Just when you thought the world had gone to hell, there are flickers of hope: “The Artist,” “Hugo,” and “My Week with Marilyn”– movies in which no vampires appear–did great over the weekend. Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Artist,” which just won Best Picture and Director from the New York Film Critics–is in very limited release and a total hit. It sold out on every one of its six screens, and took in a daily average of $12,000 per screen. “My Week with Marilyn,” directed by Simon Curtis, was a hot ticket as well. People are clamoring to see Michelle Williams in her raved about performance. The movie is playing on just 244 screens and has made a total of $3.8 million through today. This is just the beginning for both of these, as well as Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” in 3D. Scorsese must be at the jaw drop stage. “Hugo” will finish the weekend with a total of $25 million. It’s only on 1,800 screens, and is number three at the box office following “Twilight: Everyone Pouts, Part 6” and “The Muppets.”
“The Help” Star Viola Davis on Competing with Meryl Streep and Beating Up Co-Star
Considering how serious “The Help” really is, it’s nice to see the Oscar buzzed actresses from it have a sense of humor. At a lunch/screening on Friday for the terrific Disney film, I asked stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer how they dealt with co-star Bryce Dallas Howard off camera. After all, Howard plays a nasty, racist socialite who causes a lot of misery for the local maids. “We just took Bryce out back and gave her a beating,” laughed Davis. She and Spencer held forth at the lunch, at Desmond’s on East 60th St., with a room full of admirers.
“Bryce is like the sweetest person. When we met her, I thought, how’s that going to work?” Davis said. “Then the cameras rolled and she went right into the character.” Spencer talked me about her relationship with co-star Jessica Chastain. “We’ve become great friends. I’m having dinner with her in LA right before Christmas. That’s the way it was from the beginning.” Davis is a cinch for a Best Actress nod, while Spencer and Howard should be locks in Best Supporting Actress. (Chastain will be covered in that category for “The Tree of Life.”)
Meanwhile, Davis told me to send a message to “Iron Lady” star Meryl Streep, with whom she will likely be in the Best Actress race. “You tell Meryl Streep it’s not about competition,” she said, with great gravity. Remember, the two had quite an on screen showdown in “Doubt.”
“I mean, she’s Meryl Streep. She is amazing. I’m in awe of her.”
Got that, Meryl?
As for Octavia Spencer, her next film is Diablo Cody‘s directing debut. Like the upcoming “Young Adult,” which Cody also wrote, “it’s not a lot of laughs,” says Spencer. “But we’ll try and get a few in.”
Michael Jackson’s Father Will Release Self-Immortalizing Documentary
Michael Jackson’s charming father, Joe Jackson, won’t stop ’til he gets enough. He’s just announced that he’s released a documentary about himself, come February. “Confessions of a Father: The Words of Joe Jackson” will likely not detail all of Joe Jackson’s business mistakes, his abuse of his children, or the story of his illegitimate daughter. According to the press release, “Confessions” “will offer a fascinating and chilling look at one of the most controversial fathers in show business history.
“Told from Joe Jackson’s unique perspective, the film will cover the Jackson family history from the formation of the Jackson 5 through Michael’s tragic death and the subsequent trial and sentencing of his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. Principal photography is almost completed and GPA is currently meeting with distributors. The film’s release is planned for 2012, as is the publication of “The Architect,” Joe Jackson’s autobiography from Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster.”
The press release all says Joe will “break his silence.” Has he ever actually been silent?
Yes, that’s right: he’s also “written” a “book.’ It’s unclear if that offering is simply a translation from the German book Jackson “published” a few years ago. Frankly, they’d be better off leaving it in the German.
All of this is told from Joe’s “unique perspective.”
The documentary, they say, is produced by “award winner” (his words) George Paige, who has mostly credits for re-releasing Jerry Lewis videos. The “director” is someone named Johnny West.
George Clooney Gets Third Best Actor Nod in Five Years from NBR
The National Board of Review (er, fans) announced its awards just now–who cares? They named Martin Scorsese Best Director for “Hugo” and the film got Best Film. gave George Clooney Best Actor for “The Descendants,” which also got Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.
The NBR loves George Clooney more than their own little lunches, and will give him something if he’s breathing. This is his third Best Actor nod from them in the last five years. So be it! They also named “The Ides of March” one of their ten Best Pictures. They gave Stacey Keibler an award for Best Girlfriend of a Star, too. (Just kidding.)
Tilda Swinton is their off beat choice for Best Actress. Christopher Plummer is Best Supporting Actor for “Beginners.” The “Harry Potter” series got a special award because the NBR loves Warner Bros. Similarly, Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” made their top ten list.
Between Paramount (Hugo, Rango) and Fox Searchlight (Descendants, Shame), the NBR must have calculated which studio would pony up for the most tables. And they were precluded from giving awards to “The Artist,” Meryl Streep or Brad Pitt because the New York Film Critics beat them to it. Ha ha.
Listen, I really like Tilda Swinton. But if the NBR had wanted to do something different and meaningful, they would have given Best Actress to Viola Davis for “The Help.” But you know, they’re the group that snubbed “Precious.” So “The Help” gets Best Ensemble, which includes everyone and guarantees Disney will buy a table.
Best Film: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Best Ensemble: The Help
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book
to Film
Top Films
(in alphabetical order)
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March
J. Edgar
Tree of Life
War Horse
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank
Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)
Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna
Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win
NYTimes, MovieLine, Facebook Join Our “Uggie” Campaign
Good news! The New York Times’s Carpetbagger and MovieLine have jumped on board with our “Uggie” campaign. I wrote on November 23rd that Uggie, the 8 year old Jack Russell terrier from “The Artist” deserved a Best Supporting Actor nomination–that he could even win! Here’s that link: http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/11/23/best-supporting-actor-hemingway-borat-a-dog-and-albert-brooks-are-circling
And guess what? There’s even a Facebook page for Uggie’s campaign called Consider Uggie, sprouting up in the last couple of days. I guess we relate to Uggie because we know it’s a dog eat dog world out there. But if he’s dogged in this pursuit, who knows? And Johnny Depp could be nominated for a Golden Globe in “The Tourist,” the possibilities are endless for Uggie!
Elaine Kaufman Gets an A List Memorial
I was AWOL yesterday for most of the day, producing a memorial celebration for our late friend Elaine Kaufman with veteran TV producer Fred Rappoport. And what an afternoon! The erudite long time Elaine’s patron Dick Cavett handled hosting duties, and Elaine Stritch, Liz Smith, Gay Talese, Sports Illustrated’s Terry McDonell, and James Lipton were among the illustrious speakers. Their backdrop at Merkin Concert Hall was an incredible reproduction of the Elaine’s bar that was conceived and constructed by Fred Gallo of PRG Productions–he does all the big Broadway shows. Michele Lee and Lucie Arnaz each sang, with Ron Abel and his band backing them up.
The show went on for a pretty fast moving three hours–Stritch, coming in at the end, joked that she might have to take an insulin shot on stage. But Stritch also pretty much stole the show with her stories about bartending at Elaine’s early in her career–and serving one man 37 drinks in one night! There were great stories from restaurateur Joe Allen, as well as mystery writer Carol Higgins Clark, famed NY rock deejay Carol Miller, Bill Bratton and Rikki Klieman, New York Yankess president Randy Levine, New York Times metro editor Pete Khoury, and Father Pete Colapietro. Long time head waiter Gianni Adamo and bartender Alex Gregg got standing ovations. There was a touching photo slide show at the end from Jessica Burstein, set to a medley of Ella Fitzgerald singing “‘S Wonderful” and Kenny G playing “Auld Lang Syne.” It was very sweet.
Later, at the after party in PJ Clarke’s downstairs private room at Lincoln Center, Josh Gaspero and Jenine Izzi, two faithfuls, announced the formation of the Elaine Kaufman Foundation for young writers. And what a fun party–Michele, Lucie, “The Sopranos” star Dominic Chianese, and Father Pete serenaded the crowd with a Capella renderings of their favorite songs– Michele sang in Yiddish, Lucie in Hawaiian, and Dominic in Italian. Elaine would have loved it, and of course, demanded that everyone order dinner!
Grammy Awards: Like Adele, Don’t Like Lady Gaga
Well, the Grammy nominations are out. Someone does not like Lady Gaga, that’s for sure. She didn’t get Record or Song of the Year nominations for anything. She did get an Album of the Year nod for “Born this Way” and a Best Pop Vocal for “You and I.” But Adele got all of it–Album of the Year, Song and Record of the Year for “Rolling in the Deep,” and the vocal, too, for “Someone Like You.” But Gaga really missed out on the Song and Record. The rest of the nominees are quite awful, the usual miserable disposable pop. Tony Bennett was sent to the ghetto of Traditional Pop with Barbra Streisand. Paul Simon‘s excellent “So Beautiful, or So What” and Elton John and Leon Russell’s “The Union” were totally snubbed. Mostly, they’ve abandoned anything adult, or considered art, in favor of TV ratings.
1. Record Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep
Adele
Paul Epworth, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Mark Rankin, engineers/mixers
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Holocene
Bon Iver
Justin Vernon, producer; Brian Joseph & Justin Vernon, engineers/mixers
Track from: Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]
Grenade
Bruno Mars
The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra]
The Cave
Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Francois Chevallier & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Firework
Katy Perry
Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Sandy Vee, producers; Mikkel S. Eriksen, Phil Tan, Sandy Vee & Miles Walker, engineers/mixers
[Capitol]
2. Album Of The Year
21
Adele
Jim Abbiss, Adele, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Fraser T. Smith, Ryan Tedder & Dan Wilson, producers; Jim Abbiss, Philip Allen, Beatriz Artola, Ian Dowling, Tom Elmhirst, Greg Fidelman, Dan Parry, Steve Price, Mark Rankin, Andrew Scheps, Fraser T. Smith & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Wasting Light
Foo Fighters
Butch Vig, producer; James Brown & Alan Moulder, engineers/mixers; Joe LaPorta & Emily Lazar, mastering engineers
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Born This Way
Lady Gaga
Paul Blair, DJ Snake, Fernando Garibay, Lady Gaga, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, Jeppe Laursen, RedOne & Clinton Sparks, producers; Fernando Garibay, Bill Malina, Trevor Muzzy, RedOne, Dave Russell, Justin Shirley Smith, Horace Ward & Tom Ware, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Bruno Mars
B.o.B, Cee Lo Green & Damian Marley, featured artists; Dwayne “Supa Dups” Chin-Quee, Needlz & The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineer
[Elektra]
Loud
Rihanna
Drake, Eminem & Nicki Minaj, featured artists; Ester Dean, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Alex Da Kid, Kuk Harrell, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mel & Mus, Awesome Jones, Makeba Riddick, The Runners, Sham, Soundz, Chris “Tricky” Stewart, Sandy Vee & Willy Will, producers; Ariel Chobaz, Cary Clark, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Alex Da Kid, Josh Gudwin, Kuk Harrell, Jaycen Joshua, Manny Marroquin, Dana Nielsen, Chad “C-Note” Roper, Noah “40” Shebib, Corey Shoemaker, Jay Stevenson, Mike Strange, Phil Tan, Brian “B-Luv” Thomas, Marcos Tovar, Sandy Vee, Jeff “Supa Jeff” Villanueva, Miles Walker & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]
Back to top
3. Song Of The Year
All Of The Lights
Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A-Fella; Publishers: Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]
The Cave
Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Grenade
Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra; Publishers: Mars Force Music/Bughouse, Music Famamanem/Toy Plane Music/Art For Arts Sake/Late 80s Music/Westside Ind. Music/Studiobeat Music, Warner Tamerlane, Andrew Wyatt, Downtown DMP Songs]
Holocene
Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
Track from: Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar; Publisher: April Base Publishing]
Rolling In The Deep
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records; Publishers: Universal-Songs of Polygram/EMI Music Publishing]
4. Best New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Back to top
5. Best Pop Solo Performance
Someone Like You
Adele
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Yoü And I
Lady Gaga
Track from: Born This Way
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Grenade
Bruno Mars
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra]
Firework
Katy Perry
[Capitol]
F***in’ Perfect
Pink
[Jive Records]
Back to top
6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Body And Soul
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Track from: Duets II
[Columbia Records]
Dearest
The Black Keys
Track from: Rave On Buddy Holly
[Fantasy]
Paradise
Coldplay
[Capitol Records]
Pumped Up Kicks
Foster The People
Track from: Torches
[Star Time Intl./Columbia]
Moves Like Jagger
Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
Track from: Hands All Over
[A&M/Octone Records]
Back to top
7. Best Pop Instrumental Album
Wish Upon A Star
Jenny Oaks Baker
[Shadow Mountain Records]
E Kahe Malie
Daniel Ho
[Daniel Ho Creations]
The Road From Memphis
Booker T. Jones
[Anti Records]
Hello Tomorrow
Dave Koz
[Concord Records]
Setzer Goes Instru-Mental!
Brian Setzer
[Surfdog Records]
Back to top
8. Best Pop Vocal Album
21
Adele
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
The Lady Killer
Cee Lo Green
[Radiculture/Elektra]
Born This Way
Lady Gaga
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Bruno Mars
[Elektra]
Loud
Rihanna
[Def Jam]
Back to top
9. Best Dance Recording
Raise Your Weapon
Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
Joel Zimmerman, producer
Track from: 4×4=12
[Ultra Records]
Barbra Streisand
Duck Sauce
Duck Sauce, producers; Duck Sauce, mixers
[Downtown Records]
Sunshine
David Guetta & Avicii
Avicii, David Guetta & Giorgio Tuinfort, producers; Avicii, mixer
Track from: Nothing But The Beat
[Virgin]
Call Your Girlfriend
Robyn
Klas Åhlund & Billboard, producers; Niklas Flyckt, mixer
Track from: Body Talk Pt. 3
[Interscope Records]
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
Skrillex
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
Save The World
Swedish House Mafia
Steve Angello, Axel Hedfors & Sebastian Ingrosso, producers; Steve Angello, Axel Hedfors & Sebastian Ingrosso, mixers
[Astralwerks]
Back to top
10. Best Dance/Electronica Album
Zonoscope
Cut/Copy
[Modular Recordings]
4×4=12
Deadmau5
[Ultra Records]
Nothing But The Beat
David Guetta
[Virgin Records]
Body Talk, Pt. 3
Robyn
[Interscope Records]
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
Skrillex
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
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11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Duets II
Tony Bennett & Various Artists
[Columbia Records]
The Gift
Susan Boyle
[Syco Music/Columbia Records]
In Concert On Broadway
Harry Connick Jr.
[Columbia Records]
Music Is Better Than Words
Seth MacFarlane
[Universal Republic]
What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan And Marilyn Bergman
Barbra Streisand
[Columbia Records]
Back to top
12. Best Rock Performance
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
Coldplay
[Capitol Records/ EMI/ Parlophone]
Down By The Water
The Decemberists
Track from: The King Is Dead
[Capitol]
Walk
Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
The Cave
Mumford & Sons
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Lotus Flower
Radiohead
Track from: The King Of Limbs
[XL/ TBD Recordings]
Back to top
13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
On The Backs Of Angels
Dream Theater
[Roadrunner Records]
White Limo
Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Curl Of The Burl
Mastodon
[Reprise Records]
Public Enemy No. 1
Megadeth
[Roadrunner Records]
Blood In My Eyes
Sum 41
Track from: Screaming Bloody Murder
[Island]
Back to top
14. Best Rock Song
The Cave
Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Down By The Water
Colin Meloy, songwriter (The Decemberists)
Track from: The King Is Dead
[Capitol; Publisher: Osterozhna Music]
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
[Capitol Records/ EMI/ Parlophone; Publishers: Edition Pink Music/Hanseatic Musikverklag, Opal Music/Upala Music, Universal Music Publishing, Woulnough Music/Irving Music]
Lotus Flower
Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway & Thom Yorke, songwriters (Radiohead)
Track from: The King Of Limbs
[XL/ TBD Recordings; Publisher: Ticker Tape Ltd.]
Walk
Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records; Publishers: M.J.-Twelve Music, I Love The Punk Rock Music, Living Under A Rock Music, Flying Earform Music, Ruthensmear Music]
Back to top
15. Best Rock Album
Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
Jeff Beck
[ATCO]
Wasting Light
Foo Fighters
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Come Around Sundown
Kings Of Leon
[RCA Records]
I’m With You
Red Hot Chili Peppers
[WB]
The Whole Love
Wilco
[dBpm Records/ Anti Records]
Back to top
16. Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver
Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]
Codes And Keys
Death Cab For Cutie
[Atlantic/ Barsuk]
Torches
Foster The People
[Star Time Intl./ Columbia]
Circuital
My Morning Jacket
[ATO Records]
The King Of Limbs
Radiohead
[XL/ TBD Records]
Back to top
17. Best R&B Performance
Far Away
Marsha Ambrosius
Track from: Late Nights & Early Mornings
[J Records]
Pieces Of Me
Ledisi
Track from: Pieces Of Me
[Verve Forecast]
Not My Daddy
Kelly Price & Stokley
Track from: Kelly
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco]
Is This Love
Corinne Bailey Rae
Track from: The Love EP
[Capitol]
You Are
Charlie Wilson
Track from: Just Charlie
[Jive Records]
Back to top
18. Best Traditional R&B Performance
Sometimes I Cry
Eric Benét
[Reprise]
Fool For You
Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
[Radiculture/Elektra]
Radio Message
R. Kelly
Track from: Love Letter
[Jive Records]
Good Man
Raphael Saadiq
Track from: Stone Rollin’
[Columbia Records]
Surrender
Betty Wright & The Roots
Track from: Betty Wright: The Movie
[Ms B Records & S-Curve Records]
Back to top
19. Best R&B Song
Far Away
Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms & Justin Smith, songwriters (Marsha Ambrosius)
Track from: Late Nights & Early Mornings
[J Records; Publishers: Marshmellow Music/SPZ Music/Downtown DMP Songs, N.Q.C. Music/F.O.B. Music, YS Publishing, Stone Agate Music]
Fool For You
Cee Lo Green & Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
[Radiculture/Elektra; Publishers: Jacks Love Emporium/Radiculture Publishing/EMI Blackwood Music, Chrysalis Music/God Given Music]
Not My Daddy
Kelly Price, songwriter (Kelly Price & Stokley)
Track from: Kelly
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco; Publishers: For The Write Price/Roynet]
Pieces Of Me
Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly & Ledisi Young, songwriters (Ledisi)
Track from: Pieces Of Me
[Verve Forecast]
You Are
Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days, Jr., Wirlie Morris, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
Track from: Just Charlie
[Jive Records; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music, Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing, P Ty Music, Escribir Publishing, Mammas Pebbly Publishing]
Back to top
20. Best R&B Album
F.A.M.E.
Chris Brown
[Jive Records]
Second Chance
El DeBarge
[Geffen]
Love Letter
R. Kelly
[Jive Records]
Pieces Of Me
Ledisi
[Verve Forecast]
Kelly
Kelly Price
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco]
Back to top
21. Best Rap Performance
Look At Me Now
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Track from: F.A.M.E.
[Jive Records]
Otis
Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam]
The Show Goes On
Lupe Fiasco
Track from: Lasers
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]
Moment 4 Life
Nicki Minaj & Drake
Track from: Pink Friday
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]
Black And Yellow
Wiz Khalifa
Track from: Rolling Papers
[Rostrum/Atlantic]
Back to top
22. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Party
Beyoncé & André 3000
Track from: 4
[Columbia Records]
I’m On One
DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
Track from: We The Best Forever
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]
I Need A Doctor
Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
[Aftermath]
What’s My Name?
Rihanna & Drake
Track from: Loud
[Def Jam]
Motivation
Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
Track from: Here I am
[Universal Motown]
All Of The Lights
Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Def Jam]
Back to top
23. Best Rap Song
All Of The Lights
Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A Fella; Publishers: Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]
Black And Yellow
Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa)
Track from: Rolling Papers
[Rostrum/Atlantic; Publishers: PGH Sound/WB Music/EMI Music]
I Need A Doctor
Andre Young, Marshall Mathers III, Alexander Grant & Skylar Grey, songwriters (Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey)
[Aftermath]
Look At Me Now
Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Trevor Smith, Dwayne Carter, Jr. & Wesley Pentz, songwriters (Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)
Track from: F.A.M.E.
[Jive Records; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Culture Beyond Ur Experience, I Like Turtles Music/Downtown Music, Cherry315 Publishing/The Bad Bad Guys, Meloist Music, Mack Music/Young Money Publishing/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, T’Ziah’s Music]
Otis
Shawn Carter & Kanye West, songwriters (James Brown, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Roy Hammond, J. Roach, Kirk Robinson & Harry Woods, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam; Publishers: Hip Hop Since 1978, EMI Robbins, BMG Gold/Hot Buttermilk Music/BMG Platinum/First Priority/Swing Beat Songs, Universal Music, Dynatone Publishing]
The Show Goes On
Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane & Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, songwriters (Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci & Eric Judy, songwriters) (Lupe Fiasco)
Track from: Lasers
[1st & 15th/Atlantic; Publishers: Hey Lu Chill, Heavy As Heaven/Universal/Artist Pub. Group West, Dustin William Brown Pub. Designee, Jonathan K. Brown Pub. Designee, Sony/ATV, Best Dressed Chicken In Town, Tschudi Music, Ugly Casanova]
Back to top
24. Best Rap Album
Watch The Throne
Jay-Z & Kanye West
[Def Jam]
Tha Carter IV
Lil Wayne
[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Republic]
Lasers
Lupe Fiasco
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]
Pink Friday
Nicki Minaj
[Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown]
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
[Def Jam]
Back to top
25. Best Country Solo Performance
Dirt Road Anthem
Jason Aldean
[Broken Bow Records]
I’m Gonna Love You Through It
Martina McBride
[Republic Nashville]
Honey Bee
Blake Shelton
Track from: Red River Blue
[Warner Bros. Records]
Mean
Taylor Swift
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records]
Mama’s Song
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Play On
[Arista Nahville]
Back to top
26. Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Don’t You Wanna Stay
Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
[Broken Bow Records]
You And Tequila
Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
[BNA Records]
Barton Hollow
The Civil Wars
Track from: Barton Hollow
[Sensibility Music LLC]
Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not
Thompson Square
Track from: Thompson Square
[Stoney Creek Records]
Back to top
27. Best Country Song
Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not
Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
Track from: Thompson Square
[Stoney Creek Records; Publishers: Sexy Tractor Music/Hope-N-Cal Music, Old Desperados/N2D Publishing]
God Gave Me You
Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
[Warner Bros.; Publisher: No Gang Music]
Just Fishin’
Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
[Show Dog-Universal Music; Publishers: Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music/Six Ring Circus Songs; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Five Hills Music]
Mean
Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music]
Threaten Me With Heaven
Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O’Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
[MCA Nashville]
You And Tequila
Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter)
[BNA Records]
Back to top
28. Best Country Album
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
[Broken Bow Records]
Chief
Eric Church
[EMI Records Nashville]
Own The Night
Lady Antebellum
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Red River Blue
Blake Shelton
[Warner Bros. Records]
Here For A Good Time
George Strait
[MCA Nashville]
Speak Now
Taylor Swift
[Big Machine Records]
Back to top
29. Best New Age Album
Northern Seas
Al Conti
[Shadowside Music]
Gaia
Michael Brant DeMaria
[Ontos Music]
Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame
Peter Kater
[Point Of Light Records]
What’s It All About
Pat Metheny
[Nonesuch]
Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6
Zamora
[Z-Records]
Back to top
30. Best Improvised Jazz Solo
All Or Nothing At All
Randy Brecker, soloist
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
[Half Note]
You Are My Sunshine
Ron Carter, soloist
Track from: This Is Jazz (Donald Harrison, Ron Carter & Billy Cobham)
[Half Note]
500 Miles High
Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Forever (Corea, Clarke & White)
[Concord Records]
Work
Fred Hersch, soloist
Track from: Alone At The Vanguard
[Palmetto Records]
Sonnymoon For Two
Sonny Rollins, soloist
Track from: Road Shows Vol. 2
[Doxy/Emarcy/Decca]
Back to top
31. Best Jazz Vocal Album
‘Round Midnight
Karrin Allyson
[Concord Jazz]
The Mosaic Project
Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
[Concord Jazz]
The Gate
Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]
American Road
Tierney Sutton (Band)
[BFM Jazz]
The Music Of Randy Newman
Roseanna Vitro
[Motéma Music]
Back to top
32. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Bond: The Paris Sessions
Gerald Clayton
[Emarcy/Decca]
Forever
Corea, Clarke & White
[Concord Records]
Alone At The Vanguard
Fred Hersch
[Palmetto Records]
Bird Songs
Joe Lovano/Us Five
[Blue Note]
Road Shows Vol. 2
Sonny Rollins
[Doxy/Emarcy/Decca]
Timeline
Yellowjackets
[Mack Avenue Records]
Back to top
33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
The Jazz Ballad Song Book
Randy Brecker With DR Big Band
[Half Note]
The Good Feeling
Christian McBride Big Band
[Mack Avenue Records]
40 Acres And A Burro
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
[Zoho]
Legacy
Gerald Wilson Orchestra
[Mack Avenue Records]
Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook
Miguel Zenón
[Marsalis Music]
Back to top
34. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Do Everything
Steven Curtis Chapman
Track from: re:Creation
[Sparrow Records]
Alive (Mary Magdalene)
Natalie Grant
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story
[WOW Joint Venture/EMI CMG]
Your Love
Brandon Heath
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records]
Jesus
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]
I Lift My Hands
Chris Tomlin
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]
Back to top
35. Best Gospel Song
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]
Sitting With Me
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters (Mary Mary)
Track from: Something Big
[Columbia Records; Publishers: Precious Baby Music/T Bella Music/EMI April Music, It’s Tea Tyme, That’s Plum Song]
Spiritual
Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publisher: Quiet Water Entertainment]
Trust Me
Richard Smallwood, songwriter (Richard Smallwood & Vision)
Track from: Promises
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal-Z Tunes/T.Autumn Music]
Window
Canton Jones, songwriter (Canton Jones)
Track from: Dominionaire
[Cajo Records; Publisher: CAJO Music]
Back to top
36. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Blessings
Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]
Hold Me
Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Jamie Grace Featuring Tobymac)
[Gotee Records; Publishers: Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Tunes, Songs of Third Base/Chriscendo Music, Meaux Mercy/Achtober Songs]
I Lift My Hands
Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publishing]
Strong Enough
Matthew West, songwriter (Matthew West)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life
[Sparrow Records; Publishers: External Combustion Music/Songs For Delaney/Songs of Southside Independent Music]
Your Love
Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters (Brandon Heath)
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Big Skwawka Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Hill Music]
Back to top
37. Best Gospel Album
The Love Album
Kim Burrell
[Shanachie Entertainment]
The Journey
Andraé Crouch
[Riverphlo Entertainment]
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]
Something Big
Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]
Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Music World Gospel]
Back to top
38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Ghosts Upon The Earth
Gungor
[Brash Music]
Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath
[Reunion Records]
The Great Awakening
Leeland
[Essential Records]
What If We Were Real
Mandisa
[Sparrow Records]
Black & White
Royal Tailor
[Essential Records]
And If Our God Is For Us…
Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]
Back to top
39. Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
Entren Los Que Quieran
Calle 13
[Sony Music]
Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar
Gustavo Galindo
[Surco/Universal Music Latino]
Nuestra
La Vida Bohème
[Nacional Records]
Not So Commercial
Los Amigos Invisibles
[Nacional Records]
Drama Y Luz
Maná
[Warner Music Mexico]
Back to top
40. Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
Bicentenario
Pepe Aguilar
[Venemusic]
Orale
Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
[Shea Records/East Side Records]
Amor A La Musica
Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle
[Los Arrieros]
Eres Un Farsante
Paquita La Del Barrio
[Balboa Records, Co]
Huevos Rancheros
Joan Sebastian
[Fonovisa]
Back to top
41. Best Banda Or Norteño Album
Estare Mejor
El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario
[A.R.C. Discos]
Intocable 2011
Intocable
[Good I Music]
Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends
Los Tigres Del Norte
[Fonovisa]
El Árbol
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
[Fonovisa]
No Vengo A Ver Si Puedo… Si Por Que Puedo Vengo
Michael Salgado
[Zurdo Records]
Back to top
42. Best Tropical Latin Album
Homenaje A Los Rumberos
Edwin Bonilla
[Sonic Projects Records]
The Last Mambo
Cachao
[Eventus/Sony Music Latin]
Mongorama
José Rizo’s Mongorama
[Saungu Records]
Back to top
43. Best Americana Album
Emotional Jukebox
Linda Chorney
[Dance More Less War Records]
Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
Ry Cooder
[Perro Verde Records LLC/Nonesuch]
Hard Bargain
Emmylou Harris
[Nonesuch]
Ramble At The Ryman
Levon Helm
[Vanguard/Dirt Farmer Music]
Blessed
Lucinda Williams
[Lost Highway Records]
Back to top
44. Best Bluegrass Album
Paper Airplane
Alison Krauss & Union Station
[Rounder]
Reason And Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs By Robert Hunter & Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale
[Sugar Hill Records]
Rare Bird Alert
Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
[Rounder]
Old Memories: The Songs Of Bill Monroe
The Del McCoury Band
[McCoury Music]
A Mother’s Prayer
Ralph Stanley
[Rebel Records]
Sleep With One Eye Open
Chris Thile & Michael Daves
[Nonesuch]
Back to top
45. Best Blues Album
Low Country Blues
Gregg Allman
[Rounder]
Roadside Attractions
Marcia Ball
[Alligator]
Man In Motion
Warren Haynes
[Stax Records]
The Reflection
Keb Mo
[Yolabelle International/Ryko Records]
Revelator
Tedeschi Trucks Band
[Masterworks]
Back to top
46. Best Folk Album
Barton Hollow
The Civil Wars
[Sensibility Music LLC]
I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
Steve Earle
[New West Records]
Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes
[Sub Pop]
Ukulele Songs
Eddie Vedder
[Monkeywrench Inc./Universal Republic]
The Harrow & The Harvest
Gillian Welch
[Acony Records]
Back to top
47. Best Regional Roots Music Album
Can’t Sit Down
C.J. Chenier
[World Village]
Wao Akua – The Forest Of The Gods
George Kahumoku, Jr.
[Daniel Ho Creations]
Rebirth Of New Orleans
Rebirth Brass Band
[Basin Street Records]
Grand Isle
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
[Mamou Playboy Records]
Not Just Another Polka
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchesta
[Starr Record]
Back to top
48. Best Reggae Album
Harlem-Kingston Express Live!
Monty Alexander
[Motéma Music]
Reggae Knights
Israel Vibration
[Mediacom/VPAL]
Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life
Stephen Marley
[Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]
Wild And Free
Ziggy Marley
[Tuff Gong Worldwide]
Summer In Kingston
Shaggy
[Ranch Entertainment]
Back to top
49. Best World Music Album
AfroCubism
AfroCubism
[World Circuit/Nonesuch]
Africa For Africa
Femi Kuti
[Knitting Factory Records]
Songs From A Zulu Farm
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
[Razor & Tie]
Tassili
Tinariwen
[Anti Records]
Back to top
50. Best Children’s Album
All About Bullies… Big And Small
(Various Artists)
James Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
[Cool Beans Music & East Coast Recording Co.]
Are We There Yet?
The Papa Hugs Band
[Indie]
Fitness Rock & Roll
Miss Amy
[Ionian Productions, Inc]
GulfAlive
The Banana Plant
[The Banana Plant]
I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs Of Fox Hollow
(Various Artists)
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, producers
[Red Beet Records]
Back to top
51. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
Bossypants
Tina Fey
[Hachette Audio]
Fab Fan Memories – The Beatles Bond
(Various Artists)
Nathan Burbank, Bryan Cumming, Dennis Scott & David Toledo, producers
[WannaBeats Records]
Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
Dan Donohue & Various Artists – Oregon Shakespeare Festival
[Blackstone Audio Inc]
If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t)
Betty White
[Penguin Audio]
The Mark Of Zorro
Val Kilmer & Cast
[Blackstone Audio Inc.]
Back to top
52. Best Comedy Album
Alpocalypse
“Weird Al” Yankovic
[Jive Records]
Finest Hour
Patton Oswalt
[Comedy Central Records]
Hilarious
Louis C.K.
[Comedy Central Records]
Kathy Griffin: 50 & Not Pregnant
Kathy Griffin
[Universal Network Television]
Turtleneck & Chain
The Lonely Island
[Universal Republic]
Back to top
53. Best Musical Theater Album
Anything Goes
Sutton Foster & Joel Grey, principal soloists; Rob Fisher, James Lowe & Joel
Moss, producers (Cole Porter, composer/lyricist) (New Broadway Cast Recording)
[Ghostlight Records]
The Book Of Mormon
Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, principal soloists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez,
Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
[Ghostlight Records]
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
John Larroquette & Daniel Radcliffe, principal soloists; Robert Sher, producer
(Frank Loesser, composer/lyricist) (The 2011 Broadway Cast Recording)
[Decca]
Back to top
54. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1
(Various Artists)
[Elektra]
Burlesque
Christina Aguilera
[RCA Records]
Glee: The Music, Volume 4
(Glee Cast)
[Columbia Records]
Tangled
(Various Artists)
[Walt Disney Records]
True Blood: Volume 3
(Various Artists)
[WaterTower Music]
Back to top
55. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Black Swan
Clint Mansell, composer
[Sony Classical/Fox Music]
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Alexandre Desplat, composer
[WaterTower Music]
The King’s Speech
Alexandre Desplat, composer
[Decca]
The Shrine
Ryan Shore, composer
[Screamworks]
Tron Legacy
Daft Punk, composers
[Walt Disney Records]
Back to top
56. Best Song Written For Visual Media
Born To Be Somebody (From Never Say Never)
Diane Warren, songwriter (Justin Bieber)
Track from: Never Say Never The Remixes
[Island/Raymond Braun/School Boy]
Christmastime Is Killing Us (From Family Guy)
Ron Jones, Seth MacFarlane & Danny Smith, songwriters (Danny Smith, Ron Jones & Seth MacFarlane)
[Fox Music]
I See The Light (From Tangled)
Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
Track from: Tangled
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Wonderland Music/Walt Disney Music]
So Long (From Winnie The Pooh)
Zooey Deschanel, songwriter (Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward)
Track from: Winnie The Pooh
[Walt Disney Records; Publisher: Walt Disney Music]
Where The River Goes (From Footloose)
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Drew Pearson & Anne Preven, songwriters (Zac Brown)
Track from: Footloose
[Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville; Publishers: Weimerhound Publishing,Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, CYP Two Publishing, Lil Dub Music/Angelika Music]
You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me (From Burlesque)
Diane Warren, songwriter (Cher)
Track from: Burlesque
[RCA Records; Publisher: Realsongs]
Back to top
57. Best Instrumental Composition
Falling Men
John Hollenbeck, composer (John Hollenbeck, Daniel Yvinec & Orchestre National de Jazz (ONJ))
Track from: Shut Up And Dance
[BEE JAZZ / Abeille Musique]
Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)
Gordon Goodwin, composer (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: That’s How We Roll
[Telarc International]
I Talk To The Trees
Randy Brecker, composer (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book
[Half Note]
Life In Eleven
Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones)
Track from: Rocket Science
[eOne Music]
Timeline
Russell Ferrante, composer (Yellowjackets)
Track from: Timeline
[Mack Avenue Records]
Back to top
58. Best Instrumental Arrangement
All Or Nothing At All
Peter Jensen, arranger (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book
[Half Note]
In The Beginning
Clare Fischer, arranger (The Clare Fischer Big Band)
Track from: Continuum
[Clare Fischer Productions/Clavo Records]
Nasty Dance
Bob Brookmeyer, arranger (The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra)
Track from: Forever Lasting – Live In Tokyo
[Planet Arts Recordings]
Rhapsody In Blue
Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: That’s How We Roll
[Telarc International]
Song Without Words
Carlos Franzetti, arranger (Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti)
Track from: Alborada
[Amapola Records]
Back to top
59. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Ao Mar
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza)
Track from: Nights On Earth
[HORIZONTAL]
Moon Over Bourbon Street
Rob Mathes, arranger (Sting & The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra)
Track from: Sting Live In Berlin
[Deutsche Grammophon]
On Broadway
Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, Christian Jacob & Tierney Sutton, arrangers (The Tierney Sutton Band)
Track from: American Road
[BFM Jazz]
Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)
Track from: Duets II
[RPM/Columbia Records]
The Windmills Of Your Mind
William A. Ross, arranger (Barbra Streisand)
Track from: What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan And Marilyn Bergman
[Columbia Records]
Back to top
60. Best Recording Package
Chickenfoot III
Todd Gallopo, art director (Chickenfoot)
[eOne Music]
Good Luck & True Love
Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)
[No Big Deal Records]
Rivers And Homes
Jonathan Dagan, art director (J.Viewz)
[Jorjia Music]
Scenes From The Suburbs
Vincent Morisset, art director (Arcade Fire)
[Merge Records]
Watch The Throne
Virgil Abloh, art director (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
[Def Jam]
Back to top
61. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
The King Of Limbs
Donald Twain & Zachariah Wildwood, art directors (Radiohead)
[ATO Records]
The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story
Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)
[Columbia Records]
25th Anniversary Music Box
Matt Taylor & Ellen Wakayama, art directors (Danny Elfman & Tim Burton)
[WB]
25 Years
James Spindler, art director (Sting)
[A&M Records/Cherrytree Records/UMe]
Wingless Angels – Deluxe Edition
David Gorman, art director (Wingless Angels)
[Mindless Records, LLC]
Back to top
62. Best Album Notes
The Bang Years 1966-1968
Neil Diamond, album notes writer (Neil Diamond)
[Columbia/Legacy]
The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang Of Country Music
Ted Olson & Tony Russell, album notes writers (Various Artists)
[Bear Family]
Complete Mythology
Ken Shipley, album notes writer (Syl Johnson)
[The Numero Group]
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s
Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Arhoolie Records]
The Music City Story: Street Corner Doo Wop, Raw R&B And Soulful Sounds From Berkeley, California 1950-75
Alec Palao, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Ace Records]
Back to top
63. Best Historical Album
Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition)
Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
[Hear Music]
The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang Of Country Music
Christopher C. King & Ted Olson, compilation producers; Christopher C. King & Chris Zwarg, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
[Bear Family]
Complete Mythology
Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton, mastering engineer (Syl Johnson)
[The Numero Group]
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s
Chris Strachwitz, compilation producer; Mike Cogan, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
[Arhoolie Records]
Young Man With The Big Beat: The Complete ’56 Elvis Presley Masters
Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, compilation producer; Vic Anesini, mastering engineer (Elvis Presley)
[RCA/Legacy]
Back to top
64. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Follow Me Down
Brandon Bell & Gary Paczosa, engineers; Sangwook “Sunny” Nam & Doug Sax, mastering engineers (Sarah Jarosz)
[Sugar Hill Records]
The Harrow & The Harvest
Matt Andrews, engineer; Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineer (Gillian Welch)
[Acony Records]
Music Is Better Than Words
Rich Breen & Frank Filipetti, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Seth MacFarlane)
[Universal Republic]
The Next Right Thing
Kevin Killen, Brendan Muldowney & John Shyloski, engineers; John Shyloski, mastering engineer (Seth Glier)
[MPress Records]
Paper Airplane
Mike Shipley, engineer; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
[Rounder]
Back to top
65. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Danger Mouse
• Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi Present Rome (Gilda Buttá, Luciano Ciccaglioni, Gegé Munari, Dario Rosciglione, Antonello Vannucchi et al) (A)
• Meyrin Fields EP (Broken Bells) (S)
Paul Epworth
• Call It What You Want (Foster The People) (T)
• I Would Do Anything For You (Foster The People) (T) • I’ll Be Waiting (Adele) (T) • Life On The Nickel (Foster The People) (T) • No One’s Gonna Love You (Cee-Lo Green) (S) • Rolling In The Deep (Adele) (T)
The Smeezingtons
• Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Bruno Mars) (A)
• If I Was You (OMG) (Far East Movement Featuring Snoop Dogg) (T) • Lighters (Bad Meets Evil Featuring Bruno Mars) (T) • Mirror (Lil Wayne Featuring Bruno Mars) (T) • Rocketeer (Far East Movement Featuring Ryan Tedder of One Republic) (T)
Ryan Tedder
• Brighter Than The Sun (Colbie Caillat) (T)
• Favorite Song (Colbie Caillat Featuring Common) (T) • I Remember Me (Jennifer Hudson) (T) • I Was Here (Beyoncé) (T) • Not Over You (Gavin DeGraw) (S) • #1Nite (One Night) (Cobra Starship) (S) • Rumour Has It (Adele) (T) • Sweeter (Gavin DeGraw) (T) • Who’s That Boy (Demi Lovato Featuring Dev) (T)
Butch Vig
• Wasting Light (Foo Fighters) (A)
Back to top
66. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Cinema (Skrillex Remix)
Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)
Track from: Electroman
[Ultra Records]
Collide (Afrojack Remix)
Afrojack, remixer (Leona Lewis)
[RCA/Syco Music]
End Of Line (Photek Remix)
Photek, remixer (Daft Punk)
Track from: Tron: Legacy Reconfigured
[Walt Disney Records]
Only Girl (In The World) (Rosabel Club Mix)
Abel Aguilera & Ralphi Rosario, remixers (Rihanna)
[Island Def Jam]
Rope (Deadmau5 Mix)
Deadmau5, remixer (Foo Fighters)
Track from: Wasting Light: Deluxe
[RCA/Roswell Records]
Back to top
67. Best Surround Sound Album
An Evening With Dave Grusin
Frank Filipetti & Eric Schilling, surround mix engineers; Frank Filipetti, surround mastering engineer; Phil Ramone, surround producer (Various Artists)
[Telarc]
Grace For Drowning
Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Paschal Byrne, surround mastering engineer; Steven Wilson, surround producer (Steven Wilson)
[K-Scope]
Kind
Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Kjetil Almenning, Ensemble 96 & Nidaros String Quartet)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)
Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
[USM/UMe/Polydor]
Spohr: String Sextet In C Major, Op. 140 & Nonet In F Major, Op. 31
Andreas Spreer, surround mix engineer; Andreas Spreer, surround mastering engineer; Andreas Spreer, surround producer (Camerata Freden)
[Tacet]
Back to top
68. Best Engineered Album, Classical
Aldridge: Elmer Gantry
Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
[Naxos]
Glazunov: Complete Concertos
Richard King, engineer (José Serebrier, Alexey Serov, Wen-Sinn Yang, Alexander Romanovsky, Rachel Barton Pine, Marc Chisson & Russian National Orchestra)
[Warner Classics]
Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide
Tom Lazarus & Bill Maylone, engineers; Joe Lambert, mastering engineer (Rinde Eckert, Steven Mackey & Eighth Blackbird)
[Cedille Records]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4
Arne Akselberg, engineer (Leif Ove Andsnes, Antonio Pappano & London Symphony Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]
Weinberg: Symphony No. 3 & Suite No. 4 From ‘The Golden Key’
Torbjörn Samuelsson, engineer (Thord Svedlund & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra)
[Chandos]
Back to top
69. Producer Of The Year, Classical
Blanton Alspaugh
• Aldridge: Elmer Gantry (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
• Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (Peter Takács) • Osterfield: Rocky Streams (Paul Osterfield, Todd Waldecker & Various Artists)
Manfred Eicher
• Bach: Concertos & Sinfonias For Oboe; Ich Hatte Viel Bekümmernis (Heinz Holliger, Eric Höbarth & Camerata Bern)
• Hymns & Prayers (Gidon Kremer & Kremerata Baltica) • Manto & Madrigals (Thomas Zehetmair & Ruth Killius) • Songs Of Ascension (Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble, Todd Reynolds Quartet, The M6 & Montclair State University Singers) • Tchaikovsky/Kissine: Piano Trios (Gidon Kremer, Giedre Dirvanauskaite & Khatia Buniatishvili) • A Worcester Ladymass (Trio Mediaeval)
David Frost
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Live (Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass)
• Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide (Rinde Eckert, Steven Mackey & Eighth Blackbird) • Prayers & Alleluias (Kenneth Dake) • Sharon Isbin & Friends – Guitar Passions (Sharon Isbin & Various Artists)
Peter Rutenberg
• Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Patrick Dupré Quigley, James K. Bass, Seraphic Fire & Professional Choral Institute)
• The Vanishing Nordic Chorale (Philip Spray & Musik Ekklesia)
Judith Sherman
• Adams: Son Of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet (John Adams, St. Lawrence String Quartet & International Contemporary Ensemble)
• Capricho Latino (Rachel Barton Pine) • 85th Birthday Celebration (Claude Frank) • Insects & Paper Airplanes – Chamber Music Of Lawrence Dillon (Daedalus Quartet & Benjamin Hochman) • Midnight Frolic – The Broadway Theater Music Of Louis A. Hirsch (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra) • Notable Women – Trios By Today’s Female Composers (Lincoln Trio) • The Soviet Experience, Vol. 1 – String Quartets By Dmitri Shostakovich & His Contemporaries (Pacifica Quartet) • Speak! (Anthony De Mare) • State Of The Art – The American Brass Quintet At 50 (The American Brass Quintet) • Steve Reich: WTC 9/11; Mallet Quartet; Dance Patterns (Kronos Quartet, Steve Reich Musicians & So Percussion) • Winging It – Piano Music Of John Corigliano (Ursula Oppens)
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70. Best Orchestral Performance
Bowen: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Andrew Davis, conductor (BBC Philharmonic)
[Chandos]
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
[Deutsche Grammaphon]
Haydn: Symphonies 104, 88 & 101
Nicholas McGegan, conductor (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra)
[Philharmonia Baroque Productions]
Henze: Symphonies Nos. 3-5
Marek Janowski, conductor (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin)
[Wergo]
Martinu: The 6 Symphonies
Jirí Belohlávek, conductor (BBC Symphony Orchestra)
[Onyx Classics]
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71. Best Opera Recording
Adams: Doctor Atomic
Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[Sony Classical]
Britten: Billy Budd
Mark Elder, conductor; John Mark Ainsley, Phillip Ens, Jacques Imbrailo, Darren Jeffery, Iain Paterson & Matthew Rose; James Whitbourn, producer (London Philharmonic Orchestra; Glyndebourne Chorus)
[Opus Arte]
Rautavaara: Kaivos
Hannu Lintu, conductor; Jaakko Kortekangas, Hannu Niemelä, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano & Mati Turi; Seppo Siirala, producer (Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra; Kaivos Chorus)
[Ondine]
Verdi: La Traviata
Antonio Pappano, conductor; Joseph Calleja, Renée Fleming & Thomas Hampson; James Whitbourn, producer (Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Royal Opera Chorus)
[Opus Arte]
Vivaldi: Ercole Sul Termodonte
Fabio Biondi, conductor; Romina Basso, Patrizia Ciofi, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Vivica Genaux, Philippe Jaroussky, Topi Lehtipuu & Rolando Villazón; Daniel Zalay, producer (Europa Galante; Coro Da Camera Santa Cecilia Di Borgo San Lorenzo)
[Virgin Classics]
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72. Best Choral Performance
Beyond All Mortal Dreams – American A Cappella
Stephen Layton, conductor (Choir Of Trinity College Cambridge)
[Hyperion Records]
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45
Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor; James K. Bass, chorus master (Justin Blackwell, Scott Allen Jarrett, Paul Max Tipton & Teresa Wakim; Professional Choral Institute & Seraphic Fire)
[Seraphic Fire Media]
Kind
Kjetil Almenning, conductor (Nidaros String Quartet; Ensemble 96)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Light & Gold
Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King’s Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
[Decca]
The Natural World Of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
Paul Hillier, conductor (Ars Nova Copenhagen)
[Dacapo Records]
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73. Best Small Ensemble Performance
Frank: Hilos
Gabriela Lena Frank; ALIAS Chamber Ensemble
[Naxos]
The Kingdoms Of Castille
Richard Savino, conductor; El Mundo
[Sono Luminus]
Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide
Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
[Cedille Records]
A Seraphic Fire Christmas
Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor; Seraphic Fire
[Seraphic Fire Media]
Sound The Bells!
The Bay Brass
[Harmonia Mundi]
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74. Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Chinese Recorder Concertos – East Meets West
Lan Shui, conductor; Michala Petri (Copenhagen Philharmonic)
[OUR Recordings]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18; Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini
Yuja Wang (Claudio Abbado; Mahler Chamber Orchestra)
[Deutsche Grammaphon]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4
Leif Ove Andsnes (Antonio Pappano; London Symphony Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]
Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
Track from: Schwantner: Chasing Light…
[Naxos]
Winging It – Piano Music Of John Corigliano
Ursula Oppens
[Cedille Records]
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75. Best Classical Vocal Solo
Diva Divo
Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L’Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L’Opéra National De Lyon)
[Virgin Classics]
Grieg/Thommessen: Veslemøy Synsk
Marianne Beate Kielland (Nils Anders Mortensen)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Handel: Cleopatra
Natalie Dessay (Emmanuelle Haïm; Le Concert D’Astrée)
[Virgin Classics]
Purcell: O Solitude
Andreas Scholl (Stefano Montanari; Christophe Dumaux; Accademia Bizantina)
[Decca]
Three Baroque Tenors
Ian Bostridge (Bernard Labadie; Mark Bennett, Andrew Clarke, Sophie Daneman, Alberto Grazzi, Jonathan Gunthorpe, Benjamin Hulett & Madeline Shaw; The English Concert)
[EMI Classics]
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76. Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry
Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
[Naxos]
Crumb, George: The Ghosts Of Alhambra
George Crumb
Track from: Complete Crumb Edition, Vol. 15
[Bridge Records, Inc.]
Friedman, Jefferson: String Quartet No. 3
Jefferson Friedman
Track from: Jefferson Friedman: Quartets
[New Amsterdam Records]
Mackey, Steven: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide
Steven Mackey
[Cedille Records]
Ruders, Poul: Piano Concerto No. 2
Poul Ruders
Track from: Music Of Poul Ruders, Vol. 6
[Bridge Records, Inc.]
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77. Best Short Form Music Video
Rolling In The Deep
Adele
Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Yes I Know
Memory Tapes
Eric Epstein, video director; Eric Epstein, video producer
[Carpark Records]
All Is Not Lost
OK Go
Itamar Kubovy, Damian Kulash Jr & Trish Sie, video directors; Shirley Moyers, video producer
[Paracadute]
Lotus Flower
Radiohead
Garth Jennings, video director; Garth Jennings, video producer
[XL/TBD Records]
First Of The Year (Equinox)
Skrillex
Tony Truand, video director; Noah Klein, video producer
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
Perform This Way
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic, video director; Cisco Newman, video producer
[Jive Records]
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78. Best Long Form Music Video
I Am…World Tour
Beyoncé
Ed Burke, Frank Gatson Jr. & Beyoncé Knowles, video directors; Beyoncé Knowles & Camille Yorrick, video producers
[Columbia Records/Music World]
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth
Foo Fighters
James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
[Exclusive Media Group/RCA Records/Back & Fort]
Talihina Sky: The Story Of Kings Of Leon
Kings Of Leon
Stephen C. Mitchell, video director; Casey McGrath, video producer
[RCA/Kings of Leon]
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
Michael Rapaport, video director; Robert Benavides, Debra Koffler, Eric Matthies, Frank Mele, Edward Parks & A Tribe Called Quest, video producers
[Jive/Legacy]
Nine Types Of Light
TV On The Radio
Tunde Adebimpe, video director; Michelle An & Braj, video producers
[Interscope/Geffen/A&M]
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Michael Jackson Doc Gets Max Sentence
No probation. The judge says “Michael Jackson was an experiment.” Dr. Conrad Murray goes to the Los Angeles County Jail for four years. Judge Pastor is brilliant. Finally, some justice in L.A. Now watch the Jackson family go after him for anything that’s not nailed down financially. The court orders Dr. Murray may have to pay over $100 million restitution to the Jackson children and the family. There will be a restitution hearing later. Murray could be held responsible for all the money Michael didn’t make in London with the 50 concerts. Wow.
NY Critics Choose “The Artist” Best Picture, Best Director
The New York Film Critics Circle have chosen “The Artist” as Best Picture and Michel Hazanavicius as Best Director for “The Artist.” That’s the silent, black and white film that has taken the film community by storm. “The Artist” comes from The Weinstein Company, which also picked up Best Actress for Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady.” Other winners include Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, and Brad Pitt–all excellent choices.
“Moneyball” won Best Screenplay and “Tree of Life” won Best Cinematography.
“The Artist” was made by French director, actors and composer–but shot in Los Angeles. It’s maybe the most clever film of the last several years, with the only other competitor being Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” The two films debuted in Cannes this past May, although originally “The Artist” might not have been included. It was only when Harvey Weinstein saw it and bought it in Paris right before the film festival that everything changed.
Now “The Artist” has a bunch of Spirit Award nominations in addition to the New York Film Critics award.
And still, I ask, where is the love for Uggie the Dog?
Spirit Award Noms: The Artist, Descendants, Drive, etc
The Indie Spirit Award nominations are out. Best Feature choices are “The Artist,” “The Descendants,” “Drive,” “Take Shelter,” “50-50,” and “Beginners.” They are weird choices considering the first two will be Oscar nominees definitely. And indie spirit sort of pointed to things like “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and smaller releases like “Rampart.” Great supporting actor noms for Albert Brooks and Corey Stoll.
Best Feature (Award given to the Producer)
50/50
Beginners
Drive
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Descendants
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Mike Mills, Beginners
Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer)
Another Earth
In The Family
Margin Call
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Natural Selection
John Cassavetes Award
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
Bellflower
Circumstance
Hello Lonesome
Pariah
The Dynamiter
Best Screenplay
Beginners
The Descendants
Footnote
The Artist
Win Win
Best First Screenplay
Another Earth
Terri
Cedar Rapids
50/50
Margin Call
Best Female Lead
Elizabeth Olsen
Michelle Williams
Rachael Harris
Adepero Oduye
Lauren Ambrose
Best Male Lead
Michael Shannon
Woody Harrelson
Ryan Golsing
Jean Dujardin
Demian Bichir
Best Supporting Female
Jessica Chastain
Anjelica Huston
Janet McTeer
Harmony Santana
Shaileene Woodley
Best Supporting Male
Albert Brooks
John Hawkes
Christopher Plummer
Corey Stoll
John C. Reilly
Best Cinematography
Bellflower
Midnight in Paris
The Artist
The Off-Hours
The Dynamiter
Best Documentary (Award given to the director)
An African Election
Bill Cunningham New York
The Interrupters
We Were Here
The Redemption of General Butt Naked
Best Foreign Film (Award given to the director)
A Separation
Melancholia
Shame
The Kid With a Bike
Tyrannosaur
Robert Altman Award
(Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Margin Call
Piaget Producers Award
Chad Burris (Mosquito y Mari)
Sophia Lynn (Take Shelter)
Josh Bond (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Someone to Watch Award
Simon Arthur (Silver Tongues)
Mark Jackson (Without)
Nicholas Ozeki (Mamitas)
Truer Than Fiction Award
Where Soldiers Come From
Hell and Back Again
Bombay Beach