by Nathaniel R
By the time the Spirit Awards roll around each year we've completely forgotten about their nominations. They're the group with the the longest annual stretch between nominations and trophy handouts each year! As a reminder We the Animals led in number of nominations this year despite not showing up in the top category. Unfortunately it was entirely shut out of actual wins. The nomination leaders within the Best Feature category were Eighth Grade, First Reformed, and You Were Never Really Here, which all at least won something.
After the jump the winners list and cute photos and such...
FEATURE FILM
LEAD FEMALE
Get someone who looks at you as adoringly as Glenn Close’s dog when she accepts an award!!! pic.twitter.com/7LKbqmjMst
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) February 24, 2019
LEAD MALE
SUPPORTING FEMALE
SUPPORTING MALE
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
Which honors the director, casting director, and ensemble cast. There are never nominees announced, only a winner.
Three months later we remain utterly baffled by this choice. What loudmouth on the nominating committee pushed this idea? Nevertheless, sometimes we wish the Robert Altman Award were a category like any other, though, so we could see who the nominees might have been each year. Good ensembles elevate so many movies.
FIRST FEATURE
DIRECTOR
Barry Jenkins didn't want to win this! In his speech he explained the 4% challenge in support of female directors.
SCREENPLAY
FIRST SCREENPLAY
CINEMATOGRAPHY
EDITING
FOREIGN FILM
DOCUMENTARY
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
This is a feature film prize for truly independent movies made for under $500,000.
BONNIE AWARD (mid career female director)
$50,000 grant. Not for a specific film though they directed Leave No Trace, Private Life, and Destroyer this year
PRODUCERS AWARD
This prize is not for a specific film though they produced Sorry to Bother You, Little Woods, and a bunch of small films, respectively this year.
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
$25,000 grant for an emerging filmmaker
TRUER THAN FICTION
$25,000 grant for a documentary filmmaker
And we'll close with this glorious image of Elsie Fisher, Regina King, and Glenn Close. So much talent in that Santa Monica tent every year!