Dennis ArpOn top of the critical acclaim that has greeted his inaugural feature film, Justin Simien ’05 can now add two major award nominations.
Simien’s satirical debut release Dear White People was nominated in the category of best first feature by the Film Independent Spirit Awards, it was announced Tuesday, Nov. 25. The other films up for the award are A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Nightcrawler, Obvious Child and She’s Lost Control
In addition, Simien, a graduate of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, is among five nominees vying for best first screenplay. Here he’s recognized alongside Desiree Akhavan (Appropriate Behavior), Sara Colangelo (Little Accidents), Justin Lader (The One I Love) and Anja Marquardt (She’s Lost Control) — the only other filmmaker nominated in both categories.
Dear White People, which explores themes of race and identity on the campus of a fictional Ivy League school, was called “as smart and fearless a debut as I’ve seen from an American filmmaker in quite some time” by A.O. Scott of The New York Times.
Earning the most Spirit Award nominations this year is Birdman with six, including acting nods for Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone.
The Spirit Awards will be handed out in Santa Monica and televised by IFC on Feb. 21 — the day before the Academy Awards.
Add comment