Spirit Award nominations spread the wealth for 2019.
Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 2:38PM
NATHANIEL R in Clemency, Colewell, Honey Boy, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Luce, Marriage Story, Spirit Awards, The Farewell, The Lighthouse, To Dust, Uncut Gems, precursor awards

by Nathaniel R

Nominations for the 35th annual Independent Spirit Awards have been announced with the wealth really being spread. For example the 5 nominees for the top prize “Feature” only crossover with “Best Director” on a single film, the Safdie brothers Uncut Gem which co-led the nominations with 5 prizes though it’s yet to open in theaters. Tying that films lead for most nominations was The Lighthouse even though that black and white oddity did not score a nomination for Best Feature!

Interestingly enough, the just-opened indie Waves was (almost) entirely shut out even though it’s a Best Feature nominee at the often quite parallel Gotham Awards. On a similar note the acting nominations aren’t heavily dependent on Best Feature love, either. 

A complete list of nominations plus commentary after the jump...

 

BEST FEATURE Films can’t have a budget exceeding $22 million to compete at the Spirits

 

This is a huge get for Neon’s Clemency which has struggled to build much of a  profile. How much this will help is a big question mark because that release date is still a huge problem. 

 

BEST DIRECTOR


 

Fascinating that 80% of this category’s nominees are not included in Best Feature. They must have had a separate nominating jury. Either that or the Film Independent committees *really* wanted to spread the wealth this year. That said it’s hard not to love these choices, especially the two female nominees Har’el and Scafaria who both completely elevated the screenplays they began with.

 

BEST FIRST FEATURE

 

What a lovely line up!

 

 

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Films made for under half a million

 

Shocked but happy to see Colewell show up here. We screened it at the Bentonville Film Festival earlier this year. 

 

 

BEST SCREENPLAY


 

Our own Jason will be pleased with the showing from To Dust in this category given its very low profile otherwise. 

 

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

 

We love it when the Spirit Awards go *really* indie. That’s what they were designed for. It’s lovely to see a list of movies and not be familiar with all of them and instead be spurred to curiousity about them. 

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

 

Interesting line up and great-looking films so we’re not complaining. 

 

BEST EDITING

 

Again radically different than the Best Feature lineup.

 

 

BEST FEMALE LEAD

 

For some reason there’s six nominees here though the other categories have five. So much talent jam-packed into this category. Especially happy for Karen Allen and Hong Chau two lower profile actresses. Despite six fine choices, they didn't have room for Awkwafina or Florence Pugh (both in indies that scored elsewhere at the Spirits)... which just goes to show you that Best Actress is never "weak"... it's just "which performances are people willing to look at?"

 

BEST MALE LEAD

 

Sandler aside this is a seriously sexy lineup. Kelvin Harrison Jr finally gets some honors for Luce… even if the Spirits weren’t crazy about his other big 2019 feature, Waves

 

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

 

There’s not a single white woman in this category which is quite unusual for an acting lineup come awards time. Nice to see Spencer and Russell in particular here since they are such extreme longshots for more mainstream honors. 

 

BEST SUPPORTING MALE


 

We’re REALLY stretching the definition of “supporting” in this supporting category since all five of these men are arguably leads. We've really reached the point where no one but a select few people (raises hands) seem to care about actual supporting players!

 

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast

Marriage Story

Director: Noah Baumbach

Casting Directors: Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler

Ensemble Cast: Alan Alda, Laura Dern, Adam Driver, Julie Hagerty, Scarlett Johansson,

Ray Liotta, Azhy Robertson, Merritt Wever

 

Excellent choice though they don’t need it to move on to SAG, Globe, and Oscar glory.

 


BEST DOCUMENTARY

 

 

The Best Documentary category at every awards show this season has  become the same four movies and then a rotating fifth spot of something you haven’t heard of yet. This time it’s Island of the Hungry Ghosts. Love the title. 

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

 

Four submissions for Oscar’s Best International Feature category plus The Souvenir and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Delicious list in any language.

 

BONNIE AWARD – This prize recognizes a midcareer female director with a $ grant

 

 

PRODUCERS AWARD – Another prize with grant $ as the reward

 

 

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – Another grant $ prize this one to directors that still haven’t really broken through.

 

 

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – Grant $ for an emerging documentarian 

 

What were you most surprised about seeing these nominees?

 

 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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