2012 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced

2012 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced

- $115,000 in grants to be awarded to filmmakers -

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced nominations for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards this morning. Anthony Mackie and Kate Beckinsale served as presenters. Nominees for Best Feature include 50/50, Beginners, Drive, Take Shelter, The Artist and The Descendants.

Margin Call was selected to receive the annual Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.

"The Film Independent Spirit Awards recognize the finest artistic achievements across the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking--from emerging talent working on a shoestring budget to established auteurs," said Film Independent Senior Director Sean Mc Manus. "The 2012 nominees tell their stories in such an authentic way and reflect the inclusive nature of the independent filmmaking community. We are delighted to support them and expand the audience for their work."

"The Spirit Awards focuses primarily on American independents, so it was an honor to serve alongside an esteemed and dedicated group of indie film colleagues to determine many of the 2012 nominees," said producer and Chair of the American Narrative Feature Nominating Committee Gail Mutrux. "It was an invigorating process--experiencing first-hand the vast array of storytelling that defines independent film, and discovering many new talents whose films inspired us."

Winners will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 25, 2012. The 27(th) annual awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, and the premiere broadcast will air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC. Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be highlighted during the awards ceremony and announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 277 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 & individual compensation), and percentage of financing from independent sources. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committee was comprised of the following committees:

The American Narrative Nominating Committee was chaired by producer Gail Mutrux and included: film critic/journalist Robert Abele; writer Dustin Lance Black; producers Stuart Cornfeld, Barry Mendel; actors Dale Dickey, Andre Royo, Souleymane Sy Savane; cinematographers Paula Huidobro, Stephen Goldblatt; writer/directors Courtney Hunt, Robert D. Siegel; writer/director/producer Malcolm D. Lee; director Floria Sigismondi; casting director Margery Simkin; and writer Dan Waters.

The Documentary Feature Nominating Committee was chaired by CEO Landmark Theatres Ted Mundorff and included: producer Lesley Chilcott; KCET's Juan Devis; director Laura Gabbert; author/filmmaker Nelson George; filmmaker John Maringouin; San Francisco Film Society's Director of Programming Rachel Rosen; and Los Angeles Times and NPR's "Morning Edition" film critic Kenneth Turan.

The International Feature Nominating Committee was chaired by filmmaker Mary Sweeney and included: actors Shohreh Aghdashloo, Demian Bichir; Film Society of Lincoln Center's Director of Digital Strategy Eugene Hernandez; director Leon Ichaso; writer/director Larry Karaszewski; producer/director Hossein Keshavarz; cinematographer Ellen Kuras; composer Cliff Martinez; and producer Frida Torresblanco.

The Piaget Producers Award Nominating Committee was chaired by producer Brian Udovich and included: producers Anish Savjani, Lynette Howell and Amy Kaufman.

The Someone to Watch Award Nominating Committee was chaired by producer Alison Dickey and included: filmmaker Jay Duplass; Dallas Film Society Artistic Director James Faust; Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy; and writer/director Daniel Stamm.

The Truer Than Fiction Award Nominating Committee was chaired by film critic Wesley Morris and included: filmmakers Ava DuVernay, Laura Poitras; filmmaker/cinematographer PJ Raval; and programmer Laura Thielen.

As the first event to exclusively honor independent film, the Film Independent Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premier awards show for the independent film community. Artists who have received industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Joel & Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams, Lena Dunham and many more.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors ELLE, Piaget and Jameson(a) Irish Whiskey. WireImage is the Official Photographer and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit SpiritAwards.com.

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Now in its 27(th) year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers who 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.

Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best International Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, Someone to Watch Award, Truer Than Fiction Award and Jameson FIND Your Audience Award.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization that champions independent film 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 Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the 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.

2012 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer, Executive Producers are not listed)

50/50 Producers: Evan Goldberg, Ben
Karlin, Seth Rogen
----- -----------------------------
Beginners Producers: Miranda de
Pencier, Lars Knudsen,
Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech,
Jay Van Hoy
--------- ----------------------------
Drive Producers: Michel Litvak,
John Palermo, Marc Platt,
Gigi Pritzker, Adam Siegel
----- --------------------------
Take Shelter Producers: Tyler Davidson,
Sophia Lin
------------ ---------------------------
The Artist Producer: Thomas Langmann
---------- -------------------------
The Descendants Producers: Jim Burke,
Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
--------------- ----------------------------

BEST DIRECTOR Michel Hazanavicius The Artist
------------------- ----------
Mike Mills Beginners
---------- ---------
Jeff Nichols Take Shelter
------------ ------------
Alexander Payne The Descendants
--------------- ---------------
Nicolas Winding Refn Drive
-------------------- -----

BEST SCREENPLAY

Joseph Cedar Footnote
------------ --------
Michel Hazanavicius The Artist
------------------- ----------
Tom McCarthy Win Win
------------ -------
Mike Mills Beginners
---------- ---------
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim
Rash The Descendants
------------------------------- ---------------
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)

Another Earth Director: Mike Cahill
Producers: Mike Cahill, Hunter
Gray, Brit Marling, Nicholas
Shumaker
--- -------------------------------
In the Family Director: Patrick Wang
Producers: Robert Tonino, Andrew
van den Houten, Patrick Wang
--- ---------------------------------
Margin Call Director: J.C. Chandor
Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum,
Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe
Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Zachary
Quinto
--- -----------------------------------
Martha Marcy May Marlene Director: Sean Durkin
Producers: Antonio Campos, Patrick
Cunningham, Chris Maybach, Josh
Mond
--- -----------------------------------
Natural Selection Director: Robbie Pickering
Producers: Brion Hambel, Paul
Jensen
--- ------------------------------
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Mike Cahill, Brit Marling Another Earth
------------------------- -------------
J.C. Chandor Margin Call
------------ -----------
Patrick deWitt Terri
-------------- -----
Phil Johnston Cedar Rapids
------------- ------------
Will Reiser 50/50
----------- -----
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 listed

Bellflower Writer/Director: Evan Glodell
Producers: Evan Glodell, Vincent Grashaw
--- ----------------------------------------
Circumstance Writer/Director: Maryam Keshavarz
Producers: Karin Chien, Maryam Keshavarz, Melissa M. Lee
--- --------------------------------------------------------
Hello Lonesome Writer/Director/Producer: Adam Reid

---
Pariah Writer/Director: Dee Rees
Producer: Nekisa Cooper
--- -----------------------
The Dynamiter Writer: Brad Inglesby
Director: Matthew Gordon
Producers: Kevin Abrams, Matthew Gordon, Merilee Holt,
Art Jones, Mike Jones, Nate Tuck, Amile Wilson
--- -------------------------------------------------------

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Lauren Ambrose Think of Me
-------------- -----------
Rachael Harris Natural Selection
-------------- -----------------
Adepero Oduye Pariah
------------- ------
Elizabeth Olsen Martha Marcy May Marlene
--------------- ------------------------
Michelle Williams My Week with Marilyn
----------------- --------------------

BEST MALE LEAD

Demián Bichir A Better Life
------------- -------------
Jean Dujardin The Artist
------------- ----------
Ryan Gosling Drive
------------ -----
Woody Harrelson Rampart
--------------- -------
Michael Shannon Take Shelter
--------------- ------------
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Jessica Chastain Take Shelter
---------------- ------------
Anjelica Huston 50/50
--------------- -----
Janet McTeer Albert Nobbs
------------ ------------
Harmony Santana Gun Hill Road
--------------- -------------
Shailene Woodley The Descendants
---------------- ---------------
BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Albert Brooks Drive
------------- -----
John Hawkes Martha Marcy May Marlene
----------- ------------------------
Christopher Plummer Beginners
------------------- ---------
John C. Reilly Cedar Rapids
-------------- ------------
Corey Stoll Midnight in Paris
----------- -----------------
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Joel Hodge Bellflower
---------- ----------
Benjamin Kasulke The Off Hours
---------------- -------------
Darius Khondji Midnight in Paris
-------------- -----------------
Guillaume Schiffman The Artist
------------------- ----------
Jeffrey Waldron The Dynamiter
--------------- -------------
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

An African Election Director/Producer: Jarreth Merz
------------------- -------------------------------
Bill Cunningham New York Director: Richard Press
Producer: Philip Gefter
--- -----------------------
The Interrupters Director/Producer: Steve James
Producer: Alex Kotlowitz
--- ------------------------
The Redemption of General Butt Director/Producers: Eric Strauss, Daniele
Naked Anastasion
------------------------------ -----------------------------------------
We Were Here Director/Producer: David Weissman
------------------------------ ---------------------------------

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

A Separation Director: Asghar Farhadi
(Iran)
-----
Melancholia Director: Lars von Trier
(Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany)
-------------------------------
Shame Director: Steve McQueen
(UK)
---
The Kid With a Bike Directors: Jean-Pierre
Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
(Belgium/France/Italy)
----------------------
Tyrannosaur Director: Paddy Considine
(UK)
---
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD - The 15(th) annual Piaget 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 funded by Piaget.

Chad Burris Mosquita y Mari
----------- ---------------
Sophia Lin Take Shelter
---------- ------------
Josh Mond Martha Marcy May Marlene
--------- ------------------------

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD - The 18(th) 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.

Simon Arthur Silver Tongues
------------ --------------
Mark Jackson Without
------------ -------
Nicholas Ozeki Mamitas
-------------- -------

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD - The 17(th) 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.

Heather Courtney Where Soldiers Come From
---------------- ------------------------
Danfung Dennis Hell and Back Again
-------------- -------------------
Alma Har'el Bombay Beach
----------- ------------

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD - (Given to one film's director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)

Margin Call Director: J.C. Chandor
----------- ----------------------
Casting Director: Tiffany
Little Canfield, Bernard
Telsey
--------------------------
Ensemble Cast: Penn Badgley,
Simon Baker, Paul Bettany,
Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell,
Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto,
Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci
-----------------------------

BY DISTRIBUTOR

DISTRIBUTOR FILM TITLE(S) # OF NOMINATIONS
----------- ------------ ----------------
Fox Searchlight Another Earth, Cedar Rapids, Martha
Marcy May Marlene, Shame, The
Descendants, Win Win 14
--------------- ------------------------------------ ---
Sony Pictures A Separation, Footnote, Midnight in
Classics Paris, Take Shelter 9
------------- ------------------------------------ ---
Focus Features Beginners, Pariah 6
-------------- ----------------- ---
The Weinstein Company My Week with Marilyn, The Artist 6
--------------------- -------------------------------- ---
FilmDistrict Drive 4
------------ ----- ---
Roadside Attractions Albert Nobbs, Circumstance, Margin
Call 4
-------------------- ----------------------------------- ---
Summit Entertainment 50/50, A Better Life 4
-------------------- -------------------- ---
The Cinema Guild Natural Selection, The Interrupters 3
---------------- ----------------------------------- ---
Oscilloscope
Laboratories Bellflower 2
------------ ---------- ---
No Distributor The Dynamiter 2
-------------- ------------- ---
ATO Pictures Terri 1
------------ ----- ---
Bodega Studios Hello Lonesome 1
-------------- -------------- ---
Focus World Bombay Beach 1
----------- ------------ ---
International Film
Circuit Where Soldiers Come From 1
------------------ ------------------------ ---
Magnolia Pictures Melancholia 1
----------------- ----------- ---
Millenium
Entertainment Rampart 1
------------- ------- ---
Motion Film Group Gun Hill Road 1
----------------- ------------- ---
New Video Hell and Back Again 1
--------- ------------------- ---
Red Flag Releasing We Were Here 1
------------------ ------------ ---
Strand Releasing Tyrannosaur 1
---------------- ----------- ---
Sundance Selects The Kid With a Bike 1
---------------- ------------------- ---
Zeitgeist Films Bill Cunningham New York 1
--------------- ------------------------ ---
No Distributor An African Election 1
-------------- ------------------- ---
No Distributor In the Family 1
-------------- ------------- ---
No Distributor Mamitas 1
-------------- ------- ---
No Distributor Mosquito y Mari 1
-------------- --------------- ---
No Distributor The Off Hours 1
-------------- ------------- ---
No Distributor The Redemption of General Butt Naked 1
-------------- ------------------------------------ ---
No Distributor Silver Tongues 1
-------------- -------------- ---
No Distributor Think of Me 1
-------------- ----------- ---

44 FILMS NOMINATED

TOTALS PER FILM
FILM TITLE # OF NOMINATIONS
---------- ----------------
Take Shelter 5
------------ ---
The Artist 5
---------- ---
Beginners 4
--------- ---
Drive 4
----- ---
The Descendants 4
--------------- ---
Martha Marcy May Marlene 4
------------------------ ---
50/50 3
----- ---
Another Earth 2
------------- ---
Bellflower 2
---------- ---
Cedar Rapids 2
------------ ---
Margin Call 2
----------- ---
Midnight in Paris 2
----------------- ---
Natural Selection 2
----------------- ---
Pariah 2
------ ---
The Dynamiter 2
------------- ---
A Better Life 1
------------- ---
A Separation 1
------------ ---
Albert Nobbs 1
------------ ---
An African Election 1
------------------- ---
Bill Cunningham New York 1
------------------------ ---
Bombay Beach 1
------------ ---
Circumstance 1
------------ ---
Footnote 1
-------- ---
Gun Hill Road 1
------------- ---
Hell and Back Again 1
------------------- ---
Hello Lonesome 1
-------------- ---
In the Family 1
------------- ---
Mamitas 1
------- ---
Melancholia 1
----------- ---
Mosquito y Mari 1
--------------- ---
My Week with Marilyn 1
-------------------- ---
Rampart 1
------- ---
The Redemption of General Butt Naked 1
------------------------------------ ---
Shame 1
----- ---
Silver Tongues 1
-------------- ---
Terri 1
----- ---
The Interrupters 1
---------------- ---
The Kid With a Bike 1
------------------- ---
The Off Hours 1
------------- ---
Think of Me 1
----------- ---
Tyrannosaur 1
----------- ---
We Were Here 1
------------ ---
Where Soldiers Come From 1
------------------------ ---
Win Win 1
------- ---
SOURCE Film Independent

Film Independent

CONTACT: CONTACT: Elise Freimuth, Film Independent, +1-310-432-1287, efreimuth@filmindependent.org; or Gina Lang of Ginsberg/Libby, +1-323-645-6800, gina.lang@ginsberglibby.com

Web Site: http://www.filmindependent.org

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