Nov 30, 2010 by Brian Gallagher

2011 Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

Winter's Bone takes in seven Independent Spirit Awards noiminations
Winter's Bone takes in seven Independent Spirit Awards noiminations
Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced nominations this morning for the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner served as presenters and 2011 Spirit Awards host Joel McHale was also on hand. Nominees for Best Feature include 127 Hours, Black Swan, Greenberg, The Kids Are All Right and Winter's Bone.

Please Give was selected for the Robert Altman Award, which is given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.

"The artistic side of independent film is stronger than ever, and it's especially impressive to see the developed craft of extraordinary independent filmmakers who have only gotten better over the years. Past nominees such as Darren Aronofsky, Noah Baumbach, Danny Boyle, Lisa Cholodenko, Debra Granik, Nicole Holofcener and John Cameron Mitchell continue to create original and compelling films that move and amaze us," said Film Independent Executive Director Dawn Hudson.

Selected from 220 submissions, this year's winners will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. on the beach in Santa Monica. The 26th annual awards show will air exclusively that night on IFC at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Winners of the Filmmaker Grants will be highlighted during the Spirit Awards and announced at the 2011 Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch celebration on Saturday, January 15th at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

On Wednesday, February 23, a selection of Spirit Award nominees will discuss their films and their craft at Film Independent's Directors Close-Up, a 5-week series that features conversations with directors and their collaborators.

The Jameson FIND Your Audience Award, a new filmmaker grant, was established this year to help make it possible for one Spirit Award-nominated film to find a broader audience. Spirit Award-nominated films in need of expanding their marketing and distribution efforts will be considered. The award includes a $50,000 marketing and distribution grant, funded by Jameson Irish Whiskey. The grant was designed to meet independent filmmakers' biggest challenge today: How to get their films out into the marketplace. A blue-ribbon committee will determine the winner.

2011 Spirit Award Nominations



Best Feature (Award given to the Producer, Executive Producers are not listed)




Best Director




Best Screenplay




Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer)




Best First Screenplay




John Cassavetes Award - Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director, and producer. Executive Producers are not listed




Best Female Lead




Best Male Lead




Best Supporting Female




Best Supporting Male




Best Cinematography




Best Documentary (Award given to the director)




Best Foreign Film (Award given to the director)




Acura Someone to Watch Award

- The 17th annual Acura Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Acura.

  • Hossein Keshavarz - Dog Sweat
  • Laurel Nakadate - The Wolf Knife
  • Mike Ott - Littlerock


Piaget Producers Award

- The 14th annual Piaget Producers Award 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.



Aveeno Truer Than Fiction Award

- The 16th annual Aveeno Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Aveeno.



Robert Altman Award - (Given to one film's director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)




127 Hours was released November 5th, 2010 and stars James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Lizzy Caplan, Elizabeth Hales, Patrick Gibbs, Clémence Poésy. The film is directed by Danny Boyle.

Black Swan was released December 3rd, 2010 and stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied, Ksenia Solo, Kristina Anapau. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Greenberg was released March 26th, 2010 and stars Greta Gerwig, Koby Rouviere, Sydney Rouviere, Chris Messina, Susan Traylor, Merritt Wever, Emily Lacy, Aaron Wrinkle. The film is directed by Noah Baumbach.

The Kids Are All Right was released July 9th, 2010 and stars Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta, Kunal Sharma, Eddie Hassell. The film is directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

Winter's Bone was released June 11th, 2010 and stars Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Kevin Breznahan, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt, Shelley Waggener, Lauren Sweetser, Ashlee Thompson. The film is directed by Debra Granik.


Sources: Film Independent

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Comments (9)

  1. Wichy

    I really hope Winter's Bone takes some wins. It's an amazing film, one of the best of the year in my opinion :) But I have yet to see some of the other contenders so I will have to catch up on those before I pick my favorites.

    2 years agoby @wichitagalzlFlag

  2. Dan

    When it starts playing at my theaters, I will :)

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  3. Daveactor7

    @Supes watch the movie it was amazing.

    2 years agoby @daveactor7Flag

  4. Dan

    I haven't seen 127 Hours yet, @Dave, so I can't dispute that. But we shall see.

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  5. Daveactor7

    Damn i just noticed Ashley Bell is nominated twice in the same category lol

    2 years agoby @daveactor7Flag

  6. Daveactor7

    Award nomination I meant lol

    2 years agoby @daveactor7Flag

  7. Daveactor7

    Did i not tell u guys that Ashley Bell is going to get awards for "the last exorcism"? lol.
    @Supes disagreed 127 hours is going to dominate. Fantastic film

    2 years agoby @daveactor7Flag

  8. The Soylent Green Monkey

    I'm glad to see Ashley Bell nominated for the Last Exorcism. She was so hauntingly good in that flick.

    2 years agoby @soylentgreen2Flag

  9. Dan

    Winter's Bone will dominate this. Watch.

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

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