Awards

Alexander Payne

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88 wins & 144 nominations

Academy Awards, USA

2014 Nominee Oscar
- Best Achievement in Directing
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee Oscar
- Best Motion Picture of the Year
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2012 Nominee Oscar
- Best Achievement in Directing
- The Descendants
2012 Winner Oscar
- Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee Oscar
- Best Achievement in Directing
- Sideways

American Cinema Editors, USA

2012 Winner Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award

American Comedy Awards, USA

2014 Nominee American Comedy Award
- Best Comedy Director - Film
- Nebraska

Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards

2015 Nominee Silver Condor
- Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera)
- Nebraska
USA.
2006 Winner Silver Condor
- Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera)
- Sideways
USA.

Bodil Awards

2025 Nominee Bodil
- Best English Language Film (Bedste engelsksprogede film)
- The Holdovers
2015 Nominee Bodil
- Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film)
- Nebraska
2013 Nominee Bodil
- Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film)
- The Descendants
2006 Nominee Bodil
- Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film)
- Sideways

Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain

2015 Winner CEC Award
- Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera)
- Nebraska

Czech Lions

2006 Nominee Czech Lion
- Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film)
- Sideways
USA.

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2023 Nominee DFWFCA Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers
3rd place
2013 Nominee DFWFCA Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2011 Winner DFWFCA Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2011 Winner DFWFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee DFWFCA Award
- Best Director
- Sideways

Directors Guild of America, USA

2024 Nominee DGA Award
- Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film
- The Holdovers
2012 Nominee DGA Award
- Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- The Descendants
2005 Nominee DGA Award
- Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- Sideways

Fantasporto

2005 Winner Directors' Week Award
- Special Prize of the Jury
- Sideways

Hamburg Film Festival

2013 Nominee Art Cinema Award
- Nebraska

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2011 Winner FFCC Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner FFCC Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2004 Winner FFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Winner FFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Golden Globes, USA

2014 Nominee Golden Globe
- Best Director - Motion Picture
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee Golden Globe
- Best Director - Motion Picture
- The Descendants
2012 Nominee Golden Globe
- Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee Golden Globe
- Best Director - Motion Picture
- Sideways
2005 Winner Golden Globe
- Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Satellite Awards

2024 Nominee Satellite Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers
2011 Nominee Satellite Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2011 Winner Satellite Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee Golden Satellite Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2005 Nominee Golden Satellite Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Gotham Awards

2011 Nominee Gotham Independent Film Award
- Best Feature
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2004 Winner Gotham Independent Film Award
- Best Feature
- Sideways
Shared with: Michael London

Grammy Awards

2013 Nominee Grammy
- Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
- The Descendants
Shared with: Dondi Bastone

Hawaii International Film Festival

2011 Winner Audience Award
- Best Narrative Feature
- The Descendants
2011 Winner Vision in Film Award

Humanitas Prize

2012 Nominee Humanitas Prize
- Feature Film Category
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Rash · Nat Faxon

Film Independent Spirit Awards

2014 Nominee Independent Spirit Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee Independent Spirit Award
- Best Feature
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2012 Nominee Independent Spirit Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2012 Winner Independent Spirit Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Winner Independent Spirit Award
- Best Director
- Sideways

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2004 Winner KCFCC Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2000 Nominee Sierra Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Locarno Film Festival

2025 Winner Leopard of Honor

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2012 Nominee ALFS Award
- Screenwriter of the Year
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee ALFS Award
- Director of the Year
- Sideways
2005 Nominee ALFS Award
- Screenwriter of the Year
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

London Film Festival

2011 Nominee Best Film
- The Descendants

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

2011 Nominee LAFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner LAFCA Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2004 Winner LAFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2002 Winner LAFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor
1999 Winner New Generation Award
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

National Board of Review, USA

2011 Winner NBR Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner NBR Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA

2005 Winner NSFC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2005 Nominee NSFC Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2003 Nominee NSFC Award
- Best Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Nominee NSFC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

2011 Nominee NYFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Rash · Nat Faxon
2004 Winner NYFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2002 Nominee NYFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2002 Nominee NYFCC Award
- Best Director
- About Schmidt
1999 Winner NYFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2012 Nominee OFCS Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee OFCS Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2005 Winner OFCS Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2003 Nominee OFCS Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Winner OFCS Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Election

Palm Springs International Film Festival

2005 Winner Director of the Year Award
- Sideways

PGA Awards

2012 Nominee PGA Award
- Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor

Razzie Awards

2008 Nominee Razzie Award
- Worst Screenplay
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Shared with: Barry Fanaro · Jim Taylor

Danish Film Awards (Robert)

2006 Winner Robert
- Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film)
- Sideways
2004 Nominee Robert
- Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film)
- About Schmidt

International Film Festival Rotterdam

2014 Winner Audience Award
- Nebraska

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

2011 Nominee SDFCS Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner SDFCS Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
1999 Winner SDFCS Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2011 Winner SEFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner SEFCA Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2004 Winner SEFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Winner SEFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Stockholm Film Festival

2013 Winner FIPRESCI Prize
- Nebraska

Sundance Film Festival

1996 Nominee Grand Jury Prize
- Dramatic
- Citizen Ruth

Thessaloniki Film Festival

1996 Winner Best Screenplay
- Citizen Ruth
Tied with Lucas Belvaux for Just for Laughs! (1996).
Shared with: Jim Taylor
1996 Nominee Golden Alexander
- Citizen Ruth

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

2011 Nominee TFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Toronto International Film Festival

2023 Nominee People's Choice Award
- Best Film
- The Holdovers

US Comedy Arts Festival

2005 Winner Comedy Film Honor
- Best Director
- Sideways

USC Scripter Award

2012 Winner USC Scripter Award
- The Descendants
Shared with: Kaui Hart Hemmings · Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee USC Scripter Award
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor · Rex Pickett
2003 Nominee USC Scripter Award
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor · Louis Begley

Valladolid International Film Festival

1999 Nominee Golden Spike
- Best Film
- Election
1999 Winner Pilar Miró Award
- Best New Director
- Election

Venice Film Festival

2017 Nominee Golden Lion
- Best Film
- Downsizing

Writers Guild of America, USA

2012 Winner WGA Award (Screen)
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemming
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Winner WGA Award (Screen)
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2003 Nominee WGA Award (Screen)
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Winner WGA Award (Screen)
- Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

American Screenwriters Association, USA

2003 Nominee Discover Screenwriting Award
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Seattle Film Critics Awards

2004 Winner Seattle Film Critics Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

San Francisco Film Critics Circle

2004 Winner SFFCC Award
- Best Director
- Sideways

Vancouver Film Critics Circle

2012 Nominee VFCC Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee VFCC Award
- Best Director
- Sideways

Sarajevo Film Festival

2024 Winner Honorary Heart of Sarajevo

Marrakech International Film Festival

2004 Winner Golden Star
- Sideways

Amanda Awards, Norway

2014 Nominee Amanda
- Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm)
- Nebraska
USA.

Sonoma Valley Film Festival

2003 Winner Imagery Honors

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2013 Nominee PFCS Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2011 Nominee PFCS Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2011 Nominee PFCS Award
- Best Screenplay - Adaptation
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner PFCS Award
- Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Chlotrudis Awards

2012 Winner Chlotrudis Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee Chlotrudis Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2000 Nominee Chlotrudis Award
- Best Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Central Ohio Film Critics Association

2014 Nominee COFCA Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee COFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Rash · Nat Faxon
2005 Winner COFCA Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2005 Nominee COFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2003 Nominee COFCA Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

2011 Nominee WAFCA Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2011 Winner WAFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Winner WAFCA Award
- Best Screenplay, Adapted
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

2013 Nominee Best North American Independent Film
- Nebraska

Cinema for Peace Awards

2012 Nominee Cinema for Peace Award
- Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year
- The Descendants

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina

2012 Nominee Award of the Argentinean Academy
- Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera)
- The Descendants
USA.

North Texas Film Critics Association, US

2023 Nominee NTFCA Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers

St. Louis Film Critics Association, US

2013 Nominee SLFCA Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2011 Winner SLFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2011 Nominee SLFCA Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2004 Winner SLFCA Award
- Best Director - Comedy/Musical
- Sideways
2004 Winner SLFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Alliance of Women Film Journalists

2013 Nominee EDA Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee EDA Award
- Best Picture
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2012 Nominee EDA Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2012 Winner EDA Award
- Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Tied with Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian for Moneyball (2011).
Shared with: Jim Rash · Nat Faxon

New York Film Critics, Online

2011 Winner NYFCO Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Indiana Film Journalists Association, US

2023 Nominee IFJA Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers
2011 Winner IFJA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Location Managers Guild International Awards (LMGI)

2014 Winner Eva Monley Award

Iowa Film Critics Awards

2024 Winner IFC Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers
2012 Winner IFC Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2005 Winner IFC Award
- Best Director
- Sideways

Denver Film Critics Society

2012 Nominee DFCS Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2012 Winner DFCS Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA)

2012 Nominee GAFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Utah Film Critics Association Awards

2011 Winner UFCA Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2004 Nominee UFCA Award
- Best Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Houston Film Critics Society Awards

2024 Nominee HFCS Award
- Best Director
- The Holdovers
2013 Nominee HFCS Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2011 Nominee HFCS Award
- Best Director
- The Descendants
2011 Winner HFCS Award
- Best Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Online Film & Television Association

2014 Nominee OFTA Film Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska
2012 Nominee OFTA Film Award
- Best Picture
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2012 Nominee OFTA Film Award
- Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Nominee OFTA Film Award
- Best Director
- Sideways
2005 Winner OFTA Film Award
- Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Guardian Film Awards, UK

2014 Nominee Guardian Film Award
- Best Director
- Nebraska

International Online Film Critics' Poll

2012 Nominee IOFCP Award
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash

Awards Circuit Community Awards

2011 Nominee ACCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Runner-Up
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2011 Nominee ACCA
- Best Motion Picture
- The Descendants
Shared with: Jim Burke · Jim Taylor
2004 Nominee ACCA
- Best Director
- Sideways
2004 Winner ACCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
1999 Nominee ACCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Election
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA)

2003 Nominee IOMA
- Best Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura)
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor

Golden Schmoes Awards

2002 Nominee Golden Schmoes
- Best Screenplay of the Year
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor

International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)

2012 Nominee INOCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants
Shared with: Nat Faxon · Jim Rash
2005 Winner INOCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Sideways
Shared with: Jim Taylor
2003 Nominee INOCA
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- About Schmidt
Shared with: Jim Taylor

The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards

2001 Nominee Stinker Award
- Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More than $100 Million Using Hollywood Math
- Jurassic Park III
Shared with: Peter Buchman · Jim Taylor