Awards Databases

There are few "true" indie production studios out there. Most indie studios are instead divisions or subdivisions of larger companies. This often has an effect on how award campaigns are run, and even how release dates happen.

In the last 10 years, the largest contenders for major categories have been Miramax, Paramount, Universal, DreamWorks, Columbia, Warner and Buena Vista (Disney's studio name.) Some newer studios, however, have been coming on strong in recent years, most notably Focus and Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) (Note that I'm not including New Line here, as the majority of their tally comes entirely from LOTR.) Big guys Warner and Columbia have also slipped sharply, with Warner getting the bulk of its recent noms in technical categories for its big summer pictures.

Worth a note for 2004:

Miramax is still a powerhouse, but it's lost a bit of its dominance in the last couple of years due to controversial marketing choices. They also have been having big troubles recently with the parent company, and have threatened to split off and go indie (subdivision Dimension would likely stay back with Disney) although now that much-hated Disney CEO Michael Eisner won't be renewing his contract, the bros. Weinstein might be persuaded to stay with The Mouse. They also recently slashed their staff, laying off 120 of 485 workers, primarily in marketing and publicity, which calls into question their ability to mount major award campaigns this year. Miramax had several major contenders this year, but recently pushed back release dates for Dear Frankie, Proof and An Unfinished life. It remains to be seen which of their remaining contenders they throw the majority of their now-slimmer weight behind (my guess is that they'll tip The Aviator for Picture and Director, and mount their Best Actor campaign for Depp rather than DiCaprio.)

Also, one of the biggest contenders every year, DreamWorks, doesn't have a major fall release scheduled this year. This opens the field up considerably.

So here's what each of the studios and their subsidiaries are offering in the major categories this year.

Items in bold are likely big contenders. More category contenders may be added or removed as buzz indicates.

Links are to the FYC sites for the studios. More as they start getting going.

Disney

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Disney	Incredibles*+++	x	x	x	x	x	O

Miramax	The Aviator**	Scorsese	Leo DiCaprio		Alan Alda	Cate Blanchett	O?
					Alec Baldwin	Kate Beckinsale
	F. Neverland	Forster	Johnny Depp	Kate Winslet	Dustin Hoffman	Julie Christie	A?
						Vanessa Redgrave
	Kill Bill 2	Tarantino		Uma Thurman	David Carradine		O

Dimension+	Wimbeldon***	Loncraine	Paul Bettany	Kirsten Dunst	Sam Neill		O

Touchstone	Ladder 49	Russell	Joaquin Phoenix		John Travolta		O
	Life Aquatic	Anderson	Bill Murray	Cate Blanchett	Owen Wilson	Anjelica Huston	O

+- Dimension is a division of Miramax
++- Likely foreign language submission
+++- Likely Animated Feature submission
*- With Pixar
**- With Warner
***- With Universal

Warner

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Warner	Alexander	Stone	Colin Farrell		Anthony Hopkins	Angelina Jolie	O?
	Million Dollar Baby	Eastwood	Eastwood	Hillary Swank
	Phantom/Opera	Schumacher	Gerard Butler	Emmy Rossum			A
	Ocean's 12	Soderbergh	George Clooney				O
	HP:POA	Cuaron			David Thewlis	Emma Thompson	A
					Gary Oldman
	Troy	Peterson	Brad Pitt		~~Peter O'Toole~~		A?
	The Polar Express						A
WIP	Before Sunset	Linklater	Ethan Hawke	Julie Delpy			O
	A V. Long Engagemt+			Audrey Tautou

Fine Line*	Vera Drake	Leigh		Imelda Staunton			O
	Maria Full of Grace+	Marston		Catalina Moreno
	Birth	Glazer		Nicole Kidman	Cameron Bright	Lauren Bacall	O
	The Sea Inside		Javier Bardem

+- Possible foreign language submission
*- Fine Line is a division of New Line

Universal

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Universal	Ray	Hackford	Jamie Foxx				O
	In Good Company	Weitz	Dennis Quaid		Topher Grace	Scarlett Johanssen	O
	Bridget Jones			Renee Zellweger			A
Focus	ESOTSM	Gondry	Jim Carrey	Kate Winslet			O
	Motorcycle Diaries+	Salles	Gael Garcia Bernal				A
	Vanity Fair	Nair		Reese Witherspoon			A

+- Possible foreign language submission

Fox

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Fox	Flight/Phoenix	Moore					A

Searchlight	Garden State *	Braff	Zach Braff		Peter Saarsgard	Natalie Portman	O
	I <3 Huckabees	Russell	Jason Schwartzman		Dustin Hoffman	Lily Tomlin	O
					Jude Law	Naomi Watts
	Sideways	Payne	Paul Giamatti				A
	Kinsey	Condon	Liam Neeson		Peter Saarsgaard	Laura Linney	O?

* With Miramax (non-US distribution)

Sony

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Columbia	Closer	Nichols	Jude Law	Julia Roberts	Clive Owen	Natalie Portman	A
	Spanglish	Brooks	Adam Sandler	Tea Leoni			O
	Spider-Man 2	Raimi					A

SP Clasx	Being Julia	Szabo		Annette Bening			A
	Bad Education	Almodovar	Gael Garcia Bernal				O
	Head in the Clouds	Duigan	Stuart Townsend	Charlize Theron		Penelope Cruz	O

Paramount

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Para.	Manch. Candidate	Demme	Denzel Washington		Liev Schrieber	Meryl Streep	A
	Sky Captain	Conran	Jude Law	Gwynneth Paltrow		Angelina Jolie	O
	Alfie	Shyer	Jude Law				A
	Lemony Snicket	Silberling	Jim Carrey				A
	Mean Girls	Waters		Lindsay Lohan			A?

DreamWorks

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
DreamWorks	Shrek 2	Adamson					A
	Collateral	Mann	Tom Cruise		Jamie Foxx		O

Smaller studios and "true" indies

Lion's Gate

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
Lion's Gate	Beyond the Sea	Spacey	Kevin Spacey	Kate Bosworth			A?
	Stage Beauty		Billy Crudup	Claire Danes			A
	F9/11
Artisan	Eulogy	Clancy					O

NewMarket

Studio	Picture	director	actor	actress	s actor	s actress	SP
New Market	Silver City	Sayles	Chris Cooper				O
	PS	Kidd	Topher Grace	Laura Linney	Gabriel Byrne	Marcia Gay Harden	A
	The Woodsman	Kasel	Kevin Bacon	Kyra Sedgwick			O

Data for this page is from RottenTomatoes, MetaCritic, Box Office Mojo, IMDB, LittleGoldenGuy and Greg's Previews