The night before the 2014 Oscars was a big one for 12 Years a Slave as it took home five wins at the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards including Best Picture, Director (Steve McQueen), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o), Screenplay (John Ridley) and Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt). However, don’t take this to mean 12 Years is a lock at the Oscars as its strongest competition in categories such as Picture and Director, those being Gravity and American Hustle, weren’t among the “independent” nominees.
Some likely Oscar winners were among the list of winners as Dallas Buyers Club co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto took home Best Actor and Supporting Actor respectively. Cate Blanchett took home yet another Best Actress prize for her work in Blue Jasmine and 20 Feet from Stardom won Best Documentary, proving even the Spirit Awards weren’t going for The Act of Killing, though that doesn’t diminish the impact of Joshua Oppenheimer‘s film.
Some wins and recognition that are nice to see are Ryan Coogler‘s Fruitvale Station winning Best First Feature and while it is just an editing award, Short Term 12 winning anything makes for a good day.
I have listed the full list of winners and nominees directly below with all winners noted in bold red text, and you can click here to see the Oscar Overture is now complete.
BEST FEATURE
- 12 Years a Slave
- All is Lost
- Frances Ha
- Inside Llewyn Davis
- Nebraska
BEST DIRECTOR
- Shane Carruth (Upstream Color)
- J.C. Chandor (All is Lost)
- Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
- Jeff Nichols (Mud)
- Alexander Payne (Nebraska)
BEST SCREENPLAY
- Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine)
- Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater (Before Midnight)
- Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said)
- Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Spectacular Now)
- John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)
BEST FIRST FEATURE
- Blue Caprice
- Concussion
- Fruitvale Station
- Una Noche
- Wadjda
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
- Lake Bell (In a World…)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Don Jon)
- Bob Nelson (Nebraska)
- Jill Soloway (Afternoon Delight)
- Michael Starrbury (The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete)
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.
- Computer Chess – writer / director Andrew Bujalski
- Crystal Fairy – writer / director Sebastian Silva
- Museum Hours – writer / director Jem Cohen
- Pit Stop – writer / director Yen Tan
- This is Martin Bonner – writer / director Chad Hartigan
BEST FEMALE LEAD
- Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
- Julie Delpy (Before Midnight)
- Gaby Hoffmann (Crystal Fairy)
- Brie Larson (Short Term 12)
- Shailene Woodley (The Spectacular Now)
BEST MALE LEAD
- Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
- Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)
- Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station)
- Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
- Robert Redfor (All is Lost)
BEST EDITING
- Shane Carruth & David Lowery (Upstream Color)
- Jem Cohen & Marc Vives (Museum Hours)
- Jennifer Lame (Frances Ha)
- Cindy Lee (Una Noche)
- Nat Sanders (Short Term 12)
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
- Melonie Diaz (Fruitvale Station)
- Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
- Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
- Yolonda Ross (Go For Sisters)
- June Squibb (Nebraska)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
- Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
- Will Forte (Nebraska)
- James Gandolfini (Enough Said)
- Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
- Keith Stanfield (Short Term 12)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Sean Bobbitt (12 Years a Slave)
- Benoit Debie (Spring Breakers)
- Bruno Delbonnel (Inside Llewyn Davis)
- Frank G. Demarco (All is Lost)
- Matthias Grunsky (Computer Chess)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
- 20 Feet from Stardom
- After Tiller
- Gideon’s Army
- The Act of Killing
- The Square
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
- A Touch of Sin
- Blue is the Warmest Color
- Gloria
- The Great Beauty
- The Hunt
17th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
The 17th 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.
- Toby Halbrooks & James M. Johnston, Jacob Jaffke, Andrea Roa, Frederick Thornton
20th ANNUAL SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
The 20th 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.
- Aaron Douglas Johnston (My Sister’s Quinceañera)
- Shaka King (Newlyweeds)
- Madeline Olnek (The Foxy Merkins)
STELLA ARTOIS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
The 19th 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.
- Kalyanee Mam (A River Changes Course)
- Jason Osder (Let the Fire Burn)
- Stephanie Spray & Pacho Velez (Manakamana)
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
Given to one film’s Director, casting Director, and its ensemble cast
- Mud – Director: Jeff Nichols
Casting Director: Francine Maisler
Ensemble Cast: Joe Don Baker, Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Sam Shepard, Tye Sheridan, Paul Sparks, Bonnie Sturdivant, Reese Witherspoon
