The Lighthouse and Uncut Gems emerged as the top nominees for the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards, the annual celebration of the best in independent films. Both films received five nominations including Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Male Lead (Robert Pattinson for The Lighthouse and Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems). However, The Lighthouse won’t be competing against Uncut Gems in the Best Feature category. Instead, the top category is filled out by A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell, and Marriage Story, along with Uncut Gems.
“The Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrate the best films of the year – films characterized by creative independence and original, provocative subject matter, as well as diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision,” stated Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “At a time when the film business is undergoing such change and challenges, it’s important to loudly celebrate the work itself – the films! – and to recognize 2019 as a year of bold, audacious and accomplished filmmaking. That’s what the Spirit Awards are all about.”
Winners will be announced during a ceremony held on the Santa Monica beach on Saturday, February 8, 2020. IFC will broadcast the awards show beginning at 2pm PT/5pm ET.
2020 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees:
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BEST FEATURE
A Hidden Life
Clemency
The Farewell
Marriage Story
Uncut Gems
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Booksmart
The Climb
Diane
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
The Mustang
See You Yesterday
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 awarded.)
Burning Cane
Colewell
Give Me Liberty
Premature
Wild Nights With Emily
BEST DIRECTOR
Alma Har’el – Honey Boy
Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers
Julius Onah – Luce
Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems
BEST SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach – Marriage Story
Jason Begue, Shawn Snyder – To Dust
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems
Chinonye Chukwu – Clemency
Tarell Alvin McCraney – High Flying Bird
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Fredrica Bailey, Stefon Bristol – See You Yesterday
Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen – Driveways
Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy – Blow the Man Down
Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe – Greener Grass
James Montague, Craig W. Sanger – The Vast of Night
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Todd Banhazl – Hustlers
Jarin Blaschke – The Lighthouse
Natasha Braier – Honey Boy
Chananun Chotrungroj – The Third Wife
Pawel Pogorzelski – Midsommar
BEST EDITING
Julie Béziau – The Third Wife
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie – Uncut Gems
Tyler L. Cook – Sword of Trust
Louise Ford – The Lighthouse
Kirill Mikhanovsky – Give Me Liberty
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Karen Allen – Colewell
Hong Chau – Driveways
Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell
Mary Kay Place – Diane
Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Renée Zellweger – Judy
BEST MALE LEAD
Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce
Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers
Taylor Russell – Waves
Lauren “Lolo” Spencer – Give Me Liberty
Octavia Spencer – Luce
Zhao Shuzhen – The Farewell
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Willem Dafoe – The Lighthouse
Noah Jupe – Honey Boy
Shia LaBeouf – Honey Boy
Jonathan Majors – The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Wendell Pierce – Burning Cane
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
Marriage Story
Director: Noah Baumbach
Casting Directors: Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
Ensemble Cast: Alan Alda, Laura Dern, Adam Driver, Julie Hagerty, Scarlett Johansson,
Ray Liotta, Azhy Robertson, Merritt Wever
BEST DOCUMENTARY
American Factory
Apollo 11
For Sama
Honeyland
Island of the Hungry Ghosts
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Invisible Life (Brazil)
Les Misérables (France)
Parasite (South Korea)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)
Retablo (Peru)
The Souvenir (United Kingdom)
BONNIE AWARD – Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the third Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.
Marielle Heller
Kelly Reichardt
Lulu Wang
PRODUCERS AWARD – The 23rd annual 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.
Mollye Asher
Krista Parris
Ryan Zacarias
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 26th annual 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.
Rashaad Ernesto Green
Director of Premature
Ash Mayfair
Director of The Third Wife
Joe Talbot
Director of The Last Black Man in San Francisco
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 25th annual 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.
Khalik Allah
Director of Black Mother
Davy Rothbart
Director of 17 Blocks
Nadia Shihab
Director of Jaddoland
Erick Stoll & Chase Whiteside
Director of América
