"The Good Dinosaur" next with 10 noms
“Inside Out,” Pixar’s journey into the mind of an adolescent girl, has received 14 Annie Awards nominations, topping the studio’s “The Good Dinosaur,” which picked up 10.
The International Animated Film Society on Tuesday announced the nominations for the 43rd annual Annie Awards, which recognize the best in animated entertainment.
“Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur” will be competing for best animated feature against “The Peanuts Movie,” Charlie Kaufman’s dark comedy “Anomalisa,” and the British TV series-inspired “Shaun the Sheep the Movie,” which all picked up five nominations.
ASIFA-Hollywood also added a new category to recognize the best in independent feature animation. Nominees include “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet” and Studio Ghibli’s “When Marnie Was There.”
Winners will be announced during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 6.
43rd Annual Annie Awards Nominations
#1 Best Animated Feature
Anomalisa Paramount Pictures
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Shaun the Sheep The Movie Aardman Animations
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
The Peanuts Movie Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation
#2 Best Animated Special Production
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Warner Bros. Animation
He Named Me Malala Parkes-MacDonald / Little Door
I Am A Witness Moonbot Studios
Kite Epic Games
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck End of Movie, LLC
Niko and the Sword of Light Titmouse, Inc. / Amazon Studios
#3 Best Animated Short Subject
Carface National Film Board of Canada
DISSONANCE frameboX
If I was God National Film Board of Canada
On Ice Google/Evil Eye Pictures
Sanjay’s Super Team Pixar Animation Studios
World of Tomorrow Don Hertzfeldt
#4 Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
Chex Party Mix: “Holiday Magic” Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
"Man and Dog," Psyop
Michelin Total Performance: “All the Performances In Every Tire” Moonbot Studios
"We Are All Farmers," Acme Filmworks
#5 Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
Bubble Guppies Episode: 326 – “Super Guppies!” Nickelodeon Nelvana
PAW Patrol Episode: 213, Pups Save A MerPup Spin Master Nickelodeon
Peter Rabbit Episode: 216 – The Kitten and Pig Adventure Nickelodeon Productions Silvergate Media
Sheriff Callie’s Wild West Episode: #201A “The Good, the Bad & the Yo-Yo” Wild Canary Animation / Disney Junior
Transformers Rescue Bots Episode: “I Have Heard The Robots Singing” Hasbro Studios
Tumble Leaf Episode: Mirror Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment
#6 Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children
Clarence Episode: Turtle Hats Cartoon Network
Gravity Falls Episode: Not What He Seems Disney Television Animation
Harvey Beaks Episode: A Day of No To-Do Nickelodeon
Sanjay & Craig Episode: Street Dogg Nickelodeon
Star vs the Forces of Evil Episode: Blood Moon Ball Disney Television Animation
Steven Universe Episode: Jail Break Cartoon Network Studios
Wander Over Yonder Episode: The Breakfast Disney Television Animation
#7 Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Bob’s Burgers Episode: Can’t Buy Me Math Twentieth Century Fox Television Bento Box Entertainment
BoJack Horseman Episode: Brand New Couch The Tornante Company
Moonbeam City Episode: Quest for Aquatica Titmouse, Inc. / Comedy Central
The Simpsons Episode: Halloween of Horror Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox Television
#8 Best Animated Feature-Independent
Boy and the World Filme de Papel
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Ventanarosa
The Boy and the Beast Studio Chizu
When Marnie Was There Studio Ghibli
#9 Best Student Film
Can I Stay? Ringling College
Dodoba Yon Hui Lee
ed Taha Neyestani
Life Smartphone Xie Chenglin
Mother Stephanie Chiew
Nice To Meeteor You Yizhou Li
Shift Maria Cecilia Puglesi
The Casebook of Nips & Porkington Melody Wang
#10 Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Home DreamWorks Animation
Effects Lead: Greg Gladstone Effects Lead: Tim Hoff Effects Lead: Mark Newport Effects Lead: Jason Rickwald Effects Lead: Stephen Wood
Hotel Transylvania 2 Sony Pictures Animation
Character Effects Supervisor: Chris Logan Character Effects Supervisor: Brian Casper Character Effects Lead: Gavin Baxter Character Effects Lead: William Eckroat
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Effects Artist: Amit Baadkar Effects Artist: Dave Hale Effects Artist: Vincent Serritella Second Unit & Crowds Animation Supervisor: Paul Mendoza
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Computer Graphic Supervisor: Frank Baradat Computer Graphic Supervisor: Antonin Seydoux Effects Supervisor: Milo Riccarand Lighting & Composite Supervisor: Nicolas Brack
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Effects Supervisor: Jon Reisch Effects Lead: Stephen Marshall Volumetric Clouds Architect: Magnus Wrenninge Development & Effects Artist: Michael Hall Effects Technical Lead: Michael K. O’Brien
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Paramount Animation
Effects Animation Supervisor: Brice Mallier FX Animation Supervisor: Paul Buckley FX Animator: Brent Droog FX Animator: Alex Whyte Lead FX Animator: Jonothan Freisler
#11 Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Jurassic World – Animated Effects Universal Studios / Legendary Pictures
Effects TD Supervisor: Raul Essig Digital Artist: Roman Schmidt Digital Artist: Mark Chataway Digital Artist: Ryan Hopkins
Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – Sokovia Destruction Marvel Studios
Creature Sim Supervisor: Michael Balog Creature Simulation Lead: Jim Van Allen Effects Simulation Supervisor: Florent Andorra Effects Lead: George Kaltenbrunner
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Gotham Group 20th Century Fox
FX Supervisor: Ronnie Menahem CG Supervisor: Pavani Rao Boddapati Lighting TD: Francois Sugny Models: Leslie Chan FX TD: Nicolas Petit
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies New Line Cinema Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) WingNut Films 3Foot7
FX Supervisor: Ronnie Menahem Lead FX TD: Brian Goodwin FX Supervisor: Jason Lazaroff Senior Environment Artist: Paul Harris Lead Modeller: James Ogle
#12 Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Dragons: Race to the Edge Episode: “Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 2” DreamWorks Animation Television
Lead Animator: Yong-Zhi Sun
Dragons: Race to the Edge Episode: “Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1” DreamWorks Animation Television
Character Animator: Chi-Ho Chan
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Character Animator: Alfonso Estrada
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Character Animator: Scott Daros
Peter Rabbit Episode: 216 – The Kitten and Pig Adventure Nickelodeon Productions Silvergate Media
Character Animator: Maurizio Parimbelli
Turbo FAST Episode: “Turboldly Go” DreamWorks Animation Television
Character Animator: Ryan MacNeil
Wander Over Yonder Episode: The Good Bad Guy Disney Television Animation
Character Animator: Justin Nichols
#13 Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
Home DreamWorks Animation
Animation Supervisor : Mark Donald
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: Allison Rutland
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: Travis Hathaway
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Animator: Hichem Arfaoui
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: Mark C. Harris
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: K.C. Roeyer
The Peanuts Movie Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Lead Animator: BJ Crawford
#14 Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Jurassic World – Indominus Rex Universal Studios / Legendary Pictures
VFX Animation Supervisor: Glen McIntosh Associate Animation Supervisor: Kevin Martel Lead Animator: Kyle Winkelman Digital Artist: Rodrick Fransham Creature Supervisor: Kaori Ogino
Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – The Hulk Marvel Studios
Assoc. Animation Supervisor: Jakub Pistecky Animator: Gang Trinh Animator: Craig Penn Lead Animator: Mickael Coedel Lead Animator : Yair Gutierrez
Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – Ultron Marvel Studios
Lead Animator: Peter Tan Animator: Boonyiki Lim Animator: Sachio Nishiyama Animator: Byounghee Cho Animator: Roy Tan
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – AZOG New Line Cinema Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) WingNut Films 3Foot7
Animation Supervisor: Aaron Gilman Senior Facial Modeller: Howard Sly Lead Animator: Matthew Riordan Creature TD: Kevin Kelm Lead Shader TD: Guillaume Francois
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – SMAUG New Line Cinema Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) WingNut Films 3Foot7
Animation Supervisor: David Clayton Creature Supervisor: Gios Johnston Senior Modeller: Andreja Vuckovic Lead Shader TD: Guillaume Francois Senior Animator: Daniel Zettl
The Revenant – Judy Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Anonymous Content, M Productions, Appian Way, RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Animation Supervisor: Matthew Shumway Lead Digital Artist: Adrian Millington Digital Artist: Blaine Toderian Digital Artist: Alexander Poei Digital Artist: Kevin Lan
#15 Character Animation in a Video Game
Armikrog Pencil Test Studios, Inc.
Lead Animator: Mike Dietz Character: All Characters
Evolve 2K Games
Character Animator: David Gibson Character: Daisy, Goliath, Kraken
Invisible, Inc. Klei Entertainment Inc.
Character Animator: Bruce Chang Character: Decker, Central, Nika, Guards
#16 Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Breadwinners Episode: Wrath of the Pizza Lord Nickelodeon in association with Titmouse Canada Animation, Inc.
Character Designer: Junpei Takayama
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Character Designer: Craig Kellman
Harvey Beaks Episode: Night Club Night Nickelodeon
Character Designer: David Tilton
Pickle and Peanut Episode: Swim Lessons Disney Television Animation
Lead Character Design: Tapan Gandhi
Pig Goat Banana Cricket Episode: Pig Goat Banana Cricket High Five! Nickelodeon
Co-Creator: Dave Cooper Design Supervisor: Mike Dougherty Designer: Steve Hirt
Pig Goat Banana Cricket Episode: Miss Cutesy Meow Meows Nickelodeon
Character Designer: Gordon Hammond, Steve Hirt Assistant Character Designer: Jennifer Wood Art Director: Mike Dougherty
The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show Episode: “New Sponsor/ Cleopatra” DreamWorks Animation Television
Character Design Supervisor: Chris Mitchell Character Designer: Keiko Murayama
#17 Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Hotel Transylvania 2 Sony Pictures Animation
Character Designer : Craig Kellman Character Design: Stephen DeStefano
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Character Art Director: Albert Lozano Character Artist: Chris Sasaki
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Character Designer: Eric Guillon
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Character Art Director: Matt Nolte
#18 Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Archer Episode: Edie’s Wedding FX Productions
Director: Bryan Fordney
Disney Mickey Mouse Episode: Coned Disney Television Animation
Director: Dave Wasson
Dragons: Race to the Edge Episode: “Reign of Fireworms” DreamWorks Animation Television
Director: TJ Sullivan
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Director: Mark Caballero Director: Seamus Walsh
Gravity Falls Episode: Northwest Mansion Mystery Disney Television Animation
Director: Matt Braly
Mickey Mouse Episode: Bottle Shocked Disney TVA
Director: Heiko Drengenberg
Pickle and Peanut Episode: Pickle the Falcon Master Disney Television Animation
Director: Ken Wong
Steven Universe Episode: The Test Cartoon Network Studios
Director: Ian Jones-Quartey
#19 Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Anomalisa Paramount Pictures
Director: Charlie Kaufman Director: Duke Johnson
Extraordinary Tales Melusine Productions and R&R Communications
Director: Raul Garcia
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Ventanarosa
Director: Roger Allers
Shaun the Sheep The Movie Aardman Animations
Director: Mark Burton Director: Richard Starzak
The Peanuts Movie Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Director: Steve Martino
When Marnie Was There Studio Ghibli
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
#20 Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Disney Mickey Mouse Episode: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! Disney Television Animation
Composer: Christopher Willis
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Composer/Lyricist: Matthew Sklar Composer/Lyricist: Christopher Guardino
Puffin Rock Episode: Night Lights Cartoon Saloon, Dog Ears, Penguin Books
Composer/Lyricist: Einar Tonsberg
Sanjay & Craig Episode: Street Dogg Nickelodeon
Lyricist: Nick Bachman Lyricist: Neil Graf Composer: Matt Mahaffey Composer/Lyricist: Jonathan Hylander (Music Editor)
Sheriff Callie’s Wild West Episode: #201A “The Good, the Bad & the Yo-Yo” Wild Canary Animation / Disney Junior
Composer/Lyricist: Mike Himelstein Lyricist: Joe Ansolabehere Composer: Mike Barnett
The Venture Bros: All This And Gargantua2 Titmouse, Inc. / Adult Swim
Composer/Lyricist: J.G. Thirlwell
Wander Over Yonder Episode: The Black Cube Disney Television Animation
Composer: Andy Bean
#21 Music in an Animated Feature Production
Anomalisa Paramount Pictures
Composer: Carter Burwell
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem Warner Bros. Animation
Composer: Kevin Riepl
Boy and the World Filme de Papel
Composer: Ruben Feffer Composer: Gustavo Kurlat Composer: GEM Grupo Experimental de Música Composer/Lyricist: Emicida (No last name)
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Composer: Michael Giacchino
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Composer: Mychael Danna Composer: Jeff Danna
#22 Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Dawn of the Croods Episode: “Garden of Eaten” DreamWorks Animation Television
Production Design: Jonathan Pyun Production Design: Aaron Spurgeon Production Design: Baptiste Lucas Production Design: Margaret Wuller Production Design: Ethan Becker
Fresh Beat Band of Spies Episode: 107, Singing Pirate Nickelodeon Productions 6 Point 2 Nelvana
Production Design: Ernie Gilbert Production Design: Kristin Donner Production Design: Steve Meyers Production Design: Fred Gardner Production Design: David Cole
Gravity Falls Episode: Xpcveaoqfoxso (Weirdmageddon) Disney Television Animation
Production Design: Ian Worrel Production Design: Jeffrey Thompson
Pig Goat Banana Cricket Episode: Happy Chalawunga! Nickelodeon
Production Design: Dave Cooper Production Design: Mike Dougherty Production Design: Francis Giglio
Pig Goat Banana Cricket Episode: Prank Thy Neighbor Nickelodeon
Production Design: Dave Cooper Production Design: Mike Dougherty Production Design: Francis Giglio
Puffin Rock Episode: Night Lights Cartoon Saloon, Dog Ears, Penguin Books
Production Design: Lily Bernard Production Design: Marie Thorhauge Production Design: Stefano Scapolan
The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show Episode: “Peabody’s Parents/Galileo” DreamWorks Animation Televsion
Production Design: Kevin Dart Production Design: Sylvia Liu Production Design: Chris Turnham Production Design: Eastwood Wong
#23 Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Boy and the World Filme de Papel
Production Design: Alê Abreu
He Named Me Malala Parkes-MacDonald / Little Room
Production Design: Jason Carpenter
Home DreamWorks Animation
Production Design: Emil Mitev
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Production Design: Ralph Eggleston
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Production Design: Eric Guillon
Shaun the Sheep The Movie Aardman Animations
Production Design: Matt Perry Production Design: Gavin Lines
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Production Design: Harley Jessup Production Design: Sharon Calahan Production Design: Bryn Imagire Production Design: Noah Klocek Production Design: Huy Nguyen
#24 Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Adventure Time Episode: Walnuts & Rain Cartoon Network Studios
Storyboard Artist: Tom Herpich
Disney Mickey Mouse Episode: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! Disney Television Animation
Storyboard Artist: Alonso Ramirez Ramos
Dragons: Race to the Edge Episode: Eye of the Beholder (Part 1 and 2) Dreamworks Animation
Storyboard Artist: Heidi Jo Gilbert
Niko and the Sword of Light Episode: (pilot) Titmouse, Inc. / Amazon Studios
Storyboard Artist: Sung Jin Ahn Storyboard Artist: Ben Juwono Storyboard Artist: David Woo Storyboard Artist: Donna Lee
Steven Universe Episode: Jail Break Cartoon Network Studios
Storyboard Artist: Joe Johnston Storyboard Artist: Jeff Liu Storyboard Artist: Rebecca Sugar
The Adventures of Puss in Boots Episode: “Hidden” DreamWorks Animation Television
Storyboard Artist: Ben Juwono
Wander Over Yonder Episode: The Breakfast Disney Television Animation
Storyboard Artist: Justin Nichols
We Bare Bears Episode: Burrito Cartoon Network Studios
Storyboard Artist: Madeline Sharafian Storyboard Artist: Manny Hernandez Storyboard Artist: Bert Youn
#25 Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Extraordinary Tales Melusine Productions and R&R Communications
Storyboard Artist: Antonio Santamaria
Hotel Transylvania 2 Sony Pictures Animation
Storyboard Artist: Mike Smukavic
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Tony Rosenast
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Domee Shi
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Storyboard Artist: Habib Louati
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Bill Presing
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Rosana Sullivan
The Good Dinosaur Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: J.P. Vine Storyboard Artist: Tony Rosenast Storyboard Artist: Enrico Casarosa
#26 Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Bob’s Burgers Episode: Hawk & Chick Twentieth Century Fox Television Bento Box Entertainment
Starring: Kristen Schaal
Breadwinners Episode: Movie Ducks Nickelodeon in association with Titmouse Canada Animation Inc.
Voiced By: Eric Bauza
Dawn of the Croods Episode: “The First Picture Show”, “School of Hard Rocks” DreamWorks Animation Television
“Lerk”: Grey Griffin
Dawn of the Croods Episode: “The First Picture Show,” “Mom Genes” DreamWorks Animation Television
“Amber”: Larainne Newman
Pig Goat Banana Cricket Episode: Underpants-Palooza Nickelodeon
Voice Actor: Matt Jones
Star vs the Forces of Evil Episode: Compilation from Series Disney Television Animation
Alan Tudyk: Alan Tudyk
The Adventures of Puss in Boots Episode: Various DreamWorks Animation Television
“Puss in Boots”: Eric Bauza
Uncle Grandpa Episode: Uncle Grandpa At The Movies Cartoon Network Studios
Featured Voice: Kevin Michael Richardson
#27 Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Anomalisa Paramount Pictures
Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Cast: Amy Poehler
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Cast: Phyllis Smith
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Cast: Pierre Coffin
Minions Illumination Entertainment
Cast: Jon Hamm
The Peanuts Movie Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Linus: Alex Garfin
The Peanuts Movie Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Lucy: Hadley Belle Miller
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Paramount Animation
Cast: Tom Kenny
#28 Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Adventure Time Episode: The Diary Cartoon Network Studios
Writer: Kent Osborne Writer: Pendleton Ward Writer: Jack Pendarvis Writer: Jillian Tamaki Writer: Adam Muto
Bob’s Burgers Episode: The Hauntening Twentieth Century Fox Television Bento Box Entertainment
Writer: Steven Davis Writer: Kelvin Yu
Gravity Falls Episode: Not What He Seems Disney Television Animation
Writer: Alex Hirsch Writer: Shion Takeuchi Writer: Josh Weinstein Writer: Jeff Rowe Writer: Matt Chapman
The Simpsons Episode: I Won’t Be Home For Christmas Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox Television
Writer: Al Jean
#29 Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Writer: Pete Docter Writer: Meg LeFauve Writer: Josh Cooley
Shaun the Sheep The Movie Aardman Animations
Writer: Mark Burton Writer: Richard Starzak
When Marnie Was There Studio Ghibli
Writer: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
#30 Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
All Hail King Julien Episode: “Body Double” DreamWorks Animation Television
Nominee: David Craig Nominee: Jeff Adams
Disney Mickey Mouse Episode: Coned Disney Television Animation
Nominee: Illya Owens
Dragons: Race to the Edge Episode: “Dragon Eye of the Beholder, Part 1” DreamWorks Animation Television
Nominee: John Laus
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Episode: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Screen Novelties Warner Bros Animation
Nominee: Mike Wright
Lost Treasure Hunt Episode: Columbus Voyage Revisited Argosy Film Group
Nominee: Nolan Southerland Nominee: William Kessler Nominee: Benjamin Rush
Phineas and Ferb Episode: Last Day of Summer DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION
Nominee: Anne Harting Nominee: Shawn Lemmonier Nominee: Lauren Crist Nominee: Carmen Woods
Star vs the Forces of Evil Episode: Storm the Castle Disney Television Animation
Nominee: Ted Supa
#31 Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Anomalisa Paramount Pictures
Nominee: Garret Elkins
Inside Out Pixar Animation Studios
Nominee: Kevin Nolting
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Ventanarosa
Nominee: Jennifer Dolce
Shaun the Sheep The Movie Aardman Animations
Nominee: Sim Evan-Jones
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More