$75,000 In Grants To Be Awarded To Filmmakers, Including The 10th Anniversary Of Piaget Producers Award
Spirit Awards To Be Broadcast Live Exclusively On Ifc, Saturday, February 25, 2017 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET
Get Ready For The Most Eventful Awards Seasons Yet, Starting Now. Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced nominations for the 2017 Spirit Awards. The Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and 
promote diversity in the industry. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors Jenny Slate and Edgar Ramirez presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included American Honey, Chronic, Jackie, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.
Now in its 32nd year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films 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.
“Now more than ever, the voices of independent artists play a critically important role in our culture,” said Welsh. “The films we celebrate at this year’s Spirit Awards embody the diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision that we champion all year long.”
Moonlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast (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 ). The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts.
2017 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
Click to view slideshow.
Best Feature (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
American Honey (Producers: Thomas Benski, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg)
Chronic (Producers: Michel Franco, Gina Kwon, Gabriel Ripstein, Moisés Zonana)
Jackie (Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Juan de Dios Larraín, Mickey Liddell)
Manchester by the Sea (Producers: Lauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward, Kevin J. Walsh)
Moonlight (Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski)
Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer)
Click to view slideshow.
The Childhood of a Leader (Director: Brady Corbet Producers: Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Chris Coen, Ron Curtis, Helena Danielsson, Mona Fastvold, István Major)
The Fits (Director/Producer: Anna Rose Holmer Producer: Lisa Kjerulff)
Other People (Director: Chris Kelly Producers: Sam Bisbee, Adam Scott, Naomi Scott)
Swiss Army Man (Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert Producers: Miranda Bailey, Lawrence Inglee, Lauren Mann, Amanda Marshall, Eyal Rimmon, Jonathan Wang)
The Witch (Director: Robert Eggers Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira)
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 (Writer/Director: Jake Mahaffy Producers: Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel)
Hunter Gatherer (Writer/Director: Josh Locy Producers: Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman)
Lovesong (Writer/Director: So Yong Kim Writer/Producer: Bradley Rust Gray Producers: David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac)
Nakom (Writer/Director/Producer: TW Pittman Director/Producer: Kelly Daniela Norris Writer/Producer: Isaac Adakudugu Producer: Giovanni Ximénez)
Spa Night (Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas)
Best Director
Andrea Arnold American Honey
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Pablo Larraín Jackie
Jeff Nichols Loving
Kelly Reichardt Certain Women
Best Screenplay
Barry Jenkins Story By Tarell Alvin McCraney – Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Mike Mills 20th Century Women
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias 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, Nat Sanders Moonlight
Jake Roberts Hell or High Water
Sebastián Sepúlveda Jackie
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 Documentary (Award given to the director and producer)
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 (Award given to the director)
Click to view slideshow.
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
Winners, who are selected by Film Independent Members, will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 25, 2017. The awards ceremony will be held on the beach in Santa Monica, just north of the Santa Monica Pier. The show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT/ 5:00 pm ET. (the 89th Annual Academy Awards will follow on Sunday, February 26th, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood and will be televised live on the ABC Televison Network at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT.)
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
Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
“The Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants enable us to not only recognize great work but also to provide much needed direct financial support to filmmakers,” said Welsh. “We’re so appreciative of our grant funders, Kiehl’s Since 1851 and Piaget. Through their funding of the Producers Award, Piaget has been a steadfast supporter of film artists for the last decade.”
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 382 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 and individual compensation) and percentage of financing from independent sources. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees are comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, critics, casting directors, film festival programmers and other working film professionals.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, American Airlines, Jeep brand, IFC, and Principal Sponsor AT&T, as well as Breyers Gelato Indulgences. FIJI Water is the Official Water. WireImage is the Official Photographer. (For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, aoks@filmindependent.org or 310.432.1252.)
Film Independent is the non-profit arts organization that champions creative independence in visual storytelling 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 artistdriven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the LA Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and Film Independent at LACMA, 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.
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series like Portlandia, Documentary Now!, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Stan Against Evil and 2017’s Brockmire air alongside fanfavorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. IFC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., and available across multiple platforms. IFC is Always On Slightly Off.
Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Documentaries, Film, Movies Tagged: 2017 Spirit Awards., 32nd Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced, American Honey, Chronic, Jackie, Manchester by the Sea, Andrea Arnold American Honey Barry Jenkins Moonlight Pablo Larraín Jackie Jeff Nichols Loving Kelly Reichardt Certain Women, Andrew Ahn, Anna Rose Holmer, Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Chris Coen, Ron Curtis, Helena Danielsson, Mona Fastvold, István Major, Barry Jenkins, Bradley Rust Gray, Chris Kelly, Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Juan de Dios Larraín, Mickey Liddell, David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas, David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski, Film Independent, Film Independent at LACMA, Film Independent President Josh Welsh, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Giovanni Ximénez, Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias, Isaac Adakudugu, Jake Mahaffy, Jenny Slate and Edgar Ramirez, John Cassavetes Award, Josh Locy, Kelly Daniela Norris, LA Film Festival, Lauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward, Kevin J. Walsh, Lisa Kjerulff, Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Michael Covino, April Lamb, Sara Murphy, Isaiah Smallman, Michel Franco, Gina Kwon, Gabriel Ripstein, Moisés Zonana, Mike Bowes, Mike S. Ryan, Brent Stiefel, Miranda Bailey, Lawrence Inglee, Lauren Mann, Amanda Marshall, Eyal Rimmon, Jonathan Wang, Moonlight, Nakom, Robert Altman Award, Robert Eggers, Sam Bisbee, Adam Scott, Naomi Scott, So Yong Kim, Thomas Benski, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg, TW Pittman, Yesi Ramirez