Jessica Chastain Named Honorary Chair of 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards

“The Martian” actress Jessica Chastain has been named Honorary Chair for this year’s Spirit Awards, Film Independent President Josh Welsh announced Tuesday.

Chastain has previously received Spirit Award nominations for her work in “Take Shelter” (2012) and “A Most Violent Year” (2015). Past Chairs include Kerry Washington, Tom Cruise, Benicio del Toro, Angela Bassett, Jeremy Renner, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, Robert Duvall, Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee, Julianne Moore and Martin Scorsese.

Welsh also announced that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” star John Boyega and “I Saw the Light” actress Elizabeth Olsen will present the 2016 nominees in a press conference on Nov. 24 at The W Hollywood. The 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards will be broadcast exclusively on IFC on Feb. 27.

Also Read: Spirit Awards: '12 Years a Slave' Dominates (Complete Winners List)

“We’re so honored to have Jessica as our Honorary Chair at this year’s Spirit Awards,” said Welsh. “As a past Spirit Award nominee and someone whose work as an actor and producer embodies the qualities we celebrate at Film Independent, I can’t think of a more suitable Honorary Chair for this exciting celebration of artist-driven filmmaking.”

This year marks the 31st edition of the awards show that celebrates the best in film. Awards are bestowed in categories such as Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Lead, Best Male Lead, Best International Film and more.

Independent Spirit Awards 2014: The Nominees (Photos)

BEST FEATURE: "12 Years a Slave" (pictured), "All Is Lost," "Frances Ha," "Inside Llewyn Davis," "Nebraska"
BEST FIRST FEATURE: "Blue Caprice" (pictured), "Concussion," "Fruitvale Station," "Una Noche," "Wadjda"
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (best feature made under $500K): "Computer Chess," "Crystal Fairy" (pictured), "Museum Hours," "Pit Stop," "This Is Martin Bonner"
BEST DIRECTOR: Shane Carruth, "Upstream Color"; J.C. Chandor, "All Is Lost"; Steve McQueen (pictured), "12 Years a Slave"; Jeff Nichols, "Mud"; Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
BEST SCREENPLAY: Woody Allen, "Blue Jasmine"; Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater (pictured), "Before Midnight"; Nicole Holofcener, "Enough Said"; "Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, "The Spectacular Now"; John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave"
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY: Lake Bell (pictured), "In a World"; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Don Jon"; Bob Nelson, "Nebraska"; Jill Soloway, "Afternoon Delight"; Michael Starrbury, "The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sean Bobbitt, "12 Years a Slave"; Benoit Debie, "Spring Breakers"; Bruno Delbonnel, "Inside Llewyn Davis" (pictured); Frank G. Demarco, "All Is Lost"; Matthias Grunsky, "Computer Chess"
BEST EDITING: Shane Carruth & David Lowery, "Upstream Color"; Jem Cohen & Marc Vives, "Museum Hours"; Jennifer Lame, "Frances Ha" (pictured); Cindy Lee, "Una Noche"; Nat Sanders, "Short Term 12"
BEST MALE LEAD: Bruce Dern (pictured), "Nebraska"; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"; Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis"; Michael B. Jordan, "Fruitvale Station"; Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"; Robert Redford, "All Is Lost"
BEST FEMALE LEAD: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine" (pictured); Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"; Gaby Hoffman, "Crystal Fairy"; Brie Larson, "Short Term 12"; Shailene Woodley, "The Spectacular Now"
BEST SUPPORTING MALE: Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"; Will Forte, "Nebraska"; James Gandolfini, "Enough Said" (pictured); Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"; Keith Stanfield, "Short Term 12"
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE: Melanie Diaz, "Fruitvale Station" (pictured); Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"; Lupita Nyongo, "12 Years a Slave"; Yolonda Ross, "Go For Sisters"; June Squibb, "Nebraska"
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM: "A Touch of Sin," China; "Blue Is the Warmest Color" (pictured), France; "Gloria," Chile; "The Great Beauty," Italy; "The Hunt," Denmark
BEST DOCUMENTARY: "20 Feet From Stardom," "After Tiller," "Gideon's Army," "The Act of Killing" (pictured), "The Square"
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD: "Mud" (award goes to director Jeff Nichols, casting director Francine Maisler, and the ensemble cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Sam Shepard, Tye Sheridan and Reese Witherspoon)