February 23, 2008–The Film Independents Spirit Awards were announced this afternoon, including Best Feature.
Also announced were the finalists for the IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award, the Truer Than Fiction Award, and the Producers Award. Zach Braff and Lisa Kudrow served as nomination presenters at the event.
FILMMAKER GRANT NOMINEES
IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award
The 14th annual IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
The Finalists Are:
Ramin Bahrani, director of Chop Shop
Ronnie Bronstein, director of Frownland
Lee Isaac Chung, director of Munyurangabo
Truer Than Fiction Award
The 12th annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention. The Finalists are:
Laura Dunn for The Unforeseen
Gary Hustwit for Helvetica
John Maringouin for Running Stumbled
Producers Award
The 11th annual Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The Finalists are:
Anne Clements, producer of Ping Pong Playa and Quinceaera
Alexis Ferris, producer of Cthulhu and Police Beat
Neil Kopp, producer of Paranoid Park and Old Joy
2008 SPIRIT AWARDS
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Kilik
Im Not There
Producers: Christine Vachon, John Sloss, John Goldwyn, James D. Stern
Juno
Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
A Mighty Heart
Producers: Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton, Brad Pitt
Paranoid Park
Producers: Neil Kopp, David Cress
BEST DIRECTOR
Todd Haynes, Im Not There
Tamara Jenkins,
The Savages
Jason Reitman, Juno
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Gus Van Sant, Paranoid Park
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)
2 Days in Paris
Director: Julie Delpy
Producers: Julie Delpy, Christophe Mazodier, Thierry Potok
Great World of Sound
Director: Craig Zobel
Producers: Melissa Palmer, David Gordon Green,
Richard Wright, Craig Zobel
The Lookout
Director: Scott Frank
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Laurence Mark, Walter Parkes
Rocket Science
Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Producers: Effie T. Brown, Sean Welch
Vanaja
Director: Rajnesh Domalpalli
Producer: Latha R. Domalapalli
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
August Evening
Writer/Director: Chris Eska
Producers: Connie Hill, Jason Wehling
Owl and the Sparrow
Writer/Director: Stephane Gauger
Producers: Nguyen Van Quan, Doan Nhat Nam,
Stephane Gauger
The Pool
Director: Chris Smith
Producer: Kate Noble
Writer: Chris Smith & Randy Russell
Quiet City
Director: Aaron Katz
Producers: Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler
Writers: Aaron Katz, Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau
Shotgun Stories
Writer/Director: Jeff Nichols
Producers: David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Jeff Nichols
BEST SCREENPLAY
Ronald Harwood
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Tamara Jenkins The Savages
Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner
Starting Out in the Evening
Adrienne Shelly Waitress
Mike White Year of the Dog
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Jeffrey Blitz Rocket Science
Zoe Cassavetes Broken English
Diablo Cody
Juno
Kelly Masterson
Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead
John Orloff
A Mighty Heart
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Angelina Jolie A Mighty Heart
Sienna Miller Interview
Ellen Page Juno
Parker Posey Broken English
Tang Wei Lust, Caution
BEST MALE LEAD
Pedro Castaneda August Evening
Don Cheadle Talk To Me
Philip Seymour Hoffman The Savages
Frank Langella Starting Out in the Evening
Tony Leung Lust, Caution
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Cate Blanchett Im Not There
Anna Kendrick Rocket Science
Jennifer Jason Leigh Margot at the Wedding
Tamara Podemski Four Sheets to the Wind
Marisa Tomei Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Chiwetel Ejiofor Talk To Me
Marcus Carl Franklin Im Not There
Kene Holliday Great World of Sound
Irrfan Khan The Namesake
Steve Zahn Rescue Dawn
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Mott Hupfel The Savages
Janusz Kaminski The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Milton Kam Vanaja
Mihai Malaimare, Jr. Youth Without Youth
Rodrigo Prieto Lust, Caution
BEST DOCUMENTARY (given to the director)
Crazy Love Director: Dan Klores
Lake of Fire Director: Tony Kaye
Manufactured Landscapes Director: Jennifer Baichwal
The Monastery Director: Pernille Rose Grnkjr
The Prisoner or: Directors: Petra Epperlein & Michael Tucker
How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair
BEST FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the director)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Director: Cristian Mungiu
(Romania)
The Bands Visit Director: Eran Kolirin
(Israel)
Lady Chatterley Director: Pascale Ferran
(France)
Once Director: John Carney
(Ireland)
Persepolis Directors: Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi
(France)
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one films director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Im Not There Director: Todd Haynes
Casting Director: Laura Rosenthal
Ensemble Cast: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Bruce Greenwood, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw
The first-ever Robert Altman Award given to one films director, casting director, and ensemble cast was given to Todd Haynes Im Not There, about the legendary musician Bob Dylan, received this inaugural award, along with casting director Laura Rosenthal, and ensemble cast members Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Richard Gere, Bruce Greenwood, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw.
The 2008 Film Independents Spirit Awards ceremony aired uncut, uncensored, and commercial free on IFC (Independent Film Channel) on Saturday, February 23. An edited re-broadcast of the ceremony will air later this evening on AMC.
Selected from more than 250 submissions, this years winners were unveiled at Film Independents Spirit Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 23, 2008, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Diana Zahn-Storey returned to produce the event for the 14th consecutive year.
Film Independents Spirit Awards ceremony is sponsored by Premier Sponsors IFC, Netflix, Axium International, ELLE, AMC, and Piaget, as well as Principal Sponsors Acura, Pop Secret and Biolage Professional Haircare. Casa Del Mar, Sheraton Delfina and Shutters on the Beach are the Official Host Hotels. Wire Image is the Official Photographer of Film Independent. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent.
This years Spirit Awards once again put the spotlight on new and original voices in film, said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. Now in our 23rd year, we are proud to continue recognizing the outstanding work being done by emerging and veteran independent filmmakers alike.
Added Mary Sweeney, Chair of the American Narrative Feature Nominating Committee, This years field of independent films bristled with creative expression and courage. To narrow the field to these nominees was a difficult but rewarding task. We congratulate the 2008 Spirit Award nominees for their uniqueness of vision.
2008 SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
(BY DISTRIBUTOR)
EMERGING PICTURES (2)
Vanaja ** Best First Feature Rajnesh Domalpalli,
Latha R. Domalapalli
** Best Cinematography Milton Kam
Director/Writer: Rajnesh Domalpalli
Producer: Latha R. Domalapalli
FIRST LOOK INTERNATIONAL (1)
Four Sheets to the Wind
** Best Supporting Female Tamara Podemski
Director/Writer: Sterlin Harjo
Producers: Ted Kroeber, Chad Burris
FOCUS FEATURES (5)
Lust, Caution ** Best Male Lead Tony Leung
** Best Female Lead Tang Wei
** Best Cinematography Rodrigo Prieto
Director: Ang Lee
Writers: James Schamus & Hui Ling Wang
Producers: Bill Kong, Ang Lee, James Schamus
Talk To Me ** Best Male Lead Don Cheadle
** Best Supporting Male Chiwetel Ejiofor
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Writers: Michael Genet & Rick Famuyiwa
Producers: Mark Gordon, Sidney Kimmel, Joe Fries,
Josh McLaughlin
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES (11)
Juno ** Best Feature – Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich,
Mason Novick, Russell Smith
** Best Director Jason Reitman
** Best First Screenplay Diablo Cody
** Best Female Lead Ellen Page
Director: Jason Reitman
Writer: Diablo Cody
Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
The Namesake ** Best Supporting Male Irrfan Kahn
Director: Mira Nair
Writer: Sooni Taraporevala
Producers: Lydia Deal Pilcher, Mira Nair
Once ** Best Foreign Film John Carney
Writer/Director: John Carney
Producer: Martina Niland
The Savages ** Best Director Tamara Jenkins
** Best Screenplay Tamara Jenkins
** Best Male Lead Philip Seymour Hoffman
** Best Cinematography Mott Hupfel
Director/Writer: Tamara Jenkins
Producer: Ted Hope, Anne Carey, Erica Westheimer
Waitress ** Best Screenplay Adrienne Shelly
Director/Writer: Adrienne Shelly
Producer: Michael Roiff
IFC FIRST TAKE (3)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days ** Best Foreign Film Cristian Mungiu
Writer/Director: Cristian Mungiu
Producers: Cristian Mungiu, Oleg Mutu
Paranoid Park ** Best Feature Neil Kopp, David Cress
** Best Director Gus Van Sant
Director/Writer: Gus Van Sant
Producers: Neil Kopp, David Cress
KINO INTERNATIONAL CORP (1)
Lady Chatterley ** Best Foreign Film Pascale Ferran
Director: Pascale Ferran
Producer: Gilles Sandoz
Writers: Roger Bohbot & Pascale Ferran
KOCH LORBER FILMS (1)
The Monastery ** Best Documentary Pernille Rose Grnkjr
Director: Pernille Rose Grnkjr
Producer: Sigrid Dyekjr
MAGNOLIA PICTURES (4)
Broken English ** Best First Screenplay Zoe Cassavetes
** Best Female Lead Parker Posey
Director/Writer: Zoe Cassavetes
Producers: Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente, Andrew Fierberg
Crazy Love ** Best Documentary – Dan Klores
Director/Writer: Dan Klores
Producers: Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens
Great World of Sound ** Best First Feature Craig Zobel, Melissa Palmer,
David Gordon Green, Richard Wright
** Best Supporting Male Kene Holliday
Director: Craig Zobel
Writers: Craig Zobel & George Smith
Producers: Melissa Palmer, David Gordon Green,
Richard Wright, Craig Zobel
MAYA PICTURES (2)
August Evening ** John Cassavetes Award Chris Eska, Connie Hill,
Jason Wehling
** Best Male Lead Pedro Castaneda
Director/Writer: Chris Eska
Producers: Connie Hill, Jason Wehling
MGM COMPANY (1)
Rescue Dawn ** Best Supporting Male Steve Zahn
Director/Writer: Werner Herzog
Producers: Steve Marlton, Elton Brand, Harry Knapp
MIRAMAX FILMS (5)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly ** Best Feature Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Kilik
** Best Director Julian Schnabel
** Best Screenplay Ronald Harwood
** Best Cinematography Janusz Kaminski
Director: Julian Schnabel
Writer: Ronald Harwood
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Kilik
The Lookout ** Best First Feature Scott Frank, Roger Birnbaum,
Gary Barber, Laurence Mark, Walter Parkes
Director/Writer: Scott Frank
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Laurence Mark, Walter Parkes
<b (5)
A Mighty Heart ** Best Feature – Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton, Brad Pitt
** Best First Screenplay John Orloff
** Best Female Lead – Angelina Jolie
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Writer: John Orloff
Producers: Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton, Brad Pitt
Margot at the Wedding ** Best Supporting Female Jennifer Jason Leigh
Director/Writer: Noah Baumbach
Producer: Scott Rudin
Year of the Dog ** Best Screenplay Mike White
Director/Writer: Mike White
Producers: Mike White, Ben LeClair, Dede Gardner
PICTUREHOUSE (3)
Rocket Science ** Best First Feature Jeffrey Blitz, Effie T. Brown,
Sean Welch
** Best First Screenplay Jeffrey Blitz
** Best Supporting Female Anna Kendrick
Director/Writer: Jeffrey Blitz
Producers: Effie T. Brown, Sean Welch
RED ENVELOPE ENTERTAINMENT (1)
The Prisoner or: ** Best Documentary – Petra Epperlein & Michael Tucker
How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair
Writer/Director/Producers: Petra Epperlein &
Michael Tucker
ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS:(2)
Starting Out in the Evening ** Best Screenplay Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner
** Best Male Lead Frank Langella
Director: Andrew Wagner
Writers: Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner
Producers: Nancy Israel, Fred Parnes, Andrew Wagner,
Gary Winick, Jake Abraham
SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS (1)
2 Days in Paris ** Best First Feature Julie Delpy, Christophe Mazodier,
Thierry Potok
Director/Writer: Julie Delpy
Producers: Julie Delpy, Christophe Mazodier, Thierry Potok
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS (4)
The Bands Visit ** Best Foreign Film Eran Kolirin
Writer/Director: Eran Kolirin
Producers: Guy Jacoel, Koby Gal-Raday, Yossi Urzad,
Ehud Bleiberg, Eilon Ratzkovsky
Interview ** Best Female Lead Sienna Miller
Director: Steve Buscemi
Writers: David Schechter & Steve Buscemi
Producers: Bruce Weiss, Gijs Van De Westelaken
Persepolis ** Best Foreign Film Vincent Paronnaud &
Marjane Satrapi
Writer/Directors: Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi
Producers: Marc-Antoine Robert, Xavier Rigault
Youth Without Youth ** Best Cinematography Mihai Malaimare, Jr.
Writer/Director/Producer: Francis Ford Coppola
THINKFILM (3)
Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead ** Best First Screenplay Kelly Masterson
** Best Supporting Female Marisa Tomei
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzi, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar,
William S. Gilmore
Lake of Fire ** Best Documentary – Tony Kaye
Writer/Director/Producer: Tony Kaye
WEINSTEIN COMPANY (5)
Im Not There ** Best Feature Christine Vachon, John Sloss,
John Goldwyn, James D. Stern
** Best Director Todd Haynes
** Best Supporting Female Cate Blanchett
** Best Supporting Male Marcus Carl Franklin
** Robert Altman Award – Todd Haynes, Laura Rosenthal, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Richard Gere, Bruce Greenwood,
Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw
Director: Todd Haynes
Writer: Todd Haynes & Oren Moverman
Producers: Christine Vachon, John Sloss, John Goldwyn,
James D. Stern
ZEITGEIST FILMS (1)
Manufactured Landscapes ** Best Documentary – Jennifer Baichwal
Director: Jennifer Baichwal
Producers: Nick de Pencier, Daniel Iron, Jennifer Baichwal
NO DISTRIBUTOR (4)
Owl and the Sparrow ** John Cassavetes Award Stephane Gauger,
Nguyen Van Quan, Doan Nhat Nam
Director/Writer: Stephane Gauger
Producers: Nguyen Van Quan, Doan Nhat Nam,
Stephane Gauger
The Pool ** John Cassavetes Award Chris Smith, Kate Noble, Randy Russell
Director: Chris Smith
Producer: Kate Noble
Writers: Chris Smith & Randy Russell
Quiet City ** John Cassavetes Award Aaron Katz,
Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler, Erin Fisher,
Cris Lankenau
Director: Aaron Katz
Producers: Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler
Writers: Aaron Katz, Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau
Shotgun Stories ** John Cassavetes Award Jeff Nichols,
David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat
Director/Writer: Jeff Nichols
Producers: David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Jeff Nichols
2008 SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
39 FILMS NOMINATED
TOTALS PER FILM
FILM TITLE # OF NOMINATIONS
Im Not There
5
Juno
4
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
4
The Savages
4
A Mighty Heart
3
Lust, Caution
3
Rocket Science
3
August Evening
2
Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead
2
Broken English
2
Great World of Sound
2
Paranoid Park
2
Starting Out in the Evening
2
Talk To Me
2
Vanaja
2
2 Days in Paris
1
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
1
Crazy Love
1
Four Sheets to the Wind
1
Interview
1
Lady Chatterley
1
Lake of Fire
1
Manufactured Landscapes
1
Margot at the Wedding
1
The Monastery
1
The Namesake
1
Once
1
Owl and the Sparrow
1
Persepolis
1
Quiet City
1
Rescue Dawn
1
The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair
1
Shotgun Stories
1
The Bands Visit
1
The Lookout
1
The Pool
1
Waitress
1
Year of the Dog
1
Youth Without Youth
1
