'12 Years a Slave' and 'Nebraska' Lead Independent Spirit Nominations

Steve McQueen's new film 12 Years a Slave received 7 nominations in the 2014 Independent Spirit Awardsnominations, announced Tuesday, a number which made it lead the list ofnominees. The award ceremony will be held nest March, a day before the Oscars.

The sevennominations were best feature, director for Steve McQueen, bestactor for Chiwetel Ejiofer, supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o, supportingactor for Michael Fassbender, cinematography for Sean Bobbit andscreenplay by John Ridley.

' Nebraska'was the second most nominated film, receiving nominations for best feature, director Alexander Payne, best actor for Bruce Dern, supporting actress for June Squibb,supporting actor for Will Forte and best first screenplay for Bob Nelson.

Woody Allen received a nomination for best screenplay for Blue Jasmine, for which Cate Blanchettwas nominated in the category of best actress. Cate iscompeting with Julie Delpy for Before Midnight, Shailene Woodly for "The Spectacular Now", Gaby Hoffman for"Crystal Fairy" and Brie Larson for "Short Term 12."

For thebest actor award, the nominees are, in addition to Ejiofer and Dern, Oscar Isaacfor " Inside Llewyn Davis," Michael B. Jordan for " Fruitvale Station," Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club and Robert Redford for All is Lost.

The Saudi Arabian film Wadjda, directed by Haifaa Mansour was nominated for best first feature film. The film hasrecently won several international awards, and was submitted by Saudia Arabiato participate in the Oscars' best foreign film competition. The honorary"Robert Altman Award" will be presented to the film Mud.