Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program faculty and alumni captured several nominations for the 2010 Spirit Awards, including three of five nominations for Best Feature. The awards, now in their 25th year, are sponsored by Film Independent, a nonprofit organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. The awards will be presented two days before the Academy Awards, on March 5, 2010.
A video of the December 1 nominations announcement can be viewed on the Spirit Awards site.
Nominated for Best Feature:
Amreeka, written and directed by Cherien Dabis (Film '04)
Precious, written by Geoffrey Fletcher (Faculty)
Sin Nombre, produced by Focus Features, James Schamus (Faculty), CEO
Nominated for Best Screenplay:
Adventureland, written and directed by Greg Mottola (Film '91)
Nominated for Best First Screenplay:
Amreeka, written and directed by Cherien Dabis (Film '04)
Cold Souls, written and directed by Sophie Barthes (SIPA '03)
Precious, written by Geoffrey Fletcher (Faculty)
Goodbye Solo, written and directed by Ramin Bahrani (Faculty and CC '96 Film Studies major) also won a nomination for Best Male Lead (Souléymane Sy Savané).
Amreeka won a nomination for Best Female Lead (Nisereen Faour); and Cold Souls won nominations for Best Supporting Female (Dina Korzun) and Best Cinematography (Andrij Parekh). Sin Nombre, too, won a nomination for Best Cinematography (Adriano Goldman), as well as for Best Director (Cary Joji Fukunaga).
Precious won nominations for Best Director (Lee Daniels), Best Female Lead (Gabourey Sidibe), and Best Supporting Female (Mo'Nique), making its total number of nominations a leading five (tying it with The Last Station, which also received five nominations).
