me? Best Supporting Male Colette Best Screenplay 1 Eighth Grade Best Feature 4 Best Female Lead Best First Screenplay Best Supporting Male En el Séptimo Día John Cassavetes Award 1 The Favourite Best International Film 1 First Reformed Best Director 4 Best Feature Best Male Lead Best Screenplay Hale County This Best Documentary 2 Morning, This Evening Truer Than Fiction Award Happy as Lazzaro Best International Film 1 Hereditary Best Female Lead 2 Best First Feature If Beale Street Could Talk Best Director 3 Best Feature Best Supporting Female Leave No Trace Best Director 3 Best Feature Best Supporting Female Lemonade Someone to Watch Award 1 Madeline's Madeline Best Cinematography 2 Best Female Lead Mandy Best Cinematography 1 Mid90s Best Editing 1 Minding the Gap Best Documentary 2 Truer Than Fiction Award Monsters and Men Best Supporting Male 1 Nancy Best First Screenplay 2 Best Supporting Female Never Goin' Back John Cassavetes Award 1 Of Fathers and Sons Best Documentary 1 On Her Shoulders Best Documentary 2 Truer Than Fiction Award Private Life Best Director 3 Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female Roma Best International Film 1 Searching Best Male Lead 1 Shirkers Best Documentary 1 Shoplifters Best International Film 1 Sócrates Best Male Lead 3 John Cassavetes Award Someone to Watch Award Sorry to Bother You Best First Feature 2 Best Screenplay Support the Girls Best Female Lead 1 Suspiria Best Cinematography 2 Robert Altman Award The Tale Best Editing 3 Best First Feature Best First Screenplay Thunder Road John Cassavetes Award 1 Thoroughbreds Best First Screenplay 1 We the Animals Best Cinematography 5 Best Editing Best First Feature Best Supporting Male Someone to Watch Award The Wife Best Female Lead 1
Wildlife Best Cinematography 3 Best Female Lead Best First Feature Won't You Be My Best Documentary 1 Neighbor? You Were Never Really Best Director 4 Here Best Editing Best Feature Best Male Lead
ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS Now in its 34th 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 Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors American Airlines, AT&T, IFC and Subaru of America. FIJI Water is the Official Water. Getty Images is the Official Photographer. TOWN & COUNTRY EVENT RENTALS is the Exclusive Rental Company.
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT Film Independent is the nonprofit arts organization that champions creative independence in visual storytelling 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 Film Independent Presents, a year-round screening series for its members that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.
Through 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.
For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.
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