'Birdman' tops nominations for Spirit film awards

Surreal theater drama "Birdman" starring Michael Keaton topped nominations for the Independent Spirit movie awards announced Tuesday, with nods in six categories.
Three films came in equal second with five nominations apiece: coming-of-age family portrait "Boyhood," TV news thriller "Nightcrawler" and Martin Luther King drama "Selma."
The Spirit awards, which aim to honor excellence in independent film, will be handed out on February 21, one day before the Oscars at the climax of Hollywood's awards season.
"Birdman," about a former superhero movie star attempting to resurrect his career on Broadway, was nominated for best feature, best actor, best supporting actor and actress, best director and best cinematography.
The other nominees for best feature were "Boyhood," "Love is Strange," "Selma" and "Whiplash."
"Boyhood," which follows a child's growth filmed over 11 years, also won nods for best director, best supporting actor and actress and best editing.
"Selma," a film about civil rights icon Martin Luther King co-starring Oprah Winfrey, garnered nods for best director, best male actor and supporting actress, and best cinematography, as well as best feature.
"Nightcrawler," starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a freelance TV news journalist seeking out the most bloody traffic accidents in Los Angeles, took nods for best actor, supporting actor, screenplay, first feature ane editing.
Here are the nominees in the main categories:
Best feature:
"Birdman."
"Boyhood."
"Love is Strange."
"Selma."
"Whiplash."
Best director:
Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash."
Ava DuVernay, "Selma."
Alejandro G. Inarritu, "Birdman."
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood."
David Zellner Kumiko, "The Treasure Hunter."
Best actress:
Marion Cotillard, "The Immigrant."
Rinko Kikuchi Kumiko, "The Treasure Hunter."
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice."
Jenny Slate, "Obvious Child."
Tilda Swinton, "Only Lovers Left Alive."
Best actor:
André Benjamin, "Jimi: All Is By My Side."
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler."
Michael Keaton, "Birdman."
John Lithgow, "Love is Strange."
David Oyelowo, "Selma."
Best supporting actress:
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood."
Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year."
Carmen Ejogo, "Selma."
Andrea Suarez Paz, "Stand Clear of the Closing Doors."
Emma Stone, "Birdman."
Best supporting actor:
Riz Ahmed, "Nightcrawler."
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood."
Alfred Molina, "Love is Strange."
Edward Norton, "Birdman."
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash."
Source: AFP