The film covers the period of
previews leading to the play's
opening, and appears as if
filmed in a single shot, an idea
Iñárritu had from the film's
conception. Emmanuel
Lubezki, who won the
Academy Award for his
cinematography in Birdman,
believed that the recording
time necessary for the unique
long take approach taken
in Birdman could not have
been made with older
technology. The film was shot
in New York City during the
spring of 2013 with a budget of
$16.5 million jointly financed
by Fox Searchlight
Pictures, New Regency
Pictures and Worldview
Entertainment. It premiered the
following year in August
where it opened the 71st
Venice International Film
Festival.
Birdman had a limited
theatrical release in the United
States on October 17, 2014,
followed by a wide release on
November 14, grossing more
than $103 million worldwide.
The film won the Academy
Award for Best Picture, along
with Best Director, Best
Original Screenplay, and Best
Cinematography from a total of
nine nominations, tying it
with The Grand Budapest
Hotel for the most nominated
film of the Academy's 87th
annual awards ceremony. It
also won Outstanding Cast in a
Motion Picture at the 21st
Screen Actors Guild Awards,
as well as Best Actor in a
Musical or Comedy for Keaton
and Best Screenplay at
the 72nd Golden Globe
Awards.
JOY FEELINGS | DECEMBER ISSUE
78