'Leonor Will Never Die' nominated at Indie Spirit Awards 2023

MANILA, Philippines — Martika Ramirez Escobar's psychological drama-comedy film "Leonor Will Never Die" starring Sheila Francisco has been nominated at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards.

The presitigious ceremony, also called the Indie Spirit Awards, recognizes independent films and filmmakers, where a movie's production budget is much lower compared to blockbusters and action films.

"Leonor Will Never Die" is up for Best International Film, competing against the multi-European collaboration “Corsage,” Pakistan's “Joyland,” multi-national collaboration “Return to Seoul” and France's “Saint Omer.”

Philippine films have been nominated in this category in the past, examples being Aureaus Solito's "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" and Lav Diaz's "Norte," both unable to win.

"Leonor Will Never Die" previously competed at this year's Sundance Film Festival last January where it won the Sundance Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit before screening at other film festivals like Cinemalaya and in Toronto and Los Angeles, winning a Special Jury Mention in the latter.

The film follows a retired screenwriter (Francisco) who enters a coma and finds herself the hero of an unfinished screenplay; the film itself pays homage to Filipino action films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Leading the 2023 Indie Spirit Awards are "Everything Everywhere All At Once" with eight nominations, followed by "Tár” with seven and “Aftersun” with five.

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