This morning, Film Independent announced the nominations for the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards and revealed that director Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time) will be this year’s Honorary Chair. Past Honorary Chairs include David Oyelowo, Jessica Chastain, Kerry Washington, Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese. 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 Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, with actors Lily Collins and Tessa Thompson presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Call Me by Your Name, The Florida Project, Get Out, Lady Bird and The Rider.
“This year's nominations reflect the range and vitality of artist-driven, independent film,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “Diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision are the hallmarks of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the films this year powerfully embody all those qualities."
"We are so happy to have Ava DuVernay as our Spirit Awards Honorary Chair," added Welsh, "Ava is a remarkable filmmaker – a writer, director and producer we have celebrated at the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival. More than that, she is a leader and a powerful voice for change, in the industry and beyond."
Mudbound 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, March 3, 2018. The awards ceremony co-hosted by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney 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 6, 2018, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 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.
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For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit spiritawards.com.
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 7, 2017 to receive full voting benefits. Join today at filmindependent.org/join
2018 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Call Me by Your Name
Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman
The Florida Project
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
Get Out
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele
Lady Bird
Producers: Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill, Scott Rudin
The Rider
Producers: Mollye Asher, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Chloé Zhao
BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)
Columbus
Director: Kogonada
Producers: Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Aaron Boyd, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz
Ingrid Goes West
Director: Matt Spicer
Producers: Jared Ian Goldman, Adam Mirels, Robert Mirels, Aubrey Plaza, Tim White, Trevor White
Menashe
Director/Producer: Joshua Z. Weinstein
Producers: Yoni Brook, Traci Carlson, Daniel Finkelman, Alex Lipschultz
Oh Lucy!
Director/Producer: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Yukie Kito, Han West
Patti Cake$
Director: Geremy Jasper
Producers: Chris Columbus, Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Noah Stahl, 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.)
Dayveon
Writer/Director/Producer: Amman Abbasi
Writer: Steven Reneau
Producers: Lachion Buckingham, Alexander Uhlmann
A Ghost Story
Writer/Director: David Lowery
Producers: Adam Donaghey, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston
Life and nothing more
Writer/Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza
Producers: Amadeo Hernández Bueno, Alvaro Portanet Hernández, Pedro Hernández Santos
Most Beautiful Island
Writer/Director/Producer: Ana Asensio
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Noah Greenberg, Chadd Harbold, Jenn Wexler
The Transfiguration
Writer/Director: Michael O'Shea
Producer: Susan Leber
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Baker The Florida Project
Jonas Carpignano A Ciambra
Luca Guadagnino Call Me by Your Name
Jordan Peele Get Out
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie Good Time
Chloé Zhao The Rider
BEST SCREENPLAY
Greta Gerwig Lady Bird
Azazel Jacobs The Lovers
Martin McDonagh Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Jordan Peele Get Out
Mike White Beatriz at Dinner
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Kris Avedisian
Story By: Kyle Espeleta, Jesse Wakeman
Donald Cried
Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
The Big Sick
Ingrid Jungermann
Women Who Kill
Kogonada
Columbus
David Branson Smith, Matt Spicer
Ingrid Goes West
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Thimios Bakatakis The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Elisha Christian Columbus
Hélène Louvart Beach Rats
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom Call Me by Your Name
Joshua James Richards The Rider
BEST EDITING
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie Good Time
Walter Fasano Call Me by Your Name
Alex O'Flinn The Rider
Gregory Plotkin Get Out
Tatiana S. Riegel I, Tonya
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Salma Hayek Beatriz at Dinner
Frances McDormand Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan Lady Bird
Shinobu Terajima Oh Lucy!
Regina Williams Life and nothing more
BEST MALE LEAD
Timothée Chalamet Call Me by Your Name
Harris Dickinson Beach Rats
James Franco The Disaster Artist
Daniel Kaluuya Get Out
Robert Pattinson Good Time
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Holly Hunter The Big Sick
Allison Janney I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf Lady Bird
Lois Smith Marjorie Prime
Taliah Lennice Webster Good Time
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Nnamdi Asomugha Crown Heights
Armie Hammer Call Me by Your Name
Barry Keoghan The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Sam Rockwell Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Benny Safdie Good Time
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
Mudbound
Director: Dee Rees
Casting Directors: Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram
Ensemble Cast: Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Carey Mulligan
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
The Departure
Director/Producer: Lana Wilson
Faces Places
Directors: Agnés Varda, JR
Producer: Rosalie Varda
Last Men in Aleppo
Director: Feras Fayyad
Producers: Kareem Abeed, Søeren Steen Jespersen, Stefan Kloos
Motherland
Director/Producer: Ramona S. Diaz
Producer: Rey Cuerdo
Quest
Director: Jonathan Olshefski
Producer: Sabrina Schmidt Gordon
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
France
Director: Robin Campillo
A Fantastic Woman
Chile
Director: Sebastián Lelio
I Am Not a Witch
Zambia
Director: Rungano Nyoni
Lady Macbeth
U.K.
Director: William Oldroyd
Loveless
Russia
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
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 inaugural Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.
So Yong Kim
Lynn Shelton
Chloé Zhao
JEEP TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 23rd annual Truer Than Fiction Award, funded by the Jeep brand, 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 funded by the Jeep brand.
Shevaun Mizrahi Director of Distant Constellation
Jonathan Olshefski Director of Quest
Jeff Unay Director of The Cage Fighter
KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 24th annual Someone to Watch Award, funded 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.
Amman Abbasi Director of Dayveon
Justin Chon Director of Gook
Kevin Phillips Director of Super Dark Times
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 21st annual Producers Award, funded 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.
Giulia Caruso & Ki Jin Kim
Ben LeClair
Summer Shelton
In addition, Visit Seattle will fund the Seattle Story Award, which is still open for nominations. The winning filmmaker will exhibit innovation, diversity and uniqueness of vision while having a history of transforming perspectives through rich stories. The recipient will receive a $25,000 cash grant to create a short film inspired by Seattle’s independent spirit. This film will premiere during the Spirit Awards broadcast.
BY DISTRIBUTOR
|
Distributor |
NOMINATIONS |
# |
|
A24
|
The Disaster Artist, Best Male Lead The Florida Project, Best Director The Florida Project, Best Feature A Ghost Story, John Cassavetes Award Good Time, Best Director Good Time, Best Editing Good Time, Best Male Lead Good Time, Best Supporting Female Good Time, Best Supporting Male The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Best Cinematography The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Best Supporting Male Lady Bird, Best Feature Lady Bird, Best Female Lead Lady Bird, Best Screenplay Lady Bird, Best Supporting Female The Lovers, Best Screenplay Menashe, Best First Feature |
17 |
|
Amazon Studios |
The Big Sick, Best First Screenplay The Big Sick, Best Supporting Female Crown Heights, Best Supporting Male |
3 |
|
Cohen Media Group |
Faces Places, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Film Movement |
Oh Lucy!, Best Female Lead Oh Lucy!, Best First Feature |
2 |
|
FilmRise
|
Dayveon, John Cassavetes Award Dayveon, Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award Marjorie Prime, Best Supporting Female Motherland, Best Documentary The Departure, Best Documentary Women Who Kill, Best First Screenplay |
6 |
|
Fox Searchlight Pictures |
Patti Cake$, Best First Feature Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, Best Female Lead Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, Best Screenplay Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, Best Supporting Male |
4 |
|
Grasshopper Film |
Last Men in Aleppo, Best Documentary |
1 |
|
NEON |
Beach Rats, Best Cinematography Beach Rats, Best Male Lead I, Tonya, Best Editing I, Tonya, Best Female Lead I, Tonya, Best Supporting Female Ingrid Goes West, Best First Feature Ingrid Goes West, Best First Screenplay |
7 |
|
Netflix |
Mudbound, Robert Altman Award |
1 |
|
Roadside Attractions |
Beatriz at Dinner, Best Female Lead Beatriz at Dinner, Best Screenplay Lady Macbeth, Best International Film |
3 |
|
Samuel Goldwyn Films |
Gook, Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award Most Beautiful Island, John Cassavetes Award |
2 |
|
Sony Pictures Classics
|
Call Me by Your Name, Best Cinematography Call Me by Your Name, Best Director Call Me by Your Name, Best Editing Call Me by Your Name, Best Feature Call Me by Your Name, Best Male Lead Call Me by Your Name, Best Supporting Male A Fantastic Woman, Best International Film Loveless, Best International Film The Rider, Best Cinematography The Rider, Best Director The Rider, Best Editing The Rider, Best Feature |
12 |
|
Strand Releasing |
The Transfiguration, John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
Sundance Selects |
The Cage Fighter, Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award A Ciambra, Best Director |
2 |
|
The Orchard |
BPM (Beats Per Minute), Best International Film Donald Cried, Best First Screenplay Super Dark Times, Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award |
3 |
|
Universal Pictures |
Get Out, Best Director Get Out, Best Editing Get Out, Best Feature Get Out, Best Male Lead Get Out, Best Screenplay |
5 |
|
No Distributor |
Columbus, Best Cinematography, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay Distant Constellation, Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award I Am Not a Witch, Best International Film Life and nothing more, Best Female Lead, John Cassavetes Award Quest, Best Documentary, Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award |
# of films without distributor 5 |
44 NOMINATED FILMS
|
FILM TITLE |
CATEGORIES
|
# |
|
A Ciambra |
Best Director |
1 |
|
Beach Rats |
Best Cinematography Best Male Lead |
2 |
|
Beatriz at Dinner |
Best Female Lead Best Screenplay |
2 |
|
The Big Sick |
Best First Screenplay Best Supporting Female |
2 |
|
BPM (Beats Per Minute) |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
The Cage Fighter |
Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Call Me by Your Name |
Best Cinematography Best Director Best Editing Best Feature Best Male Lead Best Supporting Male |
6 |
|
Columbus |
Best Cinematography Best First Feature Best First Screenplay |
3 |
|
Crown Heights |
Best Supporting Male |
1 |
|
Dayveon
|
John Cassavetes Award Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award |
2 |
|
The Departure |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
The Disaster Artist |
Best Male Lead |
1 |
|
Distant Constellation |
Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award |
1 |
|
Donald Cried |
Best First Screenplay |
1 |
|
Faces Places |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
A Fantastic Woman |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
The Florida Project
|
Best Director Best Feature |
2 |
|
Get Out |
Best Director Best Editing Best Feature Best Male Lead Best Screenplay |
5 |
|
A Ghost Story |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
Good Time |
Best Director Best Editing Best Male Lead Best Supporting Female Best Supporting Male |
5 |
|
Gook |
Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award |
1 |
|
I Am Not a Witch |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
I, Tonya |
Best Editing Best Female Lead Best Supporting Female |
3 |
|
Ingrid Goes West |
Best First Feature Best First Screenplay |
2 |
|
The Killing of a Sacred Deer |
Best Cinematography Best Supporting Male |
2 |
|
Lady Bird |
Best Feature Best Female Lead Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female |
4 |
|
Lady Macbeth |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
Last Men in Aleppo |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Life and nothing more
|
Best Female Lead John Cassavetes Award |
2 |
|
Loveless |
Best International Film |
1 |
|
The Lovers |
Best Screenplay |
1 |
|
Marjorie Prime |
Best Supporting Female |
1 |
|
Menashe |
Best First Feature |
1 |
|
Most Beautiful Island |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
Motherland |
Best Documentary |
1 |
|
Mudbound |
Robert Altman Award |
1 |
|
Oh Lucy!
|
Best Female Lead Best First Feature |
2 |
|
Patti Cake$ |
Best First Feature |
1 |
|
Quest
|
Best Documentary Jeep Truer Than Fiction Award |
2 |
|
The Rider |
Best Cinematography Best Director Best Editing Best Feature |
4 |
|
Super Dark Times |
Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award |
1 |
|
The Transfiguration |
John Cassavetes Award |
1 |
|
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri |
Best Female Lead Best Screenplay Best Supporting Male |
3 |
|
Women Who Kill |
Best First Screenplay |
1 |
About THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
Now in its 33rd 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 the Jeep brand, as well as Principal Sponsors Piaget and Visit Seattle. FIJI Water is the Official Water. WireImage is the Official Photographer.
About FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent 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 the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, 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.
For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.
About IFC
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series Portlandia, Stan Against Evil, Baroness von Sketch Show, Documentary Now! and 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.
