Alexander Payne is an American writer, director and producer known for the films About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), and The Holdovers (2023). Over the course of his career, Payne has won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a British Academy Film Award, five Independent Spirit Awards, three Writers Guild of America Awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award and three Directors Guild of America Awards.
Award / Organization / Film festival | Year [b] | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AACTA International Awards | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated | [1] |
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 2012 | Best Screenwriter | The Descendants | Nominated | [2] |
2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated | [3] | |
Academy Awards | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Nominated | [4] [5] |
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | [6] [7] [8] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2012 | Best Picture | The Descendants | Nominated | [9] [10] | |
Best Director | Nominated | ||||
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [11] [12] | |
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [13] [14] |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [15] [16] | |
American Comedy Awards | 2014 | Best Comedy Director – Film | Nebraska | Nominated | [17] |
American Screenwriters Association | 2003 | Discover Screenwriting Award | About Schmidt | Nominated | [18] |
Astra Film Awards | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated | [19] |
Boston Society of Film Critics | 1999 | Best Screenplay | Election | Runner-up | [20] |
2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Runner-up | [21] [22] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
British Academy Film Awards | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won | [23] |
2012 | Best Film | The Descendants | Nominated | [24] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2024 | Best Direction | The Holdovers | Nominated | [25] | |
Chicago Film Critics Association | 2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | Nominated | [26] [27] |
Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2005 | Sideways | Won | [28] [29] | ||
2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [30] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Nominated | [31] |
2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Nominated | [32] | |
2012 | The Descendants | Won | [33] | ||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2003 | Best Writer | About Schmidt | Nominated | [34] [35] |
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | [36] [37] | |
Best Writer | Won | ||||
2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [38] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated | [39] | |
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | 3rd place | [40] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Won | [41] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | 3rd place | [42] [43] | |
2023 | The Holdovers | 3rd place | [44] | ||
Directors Guild of America Awards | 2005 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Sideways | Nominated | [45] |
2012 | The Descendants | Nominated | [46] | ||
2024 | The Holdovers | Nominated | [47] | ||
Florida Film Critics Circle | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Won | [48] |
2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Won | [49] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won | [50] | |
Georgia Film Critics Association | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated | [51] [52] |
Golden Globe Awards | 2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | Nominated | [53] [54] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | [55] [56] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [57] | |
Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [58] | |
Golden Raspberry Awards | 2008 | Worst Screenplay | I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | Nominated | [59] [60] |
Gotham Awards | 2004 | Best Feature | Sideways | Won | [61] |
2011 | The Descendants | Nominated | [62] | ||
Grammy Awards | 2013 | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | The Descendants | Nominated | [63] [64] |
Houston Film Critics Society | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [65] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [66] | |
2024 | The Holdovers | Nominated | [67] | ||
Humanitas Prize | 2012 | Feature Film | The Descendants | Finalist | [68] |
Independent Spirit Awards | 2000 | Best Director | Election | Won | [69] [70] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Won | [71] [72] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2012 | Best Feature | The Descendants | Nominated | [73] | |
Best Director | Nominated | ||||
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [74] | |
London Film Critics' Circle | 2005 | Director of the Year | Sideways | Nominated | [75] |
Screenwriter of the Year | Nominated | ||||
2012 | The Descendants | Nominated | [76] | ||
Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | Won | [77] |
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Won | [78] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2011 | The Descendants | Runner-up | [79] | ||
National Board of Review | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won | [80] |
2012 | The Descendants | Won | [81] | ||
National Society of Film Critics | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | 2nd place | [82] |
2003 | About Schmidt | 2nd place | [83] | ||
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | 2nd place | [84] [85] | |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
New York Film Critics Circle | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Won | [86] |
2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | 3rd place | ||
Best Screenplay | 2nd place | [87] | |||
2005 | Sideways | Won | [88] | ||
2012 | The Descendants | 3rd place | [89] | ||
New York Film Critics Online | 2011 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Won | [90] |
Online Film Critics Society | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won | |
2003 | About Schmidt | Nominated | |||
2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | ||
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2012 | The Descendants | Nominated | |||
Palm Springs International Film Festival | 2005 | Director of the Year | Sideways | Won | [91] [92] |
Producers Guild of America Awards | 2012 | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | The Descendants | Nominated | [93] [94] |
San Diego Film Critics Society | 1999 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won | [95] |
2004 | Sideways | Won | |||
2011 | The Descendants | Nominated | [96] | ||
San Francisco Film Critics Circle | 2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Won | [97] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
Satellite Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | [98] |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [99] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated | [100] | |
St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Director – Comedy or Musical | Sideways | Won | [101] |
Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [102] [103] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated | [104] [105] | |
Thessaloniki International Film Festival | 1996 | Best Screenplay | Citizen Ruth | Won | [106] [107] |
Toronto Film Critics Association | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Runner-up | [108] [109] |
USC Scripter Awards | 2003 | USC Scripter Award | About Schmidt | Nominated | [110] |
2005 | Sideways | Nominated | [111] | ||
2012 | The Descendants | Won | [112] | ||
Valladolid International Film Festival | 1999 | Best New Director | Election | Won | [113] |
Vancouver Film Critics Circle | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated | |
2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated | [114] | |
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2004 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won | [115] |
2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated | [116] | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
Writers Guild of America Awards | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won | [117] |
2003 | About Schmidt | Nominated | [118] | ||
2005 | Sideways | Won | [119] | ||
2012 | The Descendants | Won | [120] |
Year [c] | Award | Recognized work | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association's New Generation Award | Citizen Ruth and Election | [121] |
2004 | Filmmakers Alliance's Vision Award | — | [122] |
2011 | Hawaii International Film Festival Vision in Film Award | — | [123] |
2012 | ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award | — | [124] |
2014 | Location Managers Guild's Eva Monley Award | — | [125] |
2017 | Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Orpheus Award Honoree | — | [126] |
2023 | St. Louis International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award | — | [127] |
2024 | Advanced Imaging Society's Harold Lloyd Award | — | [128] |
Sarajevo Film Festival's Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award | — | [129] |
Constantine Alexander Payne is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is noted for his satirical depictions of contemporary American society. Payne has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award and two Golden Globe Awards as well as a nomination for a Grammy Award.
The Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (Actor/Actress) is one of the awards given to people working in the film industry by the Critics Choice Association at the annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards.
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay is one of the annual awards given out by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It was first presented in 1985 with Horton Foote being the first winner of the awards for The Trip to Bountiful.
The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Director is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards, presented to recognize the best in independent filmmaking, it was first awarded in 1985 with Martin Scorsese's film After Hours being the first recipient of the award.
The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score is one of several categories presented by the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), an association of professional film critics, who work in print, broadcast and online media, based in Chicago. Since the 6th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1993), the award has been presented annually. The nominations from 1993, 1994 and 2004 are not available. The first Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score went to composer Michael Nyman for his score to The Piano. The most recent recipient of this award is Robbie Robertson for the Western crime drama film Killers of the Flower Moon. It was awarded posthumously.
The Descendants is a 2011 American tragicomedy film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash is based on the 2007 novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney in the main role, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller in her film debut, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, and Robert Forster, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011, after premiering at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2011.
Elizabeth Chase Olsen is an American actress. Born in Sherman Oaks, California, Olsen began acting at age four alongside her sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. She had her debut film role in the thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene in 2011, for which she was acclaimed and nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award. Olsen received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination and graduated from New York University two years later.
The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography is one of several categories presented by the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), an association of professional film critics, who work in print, broadcast and online media, based in Chicago. Since the 3rd Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1990), the award is presented annually. Nominations from 1991 to 1994 are not available. The first Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography went to Dean Semler for his work on Dances with Wolves. The most recent recipient of this award is Hoyte van Hoytema for Oppenheimer.
Tom Cross is an American television and film editor. He is known for his collaborations with Damien Chazelle including Whiplash (2014) for which he won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing as well as La La Land (2016), and First Man (2018).
The Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature is one of the annual Gotham Independent Film Awards and was first awarded in 2004 with Alexander Payne's Sideways being the first recipient of the award.
The Gotham Independent Film Audience Award was one of the annual Gotham Independent Film Awards awarded between 2010 and 2020. The winner was determined via an online vote, in earlier years by the independent film community and film fans (2010–2013), and later by members of the Independent Filmmaker Project (2014–2020).
Payne, who will be in attendance, first appeared at TIFF with 1996's "Citizen Ruth," which won the festival's screenplay award.
American film director Alexander Payne (his first feature film «Citizen Ruth» won Best Screenplay at the 37th Thessaloniki International Film Festival)