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 2017 Spirit Awards this morning. The 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 W Hollywood, with actors Jenny Slate and Edgar Ramirez presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included American Honey, Chronic, Jackie, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.
"Now more than ever, the voices of independent artists play a critically important role in our culture,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “The films we celebrate at this year’s Spirit Awards embody the diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision that we champion all year long."
Moonlight 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 25, 2017. 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.
Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
“The Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants enable us to not only recognize great work but also to provide much needed direct financial support to filmmakers,” said Josh Welsh. “We’re so appreciative of our grant funders, Kiehl’s Since 1851 and Piaget. Through their funding of the Producers Award, Piaget has been a steadfast supporter of film artists for the last decade.”
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 382 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.
2017 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
American Honey
Producers: Thomas Benski, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg
Chronic
Producers: Michel Franco, Gina Kwon, Gabriel Ripstein, Moisés Zonana
Jackie
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Juan de Dios Larraín, Mickey Liddell
Manchester by the Sea
Producers: Lauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward, Kevin J. Walsh
Moonlight
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski
BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)
The Childhood of a Leader
Director: Brady Corbet
Producers: Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Chris Coen, Ron Curtis,
Helena Danielsson, Mona Fastvold, István Major
The Fits
Director/Producer: Anna Rose Holmer
Producer: Lisa Kjerulff
Other People
Director: Chris Kelly
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Adam Scott, Naomi Scott
Swiss Army Man
Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Producers: Miranda Bailey, Lawrence Inglee, Lauren Mann, Amanda Marshall, Eyal Rimmon, Jonathan Wang
The Witch
Director: Robert Eggers
Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
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.
Free In Deed
Writer/Director: Jake Mahaffy
Producers: Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel
Hunter Gatherer
Writer/Director: Josh Locy
Producers: Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman
Lovesong
Writer/Director: So Yong Kim
Writer/Producer: Bradley Rust Gray
Producers: David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac
Nakom
Writer/Director/Producer: TW Pittman
Director/Producer: Kelly Daniela Norris
Writer/Producer: Isaac Adakudugu
Producer: Giovanni Ximénez
Spa Night
Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn
Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas
BEST DIRECTOR
Andrea Arnold American Honey
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Pablo Larraín Jackie
Jeff Nichols Loving
Kelly Reichardt Certain Women
BEST SCREENPLAY
Barry Jenkins Story By Tarell Alvin McCraney Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Mike Mills 20th Century Women
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias Little Men
Taylor Sheridan Hell or High Water
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Robert Eggers The Witch
Chris Kelly Other People
Adam Mansbach Barry
Stella Meghie Jean of the Joneses
Craig Shilowich Christine
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ava Berkofsky Free In Deed
Lol Crawley The Childhood of a Leader
Zach Kuperstein The Eyes of My Mother
James Laxton Moonlight
Robbie Ryan American Honey
BEST EDITING
Matthew Hannam Swiss Army Man
Jennifer Lame Manchester by the Sea
Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders Moonlight
Jake Roberts Hell or High Water
Sebastián Sepúlveda Jackie
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert Elle
Sasha Lane American Honey
Ruth Negga Loving
Natalie Portman Jackie
Best Male Lead
Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
David Harewood Free In Deed
Viggo Mortensen Captain Fantastic
Jesse Plemons Other People
Tim Roth Chronic
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Edwina Findley Free In Deed
Paulina Garcia Little Men
Lily Gladstone Certain Women
Riley Keough American Honey
Molly Shannon Other People
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Ralph Fiennes A Bigger Splash
Ben Foster Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges Manchester by the Sea
Shia LaBeouf American Honey
Craig Robinson Morris from America
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
Moonlight
Director: Barry Jenkins
Casting Director: Yesi Ramirez
Ensemble Cast: Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
13th
Director/Producer: Ava DuVernay
Producers: Spencer Averick, Howard Barish
Cameraperson
Director/Producer: Kirsten Johnson
Producer: Marilyn Ness
I Am Not Your Negro
Director/Producer: Raoul Peck
Producers: Rémi Grellety, Hérbert Peck
O.J.: Made in America
Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman
Producers: Nina Krstic, Tamara Rosenberg, Caroline Waterlow
Sonita
Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Producer: Gerd Haag
Under the Sun
Director: Vitaly Mansky
Producer: Natalya Manskaya
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
Aquarius
(Brazil)
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Chevalier
(Greece)
Director: Athina Tsangari
My Golden Days
(France)
Director: Arnaud Desplechin
Toni Erdmann
(Germany and Romania)
Director: Maren Ade
Under the Shadow
(Iran and U.K.)
Director: Babak Anvari
20th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 20th 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.
Lisa Kjerulff
Jordana Mollick
Melody C. Roscher & Craig Shilowich
23rd ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 23rd 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.
Andrew Ahn
Director of Spa Night
Claire Carré
Director of Embers
Anna Rose Holmer
Director of The Fits
Ingrid Jungermann
Director of Women Who Kill
22nd TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 22nd 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.
Kristi Jacobson
Director of Solitary
Sara Jordenö
Director of Kiki
Nanfu Wang
Director of Hooligan Sparrow
BY DISTRIBUTOR
|
Distributor |
NOMINATIONS |
# Nominations |
|
A24
|
20th Century Women, Best Female Lead 20th Century Women, Best Screenplay American Honey, Best Cinematography American Honey, Best Director American Honey, Best Feature American Honey, Best Female Lead American Honey, Best Supporting Female American Honey, Best Supporting Male Moonlight, Best Cinematography Moonlight, Best Director Moonlight, Best Editing Moonlight, Best Feature Moonlight, Best Screenplay Moonlight, Robert Altman Award Morris from America, Best Supporting Male Swiss Army Man, Best Editing Swiss Army Man, Best First Feature The Witch, Best First Feature The Witch, Best First Screenplay |
19 |
|
Amazon Studios |
Manchester by the Sea, Best Editing Manchester by the Sea, Best Feature Manchester by the Sea, Best Male Lead Manchester by the Sea, Best Screenplay Manchester by the Sea, Best Supporting Male |
5 |
|
Bleecker Street |
Captain Fantastic, Best Male Lead |
1 |
|
CBS Films / Lionsgate
|
Hell or High Water, Best Editing Hell or High Water, Best Screenplay Hell or High Water, Best Supporting Male |
3 |
|
Corinth Films |
Nakom, John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
ESPN Films |
O.J.: Made in America, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
The Film Collaborative / Kino Lorber |
Hooligan Sparrow, Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Focus Features |
Loving, Best Director Loving, Best Female Lead |
2 |
|
Fox Searchlight Pictures |
A Bigger Splash, Best Supporting Male Jackie, Best Director Jackie, Best Editing Jackie, Best Feature Jackie, Best Female Lead |
5 |
|
HBO Documentary Films |
Solitary, Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Icarus Films |
Under the Sun, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
IFC Films |
Certain Women, Best Director Certain Women, Best Supporting Female The Childhood of a Leader, Best Cinematography The Childhood of a Leader, Best First Feature |
4 |
|
Janus Films |
Cameraperson, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Magnolia Pictures |
I Am Not Your Negro, Best Documentary Little Men, Best Screenplay Little Men, Best Supporting Female My Golden Days, Best International Film The Eyes of My Mother, Best Cinematography |
5 |
|
Monument Releasing |
Chronic, Best Feature Chronic, Best Male Lead |
2 |
|
Netflix |
13th, Best Documentary Barry, Best First Screenplay |
2 |
|
The Orchard |
Christine, Best First Screenplay Embers, Someone to Watch Award Hunter Gatherer, John Cassavetes Award |
3 |
|
Oscilloscope Laboratories |
The Fits, Best First Feature The Fits, Someone to Watch Award |
2 |
|
Sony Pictures Classics |
Elle, Best Female Lead Toni Erdmann, Best International Film |
2 |
|
Strand Releasing |
Chevalier, Best International Film Lovesong, John Cassavetes Award Spa Night, John Cassavetes Award Spa Night, Someone to Watch Award |
4 |
|
Sundance Selects |
Kiki, Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Vertical Entertainment |
Other People, Best First Feature Other People, Best First Screenplay Other People, Best Male Lead Other People, Best Supporting Female Under the Shadow, Best International Film |
5 |
|
Vitagragh Films |
Aquarius, Best International Film |
1 |
|
Women Make Movies |
Sonita, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
No Distributor |
Free In Deed, Best Cinematography, Best Male Lead, Best Supporting Female, John Cassavetes Award Jean of the Joneses, Best First Screenplay Women Who Kill, Someone to Watch Award |
# of films without distributor 3 |
| 44 FILMS NOMINATED | ||
|
FILM TITLE |
CATEGORIES
|
# |
|
13th |
Best Documentary
|
1 |
|
20th Century Women |
Best Female Lead Best Screenplay |
2 |
|
American Honey |
Best Cinematography Best Director Best Feature Best Female Lead Best Supporting Female Best Supporting Male |
6 |
|
Aquarius |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Barry |
Best First Screenplay |
1 |
|
A Bigger Splash |
Best Supporting Male |
1 |
|
Cameraperson |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Captain Fantastic |
Best Male Lead |
1 |
|
Certain Women |
Best Director Best Supporting Female |
2 |
|
Chevalier |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Christine |
Best First Screenplay |
1 |
|
The Childhood of a Leader |
Best Cinematography Best First Feature |
2 |
|
Chronic |
Best Feature Best Male Lead |
2 |
|
Elle |
Best Female Lead |
1 |
|
Embers |
Someone to Watch Award |
1 |
|
The Eyes of My Mother |
Best Cinematography |
1 |
|
The Fits |
Best First Feature Someone to Watch Award |
2 |
|
Free In Deed |
Best Cinematography Best Male Lead Best Supporting Female John Cassavetes Award |
4 |
|
Hell or High Water |
Best Editing Best Screenplay Best Supporting Male |
3 |
|
Hooligan Sparrow |
Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Hunter Gatherer |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
I Am Not Your Negro |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Jackie |
Best Director Best Editing Best Feature Best Female Lead |
4 |
|
Jean of the Joneses |
Best First Screenplay |
1 |
|
Kiki |
Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Little Men |
Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female |
2 |
|
Lovesong |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
Loving |
Best Director Best Female Lead |
2 |
|
Manchester by the Sea |
Best Editing Best Feature Best Male Lead Best Screenplay Best Supporting Male |
5 |
|
Moonlight |
Best Cinematography Best Director Best Editing Best Feature Best Screenplay Robert Altman Award |
6 |
|
Morris from America |
Best Supporting Male |
1 |
|
My Golden Days |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Nakom |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
O.J.: Made in America |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Other People |
Best First Feature Best First Screenplay Best Male Lead Best Supporting Female |
4 |
|
Solitary |
Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Sonita |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Spa Night |
John Cassavetes Award Someone to Watch Award |
2 |
|
Swiss Army Man |
Best Editing Best First Feature |
2 |
|
Toni Erdmann |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Under the Shadow |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Under the Sun |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
The Witch
|
Best First Feature Best First Screenplay |
2 |
|
Women Who Kill |
Someone to Watch Award |
1 |
ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
Now in its 32nd 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 Piaget, American Airlines, Jeep brand, IFC, and Principal Sponsor AT&T, as well as Breyers Gelato Indulgences. FIJI Water is the Official Water. WireImage is the Official Photographer. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, 310.432.1252.
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is the non-profit 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.
Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the LA Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and Film Independent at LACMA, 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!, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Stan Against Evil and 2017’s Brockmire 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.
