The first major nominations of awards season have arrived.
“Manchester by the Sea,” Moonlight,” “Jackie” and “American Honey” lead the Independent Spirit Awards’ shortlist, bolstering each on the path toward Oscar glory. Jenny Slate and Edgar Ramirez announced the nominations during a Los Angeles press conference Tuesday. The Indie Spirits honor films made for less than $20 million, which means some Oscar front-runners, like “La La Land” and “Arrival,” were ineligible.
Presented the afternoon before the Oscars, these are the only televised prizes that deviate significantly from the standard awards derby, which tends to fete the same handful of movies again and again. In some cases, it doesn’t matter much: “American Honey,” for example, is too small and arty to attract the Academy’s attention, even with impressive Indie Spirit nominations for director Andrea Arnold and actors Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough. But a lot of the Oscar contest is about optics, so recognition for contenders like Ruth Negga (”Loving”) and Isabelle Huppert (”Elle”) could help draw extra attention that will edge them into the crowded Best Actress race.
Whatever happens, this is a fantastic list of nominations. See these movies!
BEST FEATURE
“American Honey”
“Chronic”
“Jackie”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Moonlight”
BEST FIRST FEATURE
”The Childhood of a Leader”
”The Fits”
”Other People”
”Swiss Army Man”
”The Witch”
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.
“Free In Deed”
”Hunter Gatherer”
”Lovesong”
”Nakom”
”Spa Night”
BEST DIRECTOR
Andrea Arnold, “American Honey”
Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Pablo Larraín, “Jackie”
Jeff Nichols, “Loving”
Kelly Reichardt, “Certain Women”
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening, “20th Century Women”
Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
Sasha Lane, “American Honey”
Ruth Negga, “Loving”
Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
BEST MALE LEAD
Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
David Harewood, “Free In Deed”
Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”
Jesse Plemons, “Other People”
Tim Roth, “Chronic”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Edwina Findley, “Free In Deed”
Paulina Garcia, “Little Men”
Lily Gladstone, “Certain Women”
Riley Keough, “American Honey”
Molly Shannon, “Other People”
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Ralph Fiennes, “A Bigger Splash”
Ben Foster, “Hell or High Water”
Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”
Shia LaBeouf, “American Honey”
Craig Robinson, “Morris from America”
BEST SCREENPLAY
Barry Jenkins, ”Moonlight”
Kenneth Lonergan, ”Manchester by the Sea”
Mike Mills, ”20th Century Women”
Ira Sachs, ”Little Men”
Taylor Sheridan, ”Hell or High Water”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Robert Eggers, ”The Witch”
Chris Kelly, ”Other People”
Adam Mansbach, ”Barry”
Stella Meghie, ”Jean of the Joneses”
Craig Shilowich, ”Christine”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ava Berkofsky, “Free In Deed”
Lol Crawley, “The Childhood of a Leader”
Zach Kuperstein, “The Eyes of My Mother”
James Laxton, “Moonlight”
Robbie Ryan, “American Honey”
BEST EDITING
Matthew Hannam, “Swiss Army Man”
Jennifer Lame, “Manchester by the Sea”
Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders, “Moonlight”
Jake Roberts, “Hell or High Water”
Sebastián Sepúlveda, “Jackie”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD — Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.
“Moonlight”
Director: Barry Jenkins
Casting Director: Yesi Ramirez
Ensemble Cast: Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“13th”
Director/Producer: Ava DuVernay
Producers: Spencer Averick, Howard Barish
“Cameraperson”
Director/Producer: Kirsten Johnson
Producer: Marilyn Ness
“I Am Not Your Negro”
Director/Producer: Raoul Peck
Producers: Rémi Grellety, Hérbert Peck
“O.J.: Made in America”
Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman
Producers: Nina Krstic, Tamara Rosenberg, Caroline Waterlow
“Sonita”
Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Producer: Gerd Haag
“Under the Sun”
Director: Vitaly Mansky
Producer: Natalya Manskaya
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
”Aquarius” (Brazil)
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
“Chevalier” (Greece)
Director: Athina Tsangari
“My Golden Days” (France)
Director: Arnaud Desplechin
“Toni Erdmann” (Germany and Romania)
Director: Maren Ade
“Under the Shadow” (Iran and U.K.)
Director: Babak Anvari
20th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD — The 20th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, 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.
Lisa Kjerulff
Jordana Mollick
Melody C. Roscher & Craig Shilowich
23rd ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD — The 23rd annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.
Andrew Ahn
Director of “Spa Night”
Claire Carré
Director of “Embers”
Anna Rose Holmer
Director of “The Fits”
Ingrid Jungermann
Director of “Women Who Kill”
22nd TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD — The 22nd 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.
Kristi Jacobson
Director of “Solitary”
Sara Jordenö
Director of “Kiki”
Nanfu Wang
Director of “Hooligan Sparrow”
Before You Go
