Next Step, Spirit Awards

Melena Ryzik, in the New York Times awards blog "The Carpet Bagger," highlighted Mike Mills' sweet and thoughtful BEGINNERS' recent triumph at the Gotham Awards with the lead, "BEGINNERS continues its indie roll, earning nominations for best feature, best screenplay and best director at the Film Independent Spirit Awards." In addition to those nods, which feature Mills Mills being nominated for Best Director and for Best Screenplay, Christopher Plummer was nominated for Best Supporting Male. Next to BEGINNERS, Dee Rees poetic coming-of-age drama PARIAH also picked up two nominations -- one for the John Cassavettes Award and one for Best Female Lead for Adepero Oduye. Finally Focus World's BOMBAY BEACH, directed by Alma Har'el, was nominated for the "Truer Than Fiction Award." For a complete list, go to the SpiritAwards.com.