If you’ve kept your calendar updated then you’ll no doubt receive a notification that Thursday 21st November is Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations day. The hugely anticipated line-up will be announced with striking panache and mischief by breakthrough actress Zazie Beetz and movie / TV veteran Natasha Lyonne.
So who will print their names in the history books of spirited independent feature films like previous winners of the top award After Hours, The Player, Election, or Silver Linings Playbook. And the innovative films that have broke the newcomer gates – like Metropolitan, Reservoir Dogs, Being John Malkovich and Fruitvale Station. That’s just a handful.
The most popular and likely picks look to be The Farewell and Marriage Story. However, there is fierce competition for Spirit Award places, with possible strong standings for The Lighthouse, Booksmart, Queen & Slim, Midsommar, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Clemency – gasp – should I go on? The array of independent film excellence this year has perhaps surpassed last year. Maybe we say that every year, but that’s a positive, non?
“Some of the year’s best films are still coming from the independent sector of filmmaking.” says Erik Anderson over at AwardsWatch. “Independent filmmakers get to make the films they want to make and tell the stories they want to tell. The Spirit Awards also give us what the Oscars are often lacking, true diversity and representation.” Erik will be at the event in Los Angeles, keeping his fingers crossed that the likes of Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Alma Ha’rel (Honey Boy) and Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers) make three women in the directing field, while his thumbs do all the live tweeting.
In the meantime, following in the sizzling footsteps of Lily Collins, Tessa Thompson, Jenny Slate, Gemma Chan and Molly Shannon, we eagerly await Zazie Beetz and Natasha Lyonne reeling those names. Beetz, who has shone spotlights in Joker and Wounds (two movies way beneath her) told Film Independent “It brings me so much joy to celebrate and support independent, unique voices in film.” While Lyonne herself, knocking it out of the park with Russian Doll and Orange is the New Black, also commented that “Film Independent does an incredible job supporting creative independence for filmmakers.”
Don’t forget to check out the Film Independent website, their YouTube channel for previous awards videos, and of course the Twitter account. This year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held in Santa Monica om Saturday 9th February 9, and will be live on IFC.
