Sing Sing Scores Oscar Nominations For Austin

Greg Kwedar and Colman Domingo on the set of Sing Sing. Both men were nominated for Oscars today for their work on the film. (Photo by Phyllis Kwedar / Courtesy of A24)

It's been a heck of a day for Austin filmmaker Greg Kwedar. Not only did he fly to Utah to take part in the Sundance Film Festival, but he's also just been nominated for his first ever Oscar.

Kwedar's in Utah for the world premiere of Train Dreams, the new film by his longtime creative partner, Clint Bentley (director and co-writer, with Kwedar, of 2021's racetrack drama Jockey). Adapted from the 2011 novel by Denis Johnson, the period drama follows a railroad laborer (Joel Edgerton) as he moves through America and the 20th century in a desperate attempt to find some meaning in his life.

However, Bentley and Kwedar have double the reason to celebrate as their most recent film together, prison drama Sing Sing, was announced this morning as being nominated for a total of three Academy Awards.

• First, a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (screenplay) and Bentley, Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield (story) for their adaptation of "The Sing Sing Follies" by John H. Richardson and Breakin' the Mummy's Code by Brent Buell.

• Honorary Austinite (for his time here filming Fear the Walking Dead) Colman Domingo for Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of John “Divine G” Whitfield.

• And last but not least, Austin musical mainstay Adrian Quesada and Fort Worth native Abraham Alexander share a Music (Original Song) nomination for the song heard over the closing scene and credits, "Like a Bird."

For more about the making of this remarkable film, and the men of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, read our August 2024 cover story, "The Rehabilitative Power of Art in Sing Sing."

Kwedar has become a mainstay of the Austin film scene, and has constantly credited the Austin Film Society as playing a pivotal role in being able to make his home here. During a Zoom Q&A at a special AFS Cinema screening of Sing Sing last weekend, celebrating the film winning the Austin Film Critics Association's Best Austin Film award, Kwedar thanked the society for its support, including financial support through the AFS Grant program for two of his projects (Jockey and his 2009 documentary short, "Manos de Madre"). He and producer Monique Walton recorded this special video intro expressing their appreciation of AFS.

Sing Sing is in theatres now. Find our review and listings on our showtimes page.