The 28th Annual Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/—Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, announced nominations for the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent co-presidents Sean Mc Manus and Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hollywood, with actors Anna Kendrick, Zoe Saldana, and Common presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature include Beasts of the Southern Wild, Bernie, Keep the Lights On, Moonrise Kingdom, and Silver Linings Playbook.

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

“The nominations this year represent an astonishingly strong group of artists both in front of and behind the camera,” said Film Independent Co-president Josh Welsh. “At Film Independent, we nurture artist-driven filmmaking all year long and I can’t imagine a more fitting or worthy group of films to celebrate here today.”

Winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The 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 pm 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 12, 2013 at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 299 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 is comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, actors, critics, casting directors, festival programmers, and other working film professionals.

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 Spirit Awards is also the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs. To inquire about tables at the Spirit Awards please contact 310.432.1253.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget and Jameson® Irish Whiskey and Lincoln and Principal Sponsor Stella Artois. 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 28th 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, Stella Artois 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.

2013 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

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

Beasts of the Southern Wild
PRODUCERS: Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey & Josh Penn

Bernie
PRODUCERS: Liz Glotzer, Richard Linklater, David McFadzean, Dete Meserve, Judd Payne, Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Ginger Sledge, Matt Williams

Keep the Lights On
PRODUCERS: Marie Therese Guirgis, Lucas Joaquin, Ira Sachs

Moonrise Kingdom
PRODUCERS: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales, Scott Rudin

Silver Linings Playbook
PRODUCERS: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon

BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson
Moonrise Kingdom

Julia Loktev
The Loneliest Planet

David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook

Ira Sachs
Keep the Lights On

Benh Zeitlin
Beasts of the Southern Wild

BEST SCREENPLAY

Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Moonrise Kingdom

Zoe Kazan
Ruby Sparks

Martin McDonagh
Seven Psychopaths

David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook

Ira Sachs
Keep the Lights On

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)

Fill the Void
DIRECTOR:  Rama Burshtein
PRODUCER:  Assaf Amir

Gimme the Loot
DIRECTOR:  Adam Leon
PRODUCERS:  Dominic Buchanan, Natalie Difford, Jamund Washington

Safety Not Guaranteed
DIRECTOR:  Colin Trevorrow
PRODUCERS:  Derek Connolly, Stephanie Langhoff, Peter Saraf, Colin Trevorrow, Marc Turtletaub

Sound of My Voice
DIRECTOR:  Zal Batmanglij
PRODUCERS:  Brit Marling, Hans Ritter, Shelley Surpin

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
DIRECTOR:  Stephen Chbosky
PRODUCERS:  Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Rama Burshtein
Fill the Void

Derek Connolly
Safety Not Guaranteed

Christopher Ford
Robot & Frank

Rashida Jones & Will McCormack
Celeste and Jesse Forever

Jonathan Lisecki
Gayby

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.

Breakfast with Curtis
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Laura Colella

Middle of Nowhere
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Ava DuVernay
PRODUCERS:  Howard Barish, Paul Garnes

Mosquita y Mari
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Aurora Guerrero
PRODUCER:  Chad Burris

Starlet
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Sean Baker
PRODUCERS:  Blake Ashman-Kipervaser, Kevin Chinoy, Patrick Cunningham, Chris Maybach, Francesca Silvestri

The Color Wheel
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:  Alex Ross Perry
WRITER:  Carlen Altman

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Linda Cardellini
Return

Emayatzy Corinealdi
Middle of Nowhere

Jennifer Lawrence
Silver Linings Playbook

Quvenzhané Wallis
Beasts of the Southern Wild

Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Smashed

BEST MALE LEAD

Jack Black
Bernie

Bradley Cooper
Silver Linings Playbook

John Hawkes
The Sessions

Thure Lindhardt
Keep the Lights On

Matthew McConaughey
Killer Joe

Wendell Pierce
Four

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Rosemarie DeWitt
Your Sister’s Sister

Ann Dowd
Compliance

Helen Hunt
The Sessions

Brit Marling
Sound of My Voice

Lorraine Toussaint
Middle of Nowhere

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Matthew McConaughey
Magic Mike

David Oyelowo
Middle of Nowhere

Michael Péna
End of Watch

Sam Rockwell
Seven Psychopaths

Bruce Willis
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Yoni Brook
Valley of Saints

Lol Crawley
Here

Ben Richardson
Beasts of the Southern Wild

Roman Vasyanov
End of Watch

Robert Yeoman
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

How to Survive a Plague
DIRECTOR:  David France
PRODUCERS:  David France, Howard Gertler

Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present
DIRECTOR:  Matthew Akers

PRODUCERS:  Maro Chermayeff, Jeff Dupre

The Central Park Five
DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS:  Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon

The Invisible War
DIRECTOR:  Kirby Dick
PRODUCERS: Tanner King Barklow, Amy Ziering

The Waiting Room
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:  Peter Nicks
PRODUCERS:  Linda Davis, William B. Hirsch

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

Amour
(France)
DIRECTOR:  Michael Haneke

Once Upon A Time in Anatolia
(Turkey)
DIRECTOR:  Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Rust And Bone
(France/Belgium)
DIRECTOR:  Jacques Audiard

Sister
(Switzerland)
DIRECTOR:  Ursula Meier

War Witch
(Democratic Republic of Congo)
DIRECTOR:  Kim Nguyen

16th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 16th 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.

Nobody Walks
PRODUCER: Alicia Van Couvering

Prince Avalanche
PRODUCER: Derrick Tseng

Stones in the Sun
PRODUCER: Mynette Louie

19th ANNUAL SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 19th 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.

Pincus
DIRECTOR: David Fenster

Gimme the Loot
DIRECTOR: Adam Leon

Electrick Children
DIRECTOR: Rebecca Thomas

STELLA ARTOIS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 18th 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.

Leviathan
DIRECTOR: Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel

The Waiting Room
DIRECTOR: Peter Nicks

Only the Young
DIRECTOR: Jason Tippet & Elizabeth Mims

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

Starlet
Director: Sean Baker
Casting Director: Julia Kim
Ensemble Cast: Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Karren Karagulian, Stella Maeve, James Ransone

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