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For many entrepreneurs, the dream of growing a small business into a thriving enterprise hinges on access to adequate funding. Small business loans provide a lifeline to secure working capital, invest in resources, and fuel expansion. However, navigating the world of business financing can be daunting without a clear understanding of how these loans work 당일대출. This guide breaks down the essentials of small business loans, explores different types, and offers strategies to leverage them effectively for growth.
The Role of Small Business Loans in Growth
Small business loans are designed to help entrepreneurs overcome financial barriers and seize opportunities. Whether it's launching a new product, upgrading equipment, or hiring staff, these loans provide the capital necessary to fund strategic initiatives.
By bridging cash flow gaps, business loans can ensure smooth operations during seasonal slowdowns or economic fluctuations. They also empower small business owners to compete in their markets, scale operations, and build long-term resilience.
Types of Small Business Loans
Understanding the types of small business loans available is crucial to selecting the right one for your needs. Each loan type serves specific purposes and comes with its own terms and conditions.
Term Loans
Term loans provide a lump sum of money that is repaid over a fixed period, usually with a set interest rate. These loans are ideal for significant investments like purchasing machinery, opening new locations, or funding large-scale projects.
SBA Loans
Backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), these loans offer favorable terms, including lower interest rates and longer repayment periods. SBA loans are excellent for small businesses that meet the program's eligibility criteria and need affordable financing options.
Business Lines of Credit
A business line of credit offers flexible access to funds, allowing you to withdraw only what you need up to a predetermined limit. It's perfect for managing cash flow, covering unexpected expenses, or financing short-term needs.
Equipment Financing
Designed specifically for purchasing equipment, this loan type uses the equipment itself as collateral. Equipment financing can be a cost-effective way to acquire necessary tools without draining your cash reserves.
Invoice Financing
For businesses dealing with delayed payments from clients, invoice financing provides upfront cash based on outstanding invoices. It’s a great way to maintain liquidity while waiting for payments to arrive.
Qualifying for a Small Business Loan
Securing a small business loan requires preparation and an understanding of lender expectations. Here are some key factors lenders evaluate:
Credit Score: Both your personal and business credit scores play a significant role in determining loan eligibility and interest rates.
Business Plan: A comprehensive business plan demonstrates your goals, financial projections, and repayment strategy, giving lenders confidence in your ability to manage the loan.
Revenue and Cash Flow: Lenders want to see consistent revenue and strong cash flow to ensure you can meet repayment obligations.
Collateral: Some loans require collateral, such as real estate, equipment, or inventory, to secure the loan.
Before applying, gather all necessary documents, including financial statements, tax returns, and proof of business ownership.
Using Small Business Loans Strategically
To maximize the benefits of a small business loan, it’s essential to use the funds strategically.
Invest in Growth Opportunities
Allocate loan funds to initiatives that drive growth, such as expanding your product line, entering new markets, or enhancing your online presence. Prioritize projects that offer high returns on investment.
Optimize Operations
Consider using the loan to streamline operations through technology upgrades, process improvements, or employee training programs. Efficiency gains can translate into higher profitability.
Maintain Financial Discipline
Create a detailed budget and repayment plan to ensure timely loan payments. Avoid using the funds for non-essential expenses that won’t contribute to your business’s long-term success.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
While small business loans are valuable tools, they come with risks if not managed carefully. Avoid these common mistakes:
Overborrowing: Taking out more than you need can lead to unnecessary debt and strain your cash flow.
Ignoring Loan Terms: Understand the interest rates, fees, and repayment schedule before signing. Unanticipated costs can undermine your financial stability.
Failing to Plan: Without a clear strategy for using the funds, you may struggle to achieve the desired outcomes.
Conclusion
Small business loans are powerful resources for fueling growth and expansion when used wisely. By understanding the different loan options, preparing thoroughly, and aligning your financing with strategic goals, you can unlock new opportunities for your business.
With the right financial tools, your small business can overcome challenges, scale new heights, and achieve long-term success.
LESSON #1: PAINTING A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN MEN– From the get-go of Somewhere in Montana, a dichotomy is painted very quickly between its two featured men. Living on a generational family ranch located in the film’s titular state is the plainly-named John Alexander, played by Outlander and The Hobbit ensemble member Graham McTavish. Boy, does the Scotsman look the part with his dramatically-curved wide-brimmed hat, belt-buckled jeans, and carrying on a temperament as brusque as his silver beard is bristled. Across from John is the up-and-coming California filmmaker Fabian Verdugo, played by lesser-known actor Matt Drago. His progressive personality matches his flashier name and more ostentatious fashion and language choices.
The characters are brought together by a Hollywood-tinged premise. The aging and struggling rancher with bills piling up during tough economic times needs the sizable financial influx proposed to him of lending his idyllic land (filmed sumptuously around the towns of Polson, MT, and Ronan, MT south of Kalispell and Glacier National Park) as a filming location for a handsomely-budgeted period piece movie. Brought together by this tenuous business relationship, John and Fabian in Somewhere in Montana are posited to be opposites in nearly every superficial way, right down to the dissimilar actors—one a seasoned industry vet and one who’s never touched the blockbusters the other has—portraying them.
A different version of Somewhere in Montana could have leaned hard on this conceit by turning up the caricature color of this painted dichotomy. For flair, John could have been framed as a loony hayseed with a hair trigger and all sorts of firebranded conservative quirks. Likewise for Fabian, the sense of refinement from the invading urbanite could have been amplified with LGBTQ+ stereotypes. Count writer-director Brandon Smith as a wiser gentleman who avoided, for the most part, reaching for those types of low-hanging fruit. These featured men are surprisingly deeper than their outward tropes, and their qualities thicken, ever so slightly, what could have been a narrow movie.
As it turns out, John is at a crossroads where seemingly everything in his life is changing, from the waning success of his ranch to his overall happiness. He continues to mourn the passing of his wife two years earlier, and his supportive local buddies—including the token Native American representative Bob (Andrew Roa of The Transcenders) in a film that thanks eight tribes, led by the conferederated Salish and Kootenai tribes, in the end credits—just let him be, for better or worse. It took his loyal yet wing-spreading daughter Laney (The Harvester’s Kaleigh Macchio) to bring this lucrative opportunity to the table and make it happen.
Fabian arrives in northwestern Montana with his encouraging producer Kat (Star Trek: Picard cast member Michelle Hurd) with a film that is being held up by his obsessive working style and the budget to find the right main location. Verdugo is shooting a historical film about two key women homesteaders challenging the patriarchy of the American West. Cast by Fabian were star actress Dahlia James (Kate Orsini of A Nashville Wish) and a never-was one named Rebecca (Tashia Gates of the upcoming The Wolf and the Lamb). Needless to say, John and his country civics do not agree with the subject matter of Fabian’s film.
LESSON #2: SHOW THAT YOU DESERVE RESPECT– As the two butt heads, get in each other’s way, and inject presumptive politics into incomplete judgments, the movie production goes nowhere, jeopardizing their mutually dependent chance at success. Firing off verbal volleys and leaving in huffs, neither man understands the other until Somewhere in Montana lingers in the aftermath requiring them to shed some pride and discover the thing they both fiercely want: Respect. The film moves past the simplicity of “giving respect to get respect” and ventures down the trail of “show that you deserve respect.”
Revealing a core divided by stoutness and devotion, Graham McTavish does not overplay the emotional metamorphosis anymore than he does donning this cowboy exterior in the first place. His effort and screen presence are magnetic and genuine. Every “yep” fits the part while every uncorked small monologue grabs rightful attention. Matt Drago’s performance and matching shift of his own character does not quite equal those of McTavish. It’s not that he’s outclassed. Drago holds his own. It’s that Brandon Smith’s script still has its tendencies to default to Fabian back to diva artist traits once tender moments wear off.
A balancing grace within the cast of Somewhere in Montana comes from the second level occupied by the surrounding women. While the men have their moments, Kaleigh Macchio, Tashia Gates, and Michelle Hurd are, without question, the most rational and impassioned presences in the film. Kaleigh’s subplots, in particular, as the go-between bonding with Rebecca off the set and as the daughter missing the family matriarch in her own way are engrossing and still underexplored. With a different slant or shift of emphasis and no disrespect to McTavish, Laney’s character could have easily been used at the center of Smith’s sophomore film instead of the squabbling-turned-soulful men.
LESSON #3: SOFT RECEPTION TO TOUGH TALK– All the while, the acts of coming together for conversations win over hearts and strong minds. Once each man witnesses the personal convictions and principles of the other, the start of that missing respect is found and gathered. All the tough talk from outwardly contradictory people is increasingly returned with soft reception, set to the lovely violin and viola solos from Jason and Nola Livesay’s musical score. By the same token, the women cement their worth as well. In doing so, Somewhere in Montana reveals its true dramatic colors which are mature, pertinent, and valuable in their intrinsic quality.
Jason Maldonado is a Latino actor and model hailing from a small town of Honduras. Raised by his mother and grandmother, Jason has received extensive training through the Acting Out Studio, NYC Latin Media, The New York Conservatory in New York and NYLA Talent, working with elite coaches to hone his craft. Jason just returned […]
Mbali Buthelezi is an actor and model from Ireland, who recently attended the 2025 iPOP! convention in Los Angeles. With the guidance of AMTA, her director Denae Griego, acting coach and alumni iPOP! attendee Josh Griego, she has been crafting her skills as an artist. Since starting her career journey Mbali has been in numerous […]
Ever find yourself glued to the screen, heart racing, as a character bets everything on a single hand or spins the roulette wheel one last time? Gambling scenes have this magnetic pull, mixing tension, excitement, and just the right dash of danger. Over the years, movies have turned high-stakes games into unforgettable moments filled with risk and reward. In this article, we’ll take a fun dive into five iconic films where gambling isn’t just a game—it’s the heart of the story.
Casino Royale (2006)
When you think of James Bond, you picture martinis, high-tech gadgets, and intense showdowns. But in Casino Royale, it’s a high-stakes poker game that steals the spotlight. The tension is palpable as Bond faces off against the villain Le Chiffre in a game where millions—and lives—are on the line. Every hand played builds suspense, leaving the audience guessing who will come out on top. If you’re looking for a safe casino, check out https://turvallinen-kasino.com/!
Beyond the poker table, the luxurious casino setting, Bond’s impeccable style, and the film’s sharp dialogue create a glamorous atmosphere that keeps viewers hooked. Casino Royale perfectly blends action with the psychological tension of gambling, proving that sometimes, the biggest battles are fought without weapons but with cards and nerves of steel.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Stylish, clever, and undeniably cool, Ocean’s Eleven isn’t just a heist movie—it’s a love letter to Las Vegas and the thrill of gambling. Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, leads a crew of con artists and thieves in a bold plan to rob three major casinos at once. The film’s sleek depiction of casino life—glittering lights, elegant card tables, and the constant allure of winning big—sets the perfect stage for this high-stakes caper.
With an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, the movie balances wit, suspense, and a bit of charm. While it’s technically about pulling off a heist, gambling is the heartbeat of the story, making you want to roll the dice yourself.
Rounders (1998)
If you’ve ever been curious about the underground poker scene, Rounders offers an unfiltered glimpse into that gritty world. Matt Damon stars as Mike McDermott, a talented poker player trying to stay out of the game but ultimately forced back in to help a friend.
The film masterfully captures the highs and lows of gambling, from thrilling wins to devastating losses. What sets Rounders apart is its focus on the strategy and psychology of poker. The tense games, dark settings, and Damon’s heartfelt performance pull you into a world where every decision matters. Whether you’re a poker fan or not, you’ll find yourself rooting for Mike as he risks everything for one last shot at victory.
The Sting (1973)
A classic caper film with style and charm to spare, The Sting takes us back to the 1930s, where cons and card games go hand in hand. Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, the film follows two con men plotting an elaborate scheme to swindle a mob boss. The movie’s most iconic moments revolve around poker games that are as much about bluffing as they are about luck.
With a twist-filled plot, jazzy music, and impeccable chemistry between the leads, The Sting keeps you guessing until the final reveal. It’s not just about gambling for money—it’s about gambling with trust, strategy, and deception. This one’s a timeless favorite for anyone who loves a clever game.
Molly’s Game (2017)
Based on a true story, Molly’s Game is a fascinating look at the underground world of high-stakes poker. Jessica Chastain shines as Molly Bloom, a former Olympic-level skier who becomes the host of exclusive poker games for Hollywood elites, athletes, and business tycoons. The film, directed by Aaron Sorkin, offers a gripping blend of glamour, ambition, and danger.
What makes Molly’s Game stand out is how it explores the personal risks Molly takes—not just financial but emotional—as she navigates this high-stakes world. With sharp dialogue and a compelling narrative, the film paints a vivid picture of the allure and the perils of gambling at the highest level. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.
Conclusion
Whether it’s the glitz of Vegas, the intensity of a poker showdown, or the clever twists of a con, these iconic films capture the allure and risk of gambling in unforgettable ways. They offer more than just entertainment—they deliver suspense, excitement, and a glimpse into a high-stakes world most of us only experience through the screen.
The trend of providing players with more opportunities for creativity
Do you love games? Because I definitely do! Especially when they let you express yourself, create something, or just have fun without any deeper meaning. The word creativity comes from create, and when games give us the tools to create, it means we can do everything I love about gaming: express ourselves, build, and enjoy pure, carefree fun.
So why are developers giving us more opportunities to create, modify, and influence gameplay – essentially, to showcase our creativity? Let’s dive in and find out.
User-Generated Content
When a group of players or a solo player builds a map in Minecraft, especially in this vast theme of the Great Minecraft, it often results in something grand – particularly when there’s intent for a serious project. Prototypes of real cities, castles, skyscrapers, villages, air bases, Godzilla-like structures, and similar creations are just some examples. Later, these maps can even be monetized, and sold to servers. Roblox, with its built-in monetization system, allows creators to earn based on the popularity of their creations. If you remember classic Counter-Strike (CS 1.6), there was also a massive pool of community-created maps.
Beyond maps, users also create custom game modes, which often require conceptual maps to bring them to life. If you follow League news, you won’t hear much about modifications or custom maps there, but believe it or not, even League of Legends has community-made maps, some of which have become legends in their genre. For instance, CS2 players often train their aim on custom maps created by the community.
Content made by players, for players, directly meets player needs without the developer’s direct involvement. Think about it: an ecosystem that thrives without official updates or expansions, where players create what they want without expectations or demands from the developer... although, let’s be honest, complaints will still exist – because they always do, and developers always seem to leave something out.
Sandbox Environments
Sandbox environments empower players with freedom and creativity, offering open-world settings where experimentation with game mechanics and systems is encouraged.
Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom allow players to combine physics, crafting, and exploration to build vehicles, structures, and tools to overcome challenges in unconventional ways. Similarly, No Man’s Sky provides procedurally generated planets where players can explore, build bases, and reshape their surroundings while uncovering the mysteries of an infinite universe.
A sandbox and open world offer that feeling of freedom everyone chases, but once they enter, they often don’t know what to do. That’s why the Grand Theft Auto series has won over the most gamers on the planet—there’s freedom, but the game doesn’t leave you alone. Instead, it surrounds you with lively, well-developed characters.
This is more about the freedom to create. Think back and recall your first childhood drawing. Forget about exams, utility bills, LoL esports news, and remember the moment you first drew lines, picked colors or shaped your first figures out of clay. That pure, sacred creativity stays with us into adulthood and finds its way into many aspects of life – video games being one of them.
In Minecraft, one of the most iconic sandbox games, players can craft entire worlds, from simple shelters to massive cities and intricate redstone-powered machines, limited only by their imagination. Garry’s Mod takes this a step further, offering players an open physics sandbox where they can create everything from humorous scenarios to fully functional mini-games using tools and community mods.
Modding
Modding support plays a significant role in extending the life of games, empowering players to create and share custom content that enhances or transforms their gaming experiences. Games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Cities: Skylines, and Cyberpunk 2077 embrace modding by providing players with the tools to add new characters, environments, tools, mechanics, and even entire storylines. These modifications often breathe new life into older games, keeping them relevant for years.
Modding is a great workshop for starting a career in game development. It’s like a construction kit or a "workshop" that helps you understand what’s important when working on level design. An esports analyst looks at League of Legends roster changes and predicts who will win the championship or at least make it to the finals, while a level designer looks at your mod and predicts whether players will enjoy running around your location.
For instance, Skyrim's modding community has produced everything from visual overhauls and gameplay tweaks to full-fledged expansions with new quests and regions. Similarly, Cities: Skylines thrives on mods that introduce custom buildings, new transportation systems, and improved city management tools, enabling players to tailor the game to their preferences. In Cyberpunk 2077, mods address performance issues, introduce quality-of-life improvements, and add fan-requested features that the developers didn’t include.
Social and Collaborative Play
Social and collaborative play thrives in co-op sandbox games, where players unite their creativity and efforts to build, experiment, and share experiences. Games like Valheim encourage teamwork as players explore procedurally generated worlds, gather resources, and construct massive bases to survive and conquer challenges. Collaboration becomes essential, whether fortifying defenses, taming the wilderness, or planning ambitious architectural projects.
Similarly, Garry’s Mod serves as a limitless creative playground, where players work together to design entertaining mini-games, elaborate role-playing scenarios, and physics-driven experiments. Its tools and open-ended systems allow groups to craft anything from comical skits to fully functional game modes, fostering a sense of shared ownership and achievement.
Other games, like Minecraft, emphasize both creativity and community, enabling players to collaborate on monumental projects such as sprawling cities, complex redstone contraptions, or faithful recreations of real-world landmarks. Meanwhile, Fortnite Creative and Roblox take social play to the next level, empowering players to build and share custom maps, challenges, and experiences, with the most popular creations often becoming cultural phenomena.
Conclusion
In esports, people discuss skills, LoL roster changes 2024, contracts, player motivation and tilt because, at its core, it’s still a sport where results matter. In modding and creative spaces, the focus shifts to features and concepts that hook players. For example, I got completely absorbed in Stumble Guys before writing this article because the concept caught my: an arcade-style race like Fall Guys, combined with a battle royale mode, live service support for the community, and ultimately custom games – exactly what we’re talking about today: community-driven creativity.
Earlier, I mentioned that no sense of freedom captivates players like GTA because, in many games, that freedom feels isolating. That’s why cooperative creativity in games like Valheim, Minecraft, or Garry’s Mod is so engaging – when you have a well-developed character by your side – your friend – you become a dynamic duo, a small yet powerful part of the community.
But let’s skip the philosophy: an online sandbox is a unique real-time experience that directly depends on you. Players immerse themselves in these games because it feels like painting a picture, writing a story, composing a song, or sculpting – only here, you can do it alongside a friend on the other side of the planet, joining forces with just a couple of clicks to create a work of art.
Play, enjoy, touch the grass, create real things, and then start again. The world of technology and video games is deeply intertwined – after all, online games are technology – so use them to benefit yourself and those around you. Ave gaming!
1. Some things are an art form. For example: a. How to overshadow one of the biggest nights in Hollywood when you’re not going to win Best Actress – wear a stunning gown in a gorgeous colour and strategically splay your fingers across the waist of said gown to display what looks suspiciously like an […]
THE CHICAGO INDIE CRITICS RESPECTED THE BALANCE! THE SUBSTANCE AND NOSFERATU TIE FOR THE MOST 2024 WINDIE AWARD NOMINATIONS
Celebrating their ninth year, the Chicago Indie Critics have announced the nominees for their Windie Awards. The voting film critic members completed ballots this week to select Windie nominees in 27 categories. The CIC members will commence a final round of voting ending on January 12, 2024. The 2024 Windie winners will be announced on January 18, 2024 on their website and social media platforms.
Leading the way with 11 nominations are both Mubi’s The Substance and Focus Features’ Nosferatu. Coralie Fargeat’s fearless body horror film was nominated for Best Independent Film (budgeted $30 million and under), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Breakout Artist all for Coralie Fargeat, Demi Moore for Best Actress, Margaret Qualley for Best Supporting Actress and in the artistic categories of production design, costume design, makeup, sound, and original score. Robert Eggers’ captivating remake of the 1922 classic places in Best Studio Film, Lily-Rose Depp for Best Actress, Bill Skarsgård for Best Supporting Actor, and a massive performance in the artistic categories with cinematography, production design, editing, costume design, makeup, visual effects, sound, and original score.
Following suit is another impressive tie in second place with 10 nominations each for The Brutalist and Dune: Part Two. Brady Corbet’s sweeping American epic joins The Substance in Best Independent Film, while Denis Villeneuve’s powerhouse sci-fi sequel joins Nosferatu in Best Studio Film. Rounding out those categories are Anora, I Saw the TV Glow, and Sing Sing in Best Independent Film, and Challengers, A Complete Unknown, and Wicked in Best Studio Film. It was a year of some very close races, including a three-way tie for the fifth spot with Best Actress. Altogether, 21 films received multiple Windie nominations, and 47 films overall were represented across all categories (Ten more than last year’s 37).
As a special category of local recognition, the Chicago Indie Critics annually presents the Impact Award. The distinction celebrates a group or person whose work during the past year or beyond positively influenced the Chicagoland film community. This year’s Impact Award nominees include Emma Greenleaf and Nick Edelberg, members of the Facets Anime Club, Mimi Plauche, Artistic Director of the Cinema/Chicago, Morgan Harris of Acacia Consulting Group, and finally, both Kyle Cubr and Ramona Slick, Programmers at the Music Box Theatre.
2024 WINDIE AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST INDEPENDENT FILM
Anora
Producers: Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker
The Brutalist
Producers: Nick Gordon, D.J. Gugenheim, Andrew Lauren, Trevor Matthews, Andrew Morrison, and Brian Young
I Saw the TV Glow
Producers: Sam Intili, Sarah Winshall, Emma Stone, Dave McCary, and Ali Herting
Sing Sing
Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, and Monique Walton
The Substance
Producers: Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
BEST STUDIO FILM
Challengers
Producers: Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, and Rachel O’Connor
A Complete Unknown
Producers: Fred Berger, James Mangold, Alex Heineman, Bob Bookman, Peter Jaysen, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, and Timothée Chalamet
Dune: Part Two
Producers: Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve
Nosferatu
Producers: Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, and Robert Eggers
Wicked
Producers: Marc Platt and David Stone
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
All We Imagine as Light
Producers: Julien Graff and Thomas Hakim,
Emilia Perez
Producers: Pascal Caucheteux, Jacques Audiard, and Valérie Schermann
Flow
Producers: Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
Director and Producers: Angela Patton, Natalie Rae
Music by John Williams
Director and Producers: Laurent Bouzereau, Sara Bernstein, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg, and Justin Wilkes
Sugarcane
Director and Producers: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Director and Producers: Robert Ford, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte, Connor Schell, and Libby Geist
Will & Harper
Director and Producers: Josh Greenbaum, Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Chris Leggett, and Rafael Marmor
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Flow
Director and Producers: Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
Inside Out 2
Director and Producer: Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen
Memoir of a Snail
Director and Producers: Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Director and Producer: Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham
The Wild Robot
Director and Producer: Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Baker - Anora
Brady Corbet - The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
RaMell Ross - Nickel Boys
Denis Villeneuve - Dune: Part Two
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Anora - Sean Baker
The Brutalist - Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
I Saw the TV Glow - Jane Schoenbrun
A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg
The Substance - Coralie Fargeat
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Conclave - Peter Straughan
Dune: Part Two - Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts
Nickel Boys - RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing - Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John “Divine G” Whitfield
The Wild Robot - Chris Sanders
BEST ACTOR
Adrien Brody - The Brutalist
Timothee Chalamet - A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
Hugh Grant - Heretic
Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice
BEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Nightbitch
Lily-Rose Depp - Nosferatu
Cynthia Erivo - Wicked
Marianne Jean-Baptiste - Hard Truths
Angelina Jolie - Maria
Mikey Madison - Anora
Demi Moore - The Substance
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
Clarence Maclin - Sing Sing
Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce - The Brutalist
Bill Skarsgård - Nosferatu
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Danielle Deadwyler - The Piano Lesson
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Nickel Boys
Ariana Grande-Butera - Wicked
Margaret Qually - The Substance
Zoe Saldaña - Emilia Pérez
BEST ENSEMBLE
Conclave
Casting Directors: Nina Gold and Martin Ware
Dune: Part Two
Casting Directors: Francine Maisler and Dixie Chassney
Saturday Night
Casting Director: John Papsidera
Sing Sing
Casting Director: Greg Kwedar
Wicked
Casting Director: Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMER
Yuriy Borisov - Anora
Vera Drew - The People’s Joker
Willa Fitzgerald - Strange Darling
Clarence Maclin - Sing Sing
Adam Pearson - A Different Man
Aaron Pierre - Rebel Ridge
BEST BREAKOUT ARTIST
Daniel Blumberg - The Brutalist
Kris Bowers- The Wild Robot
Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
Dev Patel - Monkey Man
RaMell Ross - Nickel Boys
SIGHT UNSEEN PERFORMANCE
Daveed Diggs - Nickel Boys
Maya Hawke - Inside Out 2
Lupita Nyong’o - The Wild Robot
Pedro Pascal - The Wild Robot
Sarah Snook - Memoirs of a Snail
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Brutalist - Lol Crawley
Civil War - Rob Hardy
Dune: Part Two - Greig Fraser
Nickel Boys - Jomo Fray
Nosferatu - Jarin Blaschke
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Brutalist - Judy Becker
Conclave - Suzie Davies and Roberta Federico
Nosferatu - Craig Lathrop
The Substance - Stanislas Reydellet, Cécilia Blom
Wicked - Nathan Crowley
BEST EDITING
The Brutalist - Dávid Jancsó
Challengers - Marco Costa
Dune: Part Two - Joe Walker
Nickel Boys - Nicholas Monsour
Nosferatu - Louise Ford
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Conclave - Lisy Christl
Dune: Part Two - Jacqueline West
Nosferatu - Linda Muir
The Substance - Emmanuelle Youchnovski
Wicked - Paul Tazewell
BEST MAKEUP
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener, and Neal Scanlan
A Different Man - Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman, and Aaron Saucier
Nosferatu - Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton, and David White
The Substance - Pierre-Olivier Persin
Wicked - Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth, and Laura Blount
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Civil War - David Simpson, J.D. Schwalm, Chris Zeh, and Freddy Salazar
Dune: Part Two - Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke
Nosferatu - Angela Barson
Twisters - Ben Snow, Florian Witzel, and Bill Georgiou
BEST STUNTS
Deadpool & Wolverine
Stunt Coordinator: Colin Follenweider and Liang Yang
Dune: Part Two
Stunt Coordinator: Roger Yuan
The Fall Guy
Stunt Coordinators: Keir Beck and Chris O’Hara
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Stunt Coordinators: Guy Norris and Tim Wong
Monkey Man
Stunt Coordinator: Udeh Nans
BEST SOUND
Civil War - Glenn Freemantle
Dune: Part Two - Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill
Nosferatu - Robin Carolan
The Substance - Valérie Deloof and Victor Fleurant
The Wild Robot - Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo, Leff Lefferts, and Brian Chumney
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Brutalist - Daniel Blumberg
Challengers - Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor
Nosferatu - Robin Carolan
The Substance - Benjamin “Rafferie” Stefanski
The Wild Robot - Kris Bowers
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Beautiful That Way” - The Last Showgirl
Songwriters: Andrew Wyatt, Lykke Li, and Miley Cyrus
“Compress/Repress” - Challengers
Songwriters: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Luca Guadagnino
“Kiss the Sky” - The Wild Robot
Songwriters: Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, and Ali Tamposi
“Like a Bird” - Sing Sing
Songwriters: Abraham Alexander, Brandon Marcel, and Adrian Quesada
“Starburned and Unkissed” - I Saw the TV Glow
Songwriter: Caroline Polachek
THE IMPACT AWARD
Given to individual or group who has made a positive impact on local Chicago cinema
Emma Greenleaf and Nick Edelberg - Facets Anime Club
Kyle Cubr - Programmer, Music Box Theatre
Mimi Plauche - Artistic Director of the Cinema/Chicago
Morgan Harris - Acacia Consulting Group
Ramona Slick - Programmer, Music Box Theatre
WINDIE AWARD NOMINATIONS BY THE NUMBERS:
11: Nosferatu, The Substance
10: The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two
8: The Wild Robot
7: Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, Wicked
5: Anora,
4: Challengers, Conclave
3: A Complete Unknown, I Saw the TV Glow, Civil War
2: A Different Man, Emilia Perez, Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoirs of a Snail, Monkey Man, A Real Pain
1: All We Imagine as Light, The Apprentice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Daughters, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Fall Guy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Hard Truths, Heretic, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Kneecap, The Last Showgirl, Maria, Music by John Williams, Nightbitch, The Piano Lesson, The People’s Joker, Rebel Ridge, Saturday Night, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Strange Darling, Sugarcane, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. Twisters, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Will & Harper
