Carol, Anomalisa and more lead the 2016 Spirit Award nominations

Cate Blanchett in Carol

by James White |
Published on
Cate Blanchett in Carol

Once looks like an error. Twice in as many years begins to look like viral marketing. But once again, the Film Independent team has posted their Spirit Awards nominee list a little earlier than planned. Here’s the official, not-leaked rundown of which filmmakers and titles are up for the Indie Spirit Awards this year as announced by Elizabeth Olsen and new Empire cover star John Boyega.

From the looks of it, Todd Haynes and Carol could be in for a good night, with Charlie Kaufman's animated Anomalisa, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl and Beasts Of No Nation also up for several potential awards. If there are surprises, it’s that Room failed to crack the big film categories (though Brie Larson has a fine chance in her category), and the love shown to Bone Tomahawk makes us even more eager to see it (it’ll be out in the UK on February 19.) And finally, on a personal note, to the producers of James White… I hereby officially claim any award that you win, because it’ll have my name on it. You’re on notice.

Here are the main categories. For the full list, head to Film Independent’s site.

BEST FEATURE

Anomalisa

Beasts Of No Nation

Carol

Spotlight

Tangerine

BEST FIRST FEATURE

The Diary Of A Teenage Girl

James White

Manos Sucias

Mediterranea

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Best feature made for under 5,000)

Advantageous

Christmas, Again

Heaven Knows What

Krisha

Out Of My Hand

BEST DIRECTOR

Sean Baker, Tangerine

Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts Of No Nation

Todd Haynes, Carol

Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

David Robert Mitchell, It Follows

BEST SCREENPLAY

Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa

Donald Margulies, The End Of The Tour

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight

Phyllis Nagy, Carol

S. Craig Zahler, Bone Tomahawk

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Jesse Andrews, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl

Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea

Emma Donoghue, Room

Marielle Heller, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl

John Magary, Story by Russell Harbaugh and Myna Joseph, The Mend

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts Of No Nation

Michael Gioulakis, It Follows

Ed Lachman, Carol

Reed Morano, Meadowland

Joshua James Richards, Songs My Brothers Taught Me

BEST EDITING

Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie, Heaven Knows What

Tom McArdle, Spotlight

Nathan Nugent, Room

Julio C. Perez IV, It Follows

Kristan Sprague, Manos Sucias

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Brie Larson, Room

Rooney Mara, Carol

Bel Powley, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl

Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine

BEST MALE LEAD

Christopher Abbott, James White

Abraham Attah, Beasts Of No Nation

Ben Mendelsohn, Mississippi Grind

Jason Segel, The End Of The Tour

Koudous Seihon, Mediterranea

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Robin Bartlett, H.

Marin Ireland, Glass Chin

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anomalisa

Cynthia Nixon, James White

Mya Taylor, Tangerine

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Kevin Corrigan, Results

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

Idris Elba, Beasts Of No Nation

Richard Jenkins, Bone Tomahawk

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD

Spotlight

BEST DOCUMENTARY

(T)ERROR

Best Of Enemies

Heart Of A Dog

Meru

The Russian Woodpecker

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

Embrace Of The Serpent

Girlhood

Mustang

A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence

Son Of Saul

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