NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2004 IFP INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
Nominations for the 2004 IFP Independent Spirit Awards were announced including
Best Feature nominees: American Splendor, In America, Lost in Translation, Raising Victor Vargas, and Shattered Glass.
The 2004 Spirit Awards Nominating Committee has also awarded a Special Distinction Award to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 21 Grams for its uniqueness of vision, bold conception and direction, the honesty of its screenwriting, bravery of its performances, and achievement on every level of filmmaking. Due to Spirit Awards guidelines, the film was not eligible for individual nominations because its budget exceeded the committee’s interpretation of IFP’s criteria of "economy of means."
"With more submissions and less time then ever before, the Nominating Committee watched and discussed over 190 films in six weeks -- an act of extreme devotion that proved to be tremendously rewarding. These exciting, daring, and very entertaining films expanded our notions of what movies can do, showing us new ways of looking at and understanding the world around us," said committee chair, Jeff Kleeman.
Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of IFP/Los Angeles, added, "To say that the nominations represent a wide spectrum of filmmaking is an understatement this year. These nominations represent a wide spectrum of filmmaking; the voices are original, provocative, and incredibly varied. It's especially gratifying to see more women writer/directors emerging in the independent film world, including today's nominees Shari Springer Berman, Sofia Coppola, Lisa France, Catherine Hardwicke, and Deborah Kampmeier."
Selected from more than 190 submissions, the winners will be unveiled at the IFP Independent Spirit Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 28, 2004, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The ceremony will air live on IFC at 5:00 pm EST and is edited for rebroadcast on Bravo the same evening at 10:00 pm EST/PST.
Diana Zahn-Storey returns to produce the event for the tenth consecutive year. Master of Ceremonies, Honorary Chairs and Presenters will be announced shortly.
Last year’s IFP Independent Spirit Award winners included Far From Heaven, which won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Female Lead (Julianne Moore), Best Supporting Male (Dennis Quaid), and Best Cinematography; Y Tu Mamá También for Best Foreign Film; and Derek Luke who won Best Male Lead for Antwone Fisher.
2004 IFP INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BY CATEGORY
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer)
American Splendor Producer: Ted Hope
In America Producers: Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin
Lost in Translation Producers: Sofia Coppola, Ross Katz
Raising Victor Vargas Producers: Alain de la Mata, Robin O’Hara, Scott Macaulay, Peter Sollett
Shattered Glass Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Tove Christensen, Gaye Hirsch, Adam Merims
BEST DIRECTOR
Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini American Splendor
Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation
Jim Sheridan In America
Peter Sollett Raising Victor Vargas
Gus Van Sant Elephant
BEST SCREENPLAY
American Splendor Writers: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
Lost in Translation Writer: Sofia Coppola
A Mighty Wind Writers: Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy and the cast of A Mighty Wind
Pieces of April Writer: Peter Hedges
Shattered Glass Writer: Billy Ray
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the Director and Producer)
Bomb the System Director: Adam Bhala Lough
Producers: Ben Rekhi, Sol Tryon
House of Sand and Fog Director: Vadim Perelman
Producers: Michael London, Vadim Perelman
Monster Director: Patty Jenkins
Producers: Mark Damon, Donald Kushner, Clark Peterson, Charlize Theron, Brad Wyman
Quattro Noza Director: Joey Curtis
Producer: Fredric King
Thirteen Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Producers: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Michael London
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the Writer, Director, and Producer)
Anne B. Real Director: Lisa France
Writers: Lisa France, Antonio Macia
Producers: Josselyne Herman, Luis Moro, Jeanine Rohn
Better Luck Tomorrow Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Ernesto M. Foronda, Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto M. Foronda, Justin Lin
Pieces of April Writer/Director: Peter Hedges
Producers: Alexis Alexanian, John S. Lyons, Gary Winick
The Station Agent Writer/Director: Thomas McCarthy
Producers: Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, Kathryn Tucker
Virgin Writer/Director: Deborah Kampmeier
Producer: Sarah Schenck
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Blue Car Writer: Karen Moncrieff
Monster Writer: Patty Jenkins
Raising Victor Vargas Writers: Peter Sollett and Eva Vives
The Station Agent Writer: Thomas McCarthy
Thirteen Writers: Catherine Hardwicke & Nikki Reed
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Agnes Bruckner Blue Car
Zooey Deschanel All the Real Girls
Samantha Morton In America
Elisabeth Moss Virgin
Charlize Theron Monster
BEST MALE LEAD
Peter Dinklage The Station Agent
Paul Giamatti American Splendor
Sir Ben Kingsley House of Sand and Fog
Bill Murray Lost in Translation
Lee Pace Soldier’s Girl
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Shohreh Aghdashloo House of Sand and Fog
Sarah Bolger In America
Patricia Clarkson Pieces of April
Hope Davis The Secret Lives of Dentists
Frances McDormand Laurel Canyon
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Judah Friedlander American Splendor
Troy Garity Soldier’s Girl
Djimon Hounsou In America
Alessandro Nivola Laurel Canyon
Peter Sarsgaard Shattered Glass
BEST DEBUT PERFORMANCE (Actors in their first significant role in a feature film)
Anna Kendrick Camp
Judy Marte Raising Victor Vargas
Victor Rasuk Raising Victor Vargas
Nikki Reed Thirteen
Janice Richardson Anne B. Real
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Elephant Harris Savides
In America Declan Quinn
Northfork M. David Mullen
Quattro Noza Derek Cianfrance
Shattered Glass Mandy Walker
BEST FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the Director)
City of God - (Brazil) Director: Fernando Meirelles
Lilya 4-Ever – (Denmark) Director: Lukas Moodysson
The Magdalene Sisters - (England/Ireland) Director: Peter Mullan
The Triplets of Belleville - (France) Director: Sylvian Chomet
Whale Rider – (New Zealand) Director: Niki Caro
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the Director)
The Fog of War Director: Errol Morris
Mayor of the Sunset Strip Director: George Hickenlooper
My Architect Director: Nathaniel Kahn
OT: our town Director: Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Power Trip Director: Paul Devlin
2004 IFP INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
(BY DISTRIBUTOR)
DREAMWORKS PICTURES (3)
House of Sand and Fog
** Best First Feature – Vadim Perelman, Michael London
** Best Male Lead – Sir Ben Kingsley
** Best Supporting Female - Shohreh Aghdashloo
Director: Vadim Perelman
Writers: Vadim Perelman, Shawn Lawrence Otto
Producers: Michael London, Vadim Perelman
FILM MOVEMENT (1)
OT: our town
** Best Documentary – Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Director/Producer: Scott Hamilton Kennedy
FINE LINE FEATURES (7)
American Splendor
** Best Feature - Ted Hope
** Best Director - Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
** Best Screenplay – Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
** Best Male Lead - Paul Giamatti
** Best Supporting Male - Judah Friedlander
Writers/Directors: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
Producer: Ted Hope
Elephant
** Best Director - Gus Van Sant
** Best Cinematography - Harris Savides
Writer/Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Dany Wolf
FIRST LOOK PICTURES (1)
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
** Best Documentary – George Hickenlooper
Writer/Director: George Hickenlooper
Producers: Chris Carter, Greg Little, Tommy Perna
FOCUS FEATURES (4)
Lost in Translation
** Best Feature - Sofia Coppola & Ross Katz
** Best Director - Sofia Coppola
** Best Screenplay - Sofia Coppola
** Best Male Lead - Bill Murray
Writer/Director: Sofia Coppola
Producers: Sofia Coppola, Ross Katz
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES/ 20TH CENTURY FOX (9)
In America
** Best Feature - Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin
** Best Director - Jim Sheridan
** Best Female Lead - Samantha Morton
** Best Supporting Female - Sarah Bolger
** Best Supporting Male - Djimon Hounsou
** Best Cinematography - Declan Quinn
Director: Jim Sheridan
Writers: Jim Sheridan & Naomi Sheridan & Kirsten Sheridan
Producers: Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin
Thirteen
** Best First Feature – Catherine Hardwicke, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Michael London
** Best First Screenplay – Catherine Hardwick & Nikki Reed
** Best Debut Performance - Nikki Reed
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Writers: Catherine Harwicke & Nikki Reed
Producers: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Michael London
IFC FILMS (1)
Camp
** Best Debut Performance - Anna Kendrick
Writer/Director: Todd Graff
Producers: Katie Roumel, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Danny DeVito,
Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Jonathan Weisgal, Todd Graff
LIONS GATE FILMS (4)
Shattered Glass
** Best Feature - Craig Baumgarten, Tove Christensen, Gaye Hirsch, Adam Merims
** Best Screenplay – Billy Ray
** Best Supporting Male - Peter Sarsgaard
** Best Cinematography - Mandy Walker
Writer/Director: Billy Ray
Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Tove Christensen, Gaye Hirsch, Adam Merims
MANHATTAN PICTURES INTL (1)
The Secret Lives of Dentists
** Best Supporting Female - Hope Davis
Director: Alan Rudolph
Writer: Craig Lucas
Producers: Campbell Scott, George VanBuskirk
MIRAMAX FILMS (7)
Blue Car
** Best Female Lead - Agnes Bruckner
** Best First Screenplay – Karen Moncrieff
Writer/Director: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Peer J. Oppenheimer, Amy Sommer, David Waters
City of God
** Best Foreign Film - Fernando Meirelles
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Writer: Braulio Mantovani
Producers: Andrea Barata Riveiro, Maurício Andrade Ramos
The Magdalene Sisters
** Best Foreign Film – Peter Mullan
Writer/Director: Peter Mullan
Producer: Frances Higson
The Station Agent
** John Cassavetes Award - Thomas McCarthy, Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May,
Kathryn Tucker
** Best First Screenplay – Thomas McCarthy
** Best Male Lead - Peter Dinklage
Writer/Director: Thomas McCarthy
Producers: Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May, Kathryn Tucker
NEWMARKET FILMS (5)
Lilya 4-Ever
** Best Foreign Film – Lukas Moodysson
Writer/Director: Lukas Moodyson
Producer: Lars Jonsson
Monster
** Best First Feature - Patty Jenkins, Mark Damon, Donald Kushner,
Clark Peterson, Charlize Theron, Brad Wyman
** Best First Screenplay - Patty Jenkins
** Best Female Lead - Charlize Theron
Writer/Director: Patty Jenkins
Producers: Patty Jenkins, Mark Damon, Donald Kushner, Clark Peterson,
Charlize Theron, Brad Wyman
Whale Rider
** Best Foreign Film – Niki Caro
Writer/Director: Niki Caro
Producers: Tim Sanders, John Barnett, Frank Hubner
NEW YORKER FILMS/HBO/ CINEMAX DOCUMENTARY FILMS (1)
My Architect
** Best Documentary – Nathaniel Kahn
Director: Nathaniel Kahn
Producers: Nathaniel Kahn, Susan Rose Behr
PARAMOUNT CLASSICS (2)
Better Luck Tomorrow
** John Cassavetes Award - Justin Lin, Ernest M. Foronda, Fabian Marquez,
Julie Asato
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Ernesto M. Foronda, Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernest M. Foronda, Justin Lin
Northfork
** Best Cinematography - M. David Mullen
Director: Michael Polish
Writers/ Producers: Mark Polish & Michael Polish
UNITED ARTISTS (3)
Pieces of April
** John Cassavetes Award - Peter Hedges, Alexis Alexanian, John S. Lyons,
Gary Winick
** Best Screenplay – Peter Hedges
** Best Supporting Female - Patricia Clarkson
Writer/Director: Peter Hedges
Producers: Alexis Alexanian, John S. Lyons, Gary Winick
SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS/ FIREWORKS (5)
Raising Victor Vargas
** Best Feature - Alain de la Mata, Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Peter Sollett
** Best Director - Peter Sollett
** Best First Screenplay – Peter Sollett and Eva Vives
** Best Debut Performance - Judy Marte
** Best Debut Performance - Victor Rasuk
Director: Peter Sollett
Writers: Peter Sollett and Eva Vives
Producers: Alain de la Mata, Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Peter Sollett
SHOWTIME/HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION (2)
Soldier’s Girl
** Best Male Lead - Lee Pace
** Best Supporting Male - Troy Garity
Director: Frank Pierson
Writer: Ron Nyswaner
Producers: Doro Bachrach, Linda Gottlieb
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS (5)
All the Real Girls
** Best Female Lead - Zooey Deschanel
Writer/Director: David Gordon Green
Producers: Jean Doumanian, Lisa Muskat
The Fog of War
** Best Documentary – Errol Morris
Director: Errol Morris
Producers: Errol Morris, Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS (Cont’d)
Laurel Canyon
** Best Supporting Female - Frances McDormand
** Best Supporting Male - Alessandro Nivola
Writer/Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Producers: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Susan A. Stover
The Triplets of Belleville
** Best Foreign Film – Sylvain Chomet
Writer/Director: Sylvain Chomet
Producers: Didier Brunner, Paul Cadieux
WARNER BROS (1)
A Mighty Wind
** Best Screenplay – Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy and the
cast of A Mighty Wind
Director: Christopher Guest
Writers: Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy, and the cast of A Mighty Wind
Producer: Karen Murphy
NO DISTRIBUTOR (8)
Anne B. Real
** John Cassavetes Award – Lisa France, Antonio Macia, Jr., Joselyne Herman,
Luis Moro, Jeanine Rohn
** Best Debut Performance – Janice Richardson
Director: Lisa France
Writers: Lisa France, Antonio Macia, Jr.
Producers: Joselyn Herman, Luis Moro, Jeanine Rohn
Bomb the System
** Best First Feature - Adam Bhala Lough, Ben Rekhi, and Sol Tryon
Writer/Director: Adam Bhala Lough
Producers: Ben Rekhi, Sol Tryon
Power Trip
** Best Documentary – Paul Devlin
Director/Producer: Paul Devlin
NO DISTRIBUTOR (Cont’d)
Quattro Noza
** Best First Feature - Joey Curtis, Fredric King
** Best Cinematography - Derek Cianfrance
Writer/Director: Joey Curtis
Producer: Fredric King
Virgin
** John Cassavetes Award - Deborah Kampmeier, Sarah Schenck
** Best Female Lead - Elisabeth Moss
Writer/Director: Deborah Kampmeier
Producer: Sarah Schenck
Chatelin Bruno 
