CJ·A24 Joint Production 'Fast Lives' Aims Directly at the Oscars

5 Nominations Including Best Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards

The film "Fast Lives," co-invested and distributed by CJ ENM and the American Hollywood studio A24, has signaled a green light for the Oscar race by receiving five nominations in four categories, including Best Picture, at the upcoming Independent Spirit Awards next year.

The 39th Independent Spirit Awards announced the final nominees on the 5th (local time). "Fast Lives" (directed by Celine Song) was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actress (Greta Lee), and Best Lead Actor (Yoo Tae-oh), tying for the most nominations alongside "May December" and "American Fiction." The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 25, 2024.

'Fast Lives' stills [Photo by CJ ENM]

The Independent Spirit Awards, hosted by the nonprofit organization Film Independent since 1984, is known as the Academy Awards of the American independent film industry. In 2020, the film "Parasite" won Best International Film, in 2021 Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress in film for "Minari," and in 2022 Lee Jung-jae won Best Actor in a TV category for the Netflix series "Squid Game." Last year, the Apple TV series "Pachinko" received the Best Ensemble Cast award.

Previously, "Fast Lives" began its official Oscar race by consecutively winning Best Feature and Best New Narrative at the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, which are considered key indicators for the Academy Awards.

It ranked first on the "Best Films of the Year" lists selected by IndieWire and Rolling Stone, and has been included in the "Best Films of 2023" lists announced by major international media such as Vanity Fair, Time, and The New York Times.

"Fast Lives" premiered worldwide at the 39th Sundance Film Festival last January and was invited to compete at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, it has continued its winning streak with awards including Best Director at the 16th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, a triple crown at the 2023 Hollywood Critics Association Awards (Independent Film Award, Screenplay Award, Lead Actress Award), Best Romance Feature at the 23rd Golden Trailer Awards, Special Mention in the International Competition at the 50th Ghent Film Festival (Greta Lee, Yoo Tae-oh, John Magaro), and Best New Director at the 11th Middleburg Film Festival.

The film depicts the fateful two days of a man and woman who reunite in New York after being separated in childhood for over 20 years. Directed by Korean-Canadian Celine Song, it stars Greta Lee from the Netflix TV series "Russian Doll" and actor Yoo Tae-oh. It is scheduled for domestic release in the first half of next year.