The 30th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominees, with Birdman leading the pack with six nominations. The film earned nods for Best Feature, Best Actor for Michael Keaton, Best Director for Alejandro Inarritu, Best Supporting Actress for Emma Stone, Best Supporting Actor for Edward Norton, and Best Cinematography for Emmanuel Lubezki.
Jake Gyllenhaal, 33, received a Best Actor nomination for his role in Nightcrawler, competing against Keaton. In the Best Female Lead category, Julianne Moore (Still Alice) faces tough competition from Marion Cotillard (The Immigrant) and Tilda Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive). Emma Stone, 26, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress alongside Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) and Jessica Chastain (A Most Violent Year).
Boyhood, directed by Richard Linklater, also received multiple nominations, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for Ethan Hawke. Other Best Feature nominees include Selma, Whiplash, and Love Is Strange. Whiplash, which won at Sundance, earned four nominations, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle and Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons.
Notably absent from the nominees is Jennifer Aniston, despite Oscar buzz for her role in Cake. The Spirit Awards, held the day before the Oscars, are often a predictor of Academy Award winners. Last year, 12 Years a Slave won top honours at both ceremonies.
