Two Columbia Filmmakers Succeed at 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards
Unorthodox, a mini series created by alumna Anna Winger (CC '93), and Immigration Nation, executive produced by non-degree alumnus Dan Cogan '96, both won awards at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards. While Unorthodox took home two prizes in the categories Best Female Performance (Scripted) for Shira Haas and Best Male Performance (Scripted) for Amit Rahav, Immigration Nation was honored as the Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series. Winners were announced during the 36th annual awards ceremony on April 22.
Original: 2/1/2021
Nine films by Columbia filmmakers have been nominated at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards. The 36th annual awards ceremony will take place on April 22.
In addition, alumnus Gerry Kim '11 has been nominated for the Producers Award which honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films. In 2019, the award was taken home by Adjunct Associate Professor Shrihari Sathe '09. Kim was recently the producer on I’m No Longer Here, the directorial debut of alumnus Fernando Frías de la Parra '15 which is Mexico’s contender for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Academy Awards.
The complete list of films and Columbia filmmakers involved is below:
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Nominated for Best Documentary
Maureen Ryan '92, Associate Professor, Co-Producer
Marilyn Ness, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Co-Producer
Sarah Seulki Oh, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Production Manager
Michael Toscano '12, Assistant Director
John Wakayama Carey '14, DP
Joshua Ryan Troxler '18, Production Coordinator.
Mahak Jiwani '18, Production Coordinator
Kristy Richman '19, Production Coordinator/Extras Casting
Markus Kirschner '09, Production
Federica Gianni '17, Media Manager
Ewing Luo '18, Production
Frank Liu '19, Production Assistant
Student Alex Yarber, Production Assistant
Jaclyn Noel '19, Production Assistant
Christina Wood '19, Production Assistant
TIME
Nominated for Best Documentary
Lauren Domino, Former Staff Member, Producer
The White Tiger
Nominated for Best Male Lead
Ramin Bahrani (CC '96), Associate Professor, Writer, Director, Producer
Sean Haynes '16, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Associate Producer, Title Designer
The Assistant
Nominated for Best First Screenplay, Best Female Lead, and Best Cinematography
James Shamus, Professor of Professional Practice, Producer
Unorthodox
Nominated for Best New Scripted Series, Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series, and Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series
Anna Winger (CC '93), Film and Media Studies BA, Creator/Executive Producer
Bull
Nominated for Best Male Lead, Best Cinematography
Johnny McAllister '05, Co-Writer
Sean Haynes '16, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Post Supervisor
Immigration Nation
Nominated for Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
Dan Cogan '96, non-degree, Executive Producer
First Cow
Nominated in Best Feature (an award given to producers)
Sean Haynes '16, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Post Supervisor
The Film Independent Spirit Awards is the premier awards event for the independent film community. Each year, the Spirit Awards bring together top talent from throughout the world of independent film. In addition to traditional categories such as Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, etc., the Spirit Awards ceremony features a number of unique honors. These include Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, the John Cassavetes Award (best feature under $500,000) and the Robert Altman Award (best ensemble cast). Winners will be announced April 22, 2021.