The Film Independent Spirit Awards are back with their list of the 2015 nominations. Leading the pack is the existential comedy Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) with a whopping six nominations, including one for actor Michael Keaton and one for director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Closely following with a solid five nominations are Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma.
Boyhood (read our review here) is Richard Linklater’s ultimate character study, which filmed over the course of a decade, creates a time-lapse examination like no other before it. The film follows six year old Texas boy Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane, through his childhood years as he transitions into the life of a young adult ready to take on college. Boyhood received nominations for best film, director, editor, supporting actor and actress. It is bold experiment in film and should prove a serious awards contender.
Nightcrawler (read our review here) marks Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut. It follows Louis Bloom, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, a young man struggling to make a living until he stumbles upon the underground world of L.A. freelance crime journalism. As he descends into the murky world of American news he quickly learns the importance of the term “If it bleeds it leads.” Among its nominations are best screenplay, first feature, actor and supporting actor.
Ava DuVernay’s Selma follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., played by David Oyelowo, as he campaigns to secure equal voting rights in the face of extreme violence and opposition. It captures a moment in time, the civil rights movement, that forever altered the course of American history. Selma was nominated for best feature, director, actor, supporting actress and cinematography.
Other notable films nominated by the Film Independent Spirit Awards are Damien Chazelle’s Sundance-winning Whiplash, Tim Burton’s latest Big Eyes, the Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain-led A Most Violent Year, Justin Simien’s breakout race comedy Dear White People and Ana Lily Amirpour’s Iranian vampire flick A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.
Below is the complete list of nominees for the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which will air live on IFC on Feb. 21.
Best Feature – (Award given to the film’s producers.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love Is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director
Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
Ava DuVernay, Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
David Zellner, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Best Screenplay
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor, A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Jim Jarmusch, Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias, Love is Strange
Best First Feature
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Dear White People
Nightcrawler
Obvious Child
She’s Lost Control
Best First Screenplay
Desiree Akhavan, Appropriate Behavior
Sara Colangelo, Little Accidents
Justin Lader, The One I Love
Anja Marquardt, She’s Lost Control
Justin Simien, Dear White People
John Cassavetes Award – (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer.)
Blue Ruin
It Felt Like Love
Land Ho!
Man From Reno
Test
Best Female Lead
Marion Cotillard, The Immigrant
Rinko Kikuchi, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Jenny Slate, Obvious Child
Tilda Swinton, Only Lovers Left Alive
Best Male Lead
André Benjamin, Jimi: All Is By My Side
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
John Lithgow, Love is Strange
David Oyelowo, Selma
Best Supporting Female
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Carmen Ejogo, Selma
Andrea Suarez Paz, Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Emma Stone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Best Supporting Male
Riz Ahmed, Nightcrawler
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Alfred Molina, Love is Strange
Edward Norton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Best Cinematography
Darius Khondji, The Immigrant
Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Sean Porter, It Felt Like Love
Lyle Vincent, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Bradford Young, Selma
Best Editing
Sandra Adair, Boyhood
Tom Cross, Whiplash
John Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Ron Patane, A Most Violent Year
Adam Wingard, The Guest
Best Documentary – (Award given to the director and producer.)
20,000 Days on Earth
CITIZENFOUR
Stray Dog
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga
Best International Film
Force Majeure (Sweden) – Director: Ruben Östlund
Ida (Poland) – Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan (Russia) – Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Mommy (Canada) – Director: Xavier Dolan
Norte, the End of History (Philippines) – Director: Lav Diaz
Under the Skin (United Kingdom) – Director: Jonathan Glazer
Robert Altman Award – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
Inherent Vice
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis
Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon
Special Distinction Award
Foxcatcher
Director/Producer: Bennett Miller
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik
Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum
18th Annual Piaget Producers Award – The 18th 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. The finalists are:
Chad Burris
Elisabeth Holm
Chris Ohlson
20th Annual Lenscrafters Truer Than Fiction Award – The 20th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by LensCrafters, is presented to an emerging director of non-union features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LensCrafters. The finalists are:
The Last Season – Director: Sara Dosa
The Kill Team – Director: Dan Krauss
Evolution Of A Criminal – Director: Darius Clark Monroe
Approaching The Elephant – Director: Amanda Rose Wilde
21st Annual Kiehl’s Someone To Watch Award – The 21st 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. The finalists are:
Ana Lily Amirpour – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia – H
Chris Eska – The Retrieval
William Fanelli is a contributor to Flickering Myth – You can follow him on Twitter
Originally published November 26, 2014. Updated October 24, 2022.
