Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) continued its leadership among independent studios at the Academy Awards (R) yesterday, garnering five Oscar (R) nominations spanning three films. Lionsgate has now earned 32 Academy Award (R) nominations in the past nine years, more than any other independent studio.
The kudos included: Julie Christie, who was nominated for Best Actress for the critically-acclaimed Away From Her; Sarah Polley, who earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, also for Away From Her; Marco Beltrami, nominated for Best Original Score for 3:10 To Yuma; Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe, who received a nod for best achievement in sound mixing, also for 3:10 To Yuma; and Sicko, Michael Moore's critically-acclaimed indictment of the U.S. health care system, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature.
"Critical acclaim and commercial success are not an either/or proposition," said Lionsgate co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake. "Even as our North American box office for this fiscal year continues to roll toward a Lionsgate record $400 million, these awards show that Lionsgate also remains a critical leader and our creative talent continues to generate some of the most original, exciting and prestigious product in the business."
In addition to Lionsgate's five Oscar (R) nominations, Mandate Pictures, which was acquired by Lionsgate in August 2007, earned four Academy Award (R) nods for the sleeper hit Juno, released by Fox Searchlight. The nominations included Best Picture, Best Actress (Ellen Page), Best Director (Jason Reitman) and Best Original Screenplay (Diablo Cody).
The Academy Award (R) nominations cap a week of critical acclaim for Lionsgate. Last week the Company won Golden Globe (R) awards for Julie Christie, Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture - Drama (Away From Her), Best Television Series - Drama (Mad Men) and Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series - Drama (Jon Hamm, Mad Men), underscoring the breadth and quality of Lionsgate's filmed entertainment product.
Lionsgate also currently has the #1 DVD in North America (3:10 To Yuma) and opens the eagerly-anticipated action film Rambo, starring Sylvester Stallone, nationwide this Friday.
