12 Years a Slave recently received several Independent Spirit Award nominations.
Directed by Steve McQueen, the film tells the story of a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. In addition to receiving critical acclaim from several noted critics, the film is always a serious contender during the awards season.
According to the folks at Entertainment Weekly , 12 Years a Slave received no less than seven Independent Spirit Award nominations this year. However, director Alexander Payne’s dramedy Nebraska is hot on its heels with six.
In addition to getting a nod for Best Feature, Steven McQueen’s drama also received nominations for Best Lead Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Supporting Male, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. Fans can see how many trophies the flick receives on March 1, 2014.
Indiewire points out that All Is Lost , Frances Ha , and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis also received nominations for best feature. 12 Years a Slave might have a shot at several honors, but it’s definitely up against some very strong competition.
Although Brad Pitt only appears in the flick for a total of eight minutes, he was very excited to sign on for the project. During a his chat with the Today show last month, Pitt had nothing but overwhelmingly positive things to say about Steve McQueen’s drama.
“It’s one of those few films that… cuts to the base of our humanity. And it was not until I saw Solomon Northup’s story that I fully, fully (grasped) the utter horror of losing your freedom or denying another one their freedom, taking their freedom, splitting their family apart. It’s why I got into film in the first place,” Pitt said.
He added, “I’m there to support the story. The main performances are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, (Michael) Fassbender. These are such demanding parts. These guys had to keep themselves in just this perpetual state of angst and foreboding and longing.”
McQueen and company are no doubt hoping that the folks behind the Independent Spirit Awards feel as strongly about 12 Years a Slave as Brad Pitt.
Here’s a complete list of this year’s contenders.
Best Feature: 12 Years A Slave All Is Lost Frances Ha Inside Llewyn Davis Nebraska
Best Female Lead: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine Julie Delpy – Before Midnight Gaby Hoffman – 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 Redford – All Is Lost
Best Supporting Female: Melonie Diaz – Fruitvale Station Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine Lupita N’Yongo – 12 Years A Slave Yolanda 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 Director: Shane Carruth – Upstream Color J.C. Chandor – All Is Lost Steve McQueen – 12 Years A Slave Jeff Nichols – Mud Alexander Payne – Nebraska
Best First Feature: Blue Caprice Concussion Fruitvale Station Una Noche Wadjda
John Cassavetes Award: Computer Chess Crystal Fairy Museum Hours Pit Stop This Is Martin Bonner
Best Screenplay: Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater – Before Midnight Nicole Holofcener – Enough Said Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber – The Spectacular Now John Ridley – 12 Years A Slave
Best First Screenplay Lake Bell – In A World Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Don Jon Bob Nelson – Nebraska Jill Soloway – Afternoon Delight Michael Starburry – The Inevitable Defeat Of Mister & Pete
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 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 International Film A Touch Of Sin Blue Is The Warmest Color Gloria The Great Beauty The Hunt
Best Documentary The Act Of Killing After Tiller Gideon’s Army The Square Twenty Feet From Stardom
Piaget Producers Award Toby Halbrooks & James M. Johnson Jacob Jaffke Andrea Roa Ferderick Thornton
Truer Than Fiction Awards: Kalyanee Mam – A River Changes Course Jason Osder – Let The Fire Burn Stephanie Spray & Pancho Valez – Manakamana
Someone To Watch Awards: Aaron Douglas Johnston – My Sisters’ Quinceanera Shaka King – Newlyweeds Madeleine Olnek – The Foxy Merkins
Robert Altman Award: Mud
What did you think about director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave ?
