The nominees for the 32nd annual Independent Spirit Awards have been announced. Taking a look at the nominees, it’s seems that the indie world is feeling appreciative of female-driven and directed projects: Unfortunately, many of these nominees aren’t earning the same Oscar buzz that films directed by men are.
Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” has tied “Moonlight” with the most nominations at six total. Other female-centric stories like Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women” and the Annette Bening-starring “20th Century Women” both earned two nominations. Arnold and Reichardt received nods for Best Director.
Only one of the five films films competing for Best Feature is helmed by a woman: “American Honey.”
Women got some great notice in the documentary section as well, earning half of the vote. Ava DuVernay, Kirsten Johnson, and Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami scored nominations.
The only category (besides the male actor sections) where women didn’t earn a nomination was in Best Screenplay.
The Spirit Awards will be broadcast live on IFC February 25, 2017.
Check out the list below for the full details on the female nominees. List adapted from a press release.
BEST FEATURE — Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
“American Honey” — Directed by Andrea Arnold
Producers: Thomas Benski, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg
BEST FIRST FEATURE — Award given to the director and producer
“The Fits” — Director/Producer: Anna Rose Holmer
Producer: Lisa Kjerulff
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.
“Lovesong” — Writer-Director: So Yong Kim
Writer-Producer: Bradley Rust Gray
Producers: David Hansen, Alex Lipschultz, Johnny Mac
BEST DIRECTOR
Andrea Arnold — “American Honey”
Kelly Reichardt — “Certain Women”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Stella Meghie — “Jean of the Joneses”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ava Berkofsky — “Free In Deed”
BEST EDITING
Jennifer Lame — “Manchester by the Sea”
Joi McMillon (with Nat Sanders) — “Moonlight”
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening — “20th Century Women”
Isabelle Huppert — “Elle”
Sasha Lane — “American Honey”
Ruth Negga — “Loving”
Natalie Portman — “Jackie”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Edwina Findley — “Free In Deed”
Paulina Garcia — “Little Men”
Lily Gladstone — “ Certain Women”
Riley Keough — “American Honey”
Molly Shannon — “Other People”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD — Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. “Moonlight’s” casting director is a woman, and Naomie Harris is earning her own Oscar buzz.
“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 — 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
“Sonita”
Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Producer: Gerd Haag
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM — Award given to the director.
“Chevalier” (Greece)
Director: Athina Tsangari
“Toni Erdmann” (Germany and Romania)
Director: Maren Ade
20th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD — The 20th annual Producers Award 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 recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
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”
