The delayed awards season is now truly… finally… underway! The 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations have been announced. Here are some of the highlights:
Once again there are six nominees in the Lead Actress category, including Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s “Black Bottom”), Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”). Thrilled that Julia Garner (“The Assistant”) joins them.
In Lead Actor, Adarsh Gourav (“The White Tiger”) and Rob Morgan (“Bull”) are pleasant surprises. The other three contenders are Steven Yeun (“Minari”), Riz Ahmed (who’s incredible in “Sound of Metal”) and the late Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”).
The Best Feature category consists of these five nominees: “First Cow”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Minari”, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and “Nomadland”. “Promising” is probably the biggest snub, while “Sound of Metal” is up for Best First Feature instead.
“The Invisible Man” is a Best Editing nominee, though Elisabeth Moss didn’t make it onto the Lead Actress list (Universal is campaigning hard for her to receive honors this awards season). Sole recognition for “Palm Springs” is in the Best First Screenplay category. “French Exit” didn’t earn Michelle Pfeiffer a Lead Actress nomination, but Valerie Mahaffey is up for Supporting Actress.
Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” is the recipient of the Robert Altman Award. And I’m glad that HBO’s “Bad Education” writer Mike Makowsky has been recognized in the Best Screenplay category. Would’ve liked to see Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney on the ballot, but at least this still keeps this film’s momentum going into the nomination announcements for the Golden Globes (Feb. 3), SAG Awards (Feb. 4) and Critics Choice Awards (Feb. 8).
The Spirit Awards is usually held on a Saturday – the day before the Oscars. But instead IFC will broadcast it two days earlier: Thursday April 22nd at 10pmET.
For the complete list of nominees, visit filmindependent.org.