LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent,
the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and
the LA Film Festival, handed out honors to Moonlight, The Witch,
Other People, Manchester by the
Sea, Elle and Hell or High Water at this afternoon's
32nd Film Independent Spirit Awards. Spa Night, O.J.: Made in
America and Toni Erdman
also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on
the beach in Santa Monica. In
addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films
made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody
diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision, the Spirit Awards
is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent's year-round
programs.
The ceremony aired live today on IFC and a rebroadcast will air
later this evening; please check your local listings for times. An
on-demand version of the Spirit Awards will also be made available
for Sundance Now members shortly after the telecast concludes.
Clips from the ceremony will be available on Film Independent's
YouTube channel after the show.
Over the past 32 years, the Film Independent Spirit Awards has
made a name for itself as the premiere awards show for the
independent film community. Artists who have received industry
recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Ava DuVernay, Justin
Simien, Ryan Coogler,
Joel and Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver
Stone, Ashley Judd,
Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward
Burns, Aaron Eckhart,
Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary
Swank, Marc Forster,
Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach
Braff, Amy Adams,
Lena Dunham and many more.
This year's major winners were Moonlight, which won
Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography,
Best Editing and the Robert Altman
Award; The Witch, which won Best First Feature and Best
First Screenplay; Manchester by
the Sea, which won Best Male Lead; Elle, which won Best
Female Lead; Hell or High Water, which won Best Supporting
Male; Other People, which won Best Supporting Female; Spa
Night, which won the John
Cassavetes Award; O.J.: Made in America, which won
Best Documentary and Toni
Erdmann, which won Best International Film.
The 10th annual Robert Altman
Award was given to one film's director, casting director and
ensemble cast. Barry Jenkins'
Moonlight received this award, along with casting director
Yesi Ramirez and ensemble cast
members Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex
Hibbert, André Holland,
Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden
Piner, Trevante Rhodes and
Ashton Sanders.
The 2017 Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship, which
includes a cash grant of $10,000, was
awarded to Project Involve Fellow, Jomo
Fray. This annual award is given to a filmmaker currently
participating in a Film Independent Artist Development program with
the mission of diversity in mind. Film Independent also awarded the
inaugural Turner Fellowship, which includes a $10,000 cash grant, to Project Involve Fellow
Kady Kamakate. This generous three-year commitment from Turner
Broadcasting, Project Involve Lead Sponsor, will enable Film
Independent to provide an even deeper level of support to talented
filmmakers from under-represented communities.
The following is a complete list of the
winners:
Best Feature:
Moonlight (A24)
Producers: Dede Gardner,
Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski
Best Director:
Barry
Jenkins, Moonlight (A24)
Best Screenplay:
Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney (Story By),
Moonlight (A24)
Best First Feature:
The Witch (A24)
Director: Robert Eggers
Producers: Daniel Bekerman,
Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi
Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
Best First Screenplay:
Robert Eggers, The Witch
(A24)
John Cassavetes
Award (For best feature made under $500,000):
Spa Night (Strand Releasing)
Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn
Producers: David Ariniello,
Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim,
Kelly Thomas
Best Supporting Female:
Molly Shannon, Other
People (Vertical Entertainment)
Best Supporting Male:
Ben Foster, Hell or High
Water (CBS Films/Lionsgate)
Best Female Lead:
Isabelle
Huppert, Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)
Best Male Lead:
Casey
Affleck, Manchester by
the Sea (Amazon Studios)
Robert Altman
Award:
Moonlight (A24)
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 Cinematography:
James Laxton, Moonlight
(A24)
Best Editing:
Joi
McMillon, Nat Sanders,
Moonlight (A24)
Best International Film:
Toni Erdmann (Germany and Romania– Sony Pictures
Classics)
Director: Maren Ade
Best Documentary:
O.J.: Made in America (ESPN Films)
Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman
Producers: Deirdre Fenton,
Libby Geist, Nina Krstic, Erin
Leyden, Tamara Rosenberg,
Connor Schell, Caroline Waterlow
2017 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD
WINNERS
BY DISTRIBUTOR
8 A24
2 Sony Pictures Classics
1 Amazon Studios
1 CBS Films/Lionsgate
1 ESPN Films
1 Strand Releasing
1 Vertical Entertainment
On January 7, the following
winners were honored at the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grant and
Nominee Brunch at BOA Steakhouse in West
Hollywood:
Jordana Mollick received
the Piaget Producers Award. The award honors emerging producers
who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity,
tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films.
The annual award, in its 20th year, includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget for
the 10th year. Finalists for the award were Lisa Kjerulff, Melody C. Roscher and Craig Shilowich.
Anna Rose Holmer, director
of The Fits, received the Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award.
The award recognizes talented filmmakers of singular vision who
have not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is in its
23rd year and includes a $25,000
unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl's Since 1851. Finalists for the
award were Andrew Ahn,
director of Spa Night, Claire Carré, director
of Embers and Ingrid
Jungermann, director of Women Who Kill.
Nanfu Wang, director of Hooligan Sparrow, received
the Truer Than Fiction Award. The award is presented to an emerging
director of non-fiction features who has not received significant
recognition. The award is in its 22nd year and includes a
$25,000 unrestricted grant.
Finalists for the award were Kristi
Jacobson, director of Solitary and Sara
Jordenö, director of Kiki.
Attendees:
Joining Josh
Welsh, President of Film Independent, were hosts
Nick Kroll and
John Mulaney and Spirit Award
Honorary Chair David
Oyelowo.
Featured Band: Gary Clark
Jr.
Presenters included: Fred
Armisen, Hank Azaria,
Kate Beckinsale, Orlando Bloom, Kirsten
Dunst, Joseph Gordon-Levitt,
Jon Hamm, Colin Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Danny
McBride, Janelle Monáe, Viggo
Mortensen, David Oyelowo,
Amanda Peet, Freida Pinto, Aubrey
Plaza, Issa Rae, Edgar Ramirez, Jenny
Slate, Miles Teller and
Kerry Washington.
Nominees and celebrities in attendance included:
Casey Affleck, Mahershala Ali,
Annette Bening, Matt Damon, Ava
DuVernay, Naomie Harris,
Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortenson, Ruth
Negga, Natalie Portman,
Craig Robinson, Adam Scott, Molly
Shannon and more.
ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
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.
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. Perrier-Jouët is the Official Champagne.
Landmark Vineyards is the Official Wine. Bulleit Frontier
Whiskey is the Official Spirit. WireImage is the Official
Photographer.
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
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 artist-driven 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.
About IFC
IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected
comedies. Original series Portlandia, Documentary Now!,
Stan Against Evil and the upcoming Brockmire
(April 2017) air alongside
fan-favorite 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.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2017-film-independent-spirit-awards-winners-announced-300413635.html
SOURCE Film Independent