We mention the Independent Spirit Awards mostly for the Best International Film category as a comparison to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
As we went through the 37th Independent Spirit Awards nominations yesterday, we noticed a few Canadian entries.
2021 Canadian Screen Awards film winners
Canadian film review: Blood Quantum
Michael Greyeyes shows his extensive versatility by getting nominations for film and television.
Greyeyes got a nod for Best Male Lead for Wild Indian. His fellow nominees are Clifton Collins Jr. (Jockey); Frankie Faison (The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain); Udo Kier (Swan Song); and Simon Rex (Red Rocket).
Greyeyes also got a nomination for Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series for Rutherford Falls. His fellow nominees are Lee Jung Jae (Squid Game); Olly Alexander (It's a Sin); Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus); and Ashley Thomas (THEM: Covenant).
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The cast of Reservation Dogs will get an award for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series. The awards will go to Devery Jacobs, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis, Sarah Podemski, Zahn McClarnon, Lil Mike, and FunnyBone.
The show also received a nomination for Best New Scripted Series. The other nominees are It's a Sin; The Underground Railroad; We Are Lady Parts; and Blindspotting.
We know Jacobs and Podemski from previous projects. Alexis and Woon-A-Tai were also in Beans.
Canadian film review: Beans
Canadian film case study: Shiva Baby
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Shiva Baby (Emma Seligman, Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller, Lizzie Shapiro) is nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, as defined by films made for under $500,000. The other nominees are: Cryptozoo; Jockey; Sweet Thing; and This is Not a War Story.
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Les Oiseaux Ivres | Drunken Birds did not get a nomination for Best International Film. The nominees are Compartment No. 6 (Finland); Drive My Car (Japan); Parallel Mothers (Spain); Pebbles (India); Petite Maman (France); and Prayers for the Stolen (Mexico). We'll have more on this when the Oscars shortlist is announced on December 21.
The 37th Independent Spirit Awards is March 6, which is 3 weeks before the Academy Awards. The awards have traditionally been the week leading up to the Oscars. Hopefully, they will be back in the tent on the beach in Santa Monica, CA.
photo credits: Blood Quantum film; Shiva Baby film
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