In a virtual event hosted by Melissa Villaseñor, the 36th annual Independent Spirit Awards took place Thursday night. The big winner of the night was “Nomadland” and Chloé Zhao, which looks to repeat at the Oscars on Sunday as well. It won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography. “Sound Of Metal” won a pair of acting awards while “Promising Young Woman” … Read More Oscars Watch: 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards
The deadline for voting for the Independent Spirit Awards was Friday. They ask that you see everything before voting, so for the films, I saw everything at least once and most of them twice, excluding “Promising Young Woman” and “Nomadland.” For the television series, I was able to catch a vast majority of them in their entirety. I ran out of time toward the … Read More Oscars Watch: 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards – How I Voted
SHE DIES TOMORROW BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #12 of 33MARCH 2, 2021SCREENER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYJay Keitel Film Synopsis After waking up convinced that she is going to die tomorrow, Amy’s carefully mended life begins to unravel. As her delusions of certain death become contagious to those around her, Amy and her friends’ lives spiral out of control in a tantalizing … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “She Dies Tomorrow” — Best Cinematography
MISS JUNETEENTH BEST FIRST FEATUREBEST FEMALE LEADBEST SUPPORTING FEMALEBEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #11 of 33MARCH 2, 2021SCREENER BEST FIRST FEATUREChanning Godfrey PeoplesProducers: Toby Halbrooks, Tim Headington, Jeanie Igoe, James M. Johnston, Theresa Steele Page, Neil Creque Williams Film Synopsis Turquoise Jones is a single mom who holds down a household, a rebellious teenager, and pretty much everything that … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Miss Juneteenth” (Four Nominations)
FRENCH EXIT BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #10 of 33MARCH 2, 2021SCREENER BEST SUPPORTING FEMALEValerie Mahaffey Film Synopsis “My plan was to die before the money ran out,” says 60-year-old penniless Manhattan socialite Frances Price (Michelle Pfeiffer) – but things didn’t go as planned. Her husband Franklin has been dead for 20 years and with his vast inheritance gone, … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “French Exit” — Best Supporting Female
LAPSIS BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #9 of 33MARCH 1, 2021SCREENER BEST FIRST SCREENPLAYNoah Hutton Film Synopsis In a parallel present, delivery man Ray Tincelli is struggling to support himself and his ailing younger brother. After a series of two-bit hustles and unsuccessful swindles, Ray takes a job in a strange new realm of the gig economy: trekking deep … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Lapsis” — Best First Screenplay
TIME BEST DOCUMENTARY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #8 of 33FEBRUARY 24, 2021NETFLIX BEST DOCUMENTARYGarrett BradleyProducers: Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn Film Synopsis Fox Rich is a fighter. The entrepreneur, abolitionist and mother of six boys has spent the last two decades campaigning for the release of her husband, Rob G. Rich, who is serving a 60-year sentence for a robbery they both … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Time” — Best Documentary
BAD EDUCATION BEST SCREENPLAY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #7 of 33FEBRUARY 23, 2021HBO MAX BEST SCREENPLAYMike Makowsky Film Synopsis Bad Education is based on the true story of the Roslyn (NY) School District financial scandal that grabbed headlines in the early 2000s. The superintendent and business manager of the Roslyn School District racked up over $11.2 million dollars in extravagant personal … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Bad Education” — Best Screenplay
THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION BEST FIRST FEATURE Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #6 of 33FEBRUARY 23, 2021NETFLIX BEST FIRST FEATURERadha BlankProducers: Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jordan Fudge, Rishi Rajani, Jennifer Semler, Lena Waithe Film Synopsis Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she’s left with no choice but … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “The Forty-Year-Old Version” — Best First Feature
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution BEST DOCUMENTARY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #5 of 33FEBRUARY 22, 2021NETFLIX BEST DOCUMENTARYNicole Newnham & James Lebrecht Film Synopsis Down the road from Woodstock, a revolution blossomed in a ramshackle summer camp for teenagers with disabilities, transforming their lives and igniting a landmark movement. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution is an untold story co-directed by Emmy® … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” — Best Documentary
THE HALF OF IT BEST SCREENPLAY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #4 of 33FEBRUARY 21, 2021NETFLIX BEST SCREENPLAYAlice Wu Film Synopsis Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul, who needs help winning over a popular girl. But their new and unlikely friendship gets complicated when Ellie discovers she has feelings for the same girl. Looking at Best … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “The Half Of It” — Best Screenplay
STRAIGHT UP BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #3 of 33FEBRUARY 21, 2021NETFLIX BEST FIRST SCREENPLAYJames Sweeney Film Synopsis Todd is a hyper-articulate, obsessive-compulsive gay twentysomething whose fear of dying alone leads him to a baffling conclusion: he might not be gay after all. When he meets Rory, a whip-smart struggling actress with her own set of insecurities, the two … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Straight Up” — Best First Screenplay
RESIDUE JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD*BEST EDITING *not voted on by Film Independent members Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #2 of 33FEBRUARY 20, 2021NETFLIX BEST EDITINGMerawi Gerima Film Synopsis Residue chronicles aspiring filmmaker Jay (Nwachukwu), who returns to his native Washington, D.C. to find his old neighborhood is gentrified beyond recognition. Dealing with alienation from his friends, troubled by the disappearance of a loved … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Residue” (Two Nominations)
BULL BEST MALE LEADBEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Viewing Information INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS — FILM #1 of 33FEBRUARY 19, 2021HULU BEST MALE LEADRob Morgan Characters Synopsis On the outskirts of Houston, Abe, an aging bullfighter struggling to keep a foothold in the rodeo circuit forms an unlikely bond with a teen reeling from her mom’s incarceration, as they attempt to right their own paths. Looking at Best … Read More 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Bull” (Two Nominations)
The Film Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced this morning online, with Olivia Wilde, Barry Jenkins, and Loverne Cox announcing the nominees via their homes and Zoom cameras. A new feature to this year’s Spirit Awards is the television category, which honors series in their debut seasons. The ceremony departs from its usual Saturday before the Oscars time slot, instead airing Thursday, April 22 … Read More Oscars Watch: 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees
Hosted for the second year in a row by Aubrey Plaza, the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards honored the best in independent cinema down at the Santa Monica Beach. The top honor of Best Picture this year went to “The Farewell,” which also took Best Supporting Actress for Zhao Shuzhen. Also winning big was Adam Sandler, who addressed his Oscars snub and offered a very funny acceptance speech.
Today, I voted for the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Below is how I voted. The winners will be announced on February 8, 2020 with Aubrey Plaza hosting for the second year in a row. BEST FEATURE “Marriage Story” BEST FIRST FEATURE “The Mustang” BEST DIRECTOR Alma Har’el“Honey Boy” BEST FEMALE LEAD Renée Zellweger“Judy” BEST MALE LEAD Matthias Schoenaerts“The Mustang” BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Zhao … Read More Oscars Watch: 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards – How I Voted
Time travel meets a Spike Lee joint in Netflix’s “See You Yesterday,” the low budget feature film debut from director Stefon Bristol.
BEST FEATURE “If Beale Street Could Talk” “Eighth Grade” “First Reformed” “Leave No Trace” “You Were Never Really Here” BEST FIRST FEATURE “Sorry To Bother You” “Hereditary” “The Tale” “We The Animals” “Wildlife” JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD “En El Séptimo Día” “Sócrates” “Never Goin’ Back” “Thunder Road” “A Bread Factory” BEST DIRECTOR Barry Jenkins – “If Beale Street Could Talk” Debra Granik – “Leave No … Read More Oscars Watch: 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards
Director: Boots RileyProducers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Kelly Williams, Jonathan Duffy, Charles D. King, George Rush, and Forest WhitakerWriters: Boots RileyCinematographer: Doug EmmettEditor: Terel GibsonComposers: Tune-Yards & The CoupDistributor: Annapurna PicturesRelease Date: July 6, 2018Budget: $3.2 millionRun-time: 111 minutes BEST FIRST FEATURE “Sorry To Bother You” From word-of-mouth alone this year, “Sorry To Bother You” and “Hereditary” are easily the front-runners in this category. However, … Read More 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards: “Sorry To Bother You”
The Film Independent Spirit Awards, founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. BEST FEATURE “Call Me By Your Name” “Get Out” “The Florida Project” “Lady Bird” “The Rider” BEST FIRST FEATURE “Columbus” “Ingrid Goes West” “Menashe” “Oh Lucy” “Patty Cake$” JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD “A Ghost Story” “Dayveon” “Life and Nothing More” “Most Beautiful Island” “Transfiguration” BEST DIRECTOR Sean Baker – “The Florida … Read More Oscars Watch: 33rd Independent Spirit Award Nominees
