This morning, Film Independent announced the nominations for the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards and revealed that director Ava DuVernay will be this year’s Honorary Chair. 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. Here is the list of nominees:
BEST FEATURE
- Call Me By Your Name
- The Florida Project
- Get Out
- Lady Bird
- The Rider
BEST FIRST FEATURE
- Columbus
- Ingrid Goes West
- Menashe
- Oh Lucy!
- Patti Cake$
BEST DIRECTOR
- Sean Baker – The Florida Project
- Jonas Capignano – A Ciambra
- Luca Guadagnino – Call Me By Your Name
- Jordan Peele – Get Out
- Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie – Good Time
- Chloe Zhao – The Rider
BEST MALE LEAD
- Timothee Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name
- Harris Dickinson – Beach Rats
- James Franco – The Disaster Artist
- Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
- Robert Pattinson – Good Time
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 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
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 SCREENPLAY
- Beatriz at Dinner
- Get Out
- Lady Bird
- The Lovers
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
- The Big Sick
- Columbus
- Donald Cried
- Ingrid Goes West
- Women Who Kill
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Beach Rats
- Call Me By Your Name
- Columbus
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer
- The Rider
BEST EDITING
- Call Me By Your Name
- Get Out
- Good Time
- I, Tonya
- The Rider
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (winner) – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
- Mudbound
BEST DOCUMENTARY
- The Departure
- Faces Places
- Last Men in Aleppo
- Motherland
- Quest
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000
- Dayveon
- A Ghost Story
- Life and nothing more
- Most Beautiful Island
- The Transfiguration
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
- BPM (Beats Per Minute) – France
- A Fantastic Woman – Chile
- I Am Not a Witch – Zambia
- Lady Macbeth – UK
- Loveless – Russia
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
- Chloe 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
- Jonathan Olshefski
- Jeff Unay
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
- Justin Chon
- Kevin Phillips
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.
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