# List of awards and nominations received by Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is an American writer, director and producer known for the films About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), and The Holdovers (2023). Over the course of his career, Payne has won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a British Academy Film Award, five Independent Spirit Awards, three Writers Guild of America Awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award and three Directors Guild of America Awards.

## Accolades
### Awards and nominations

| Award / Organization / Film festival | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| AACTA International Awards | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 2012 | Best Screenwriter | The Descendants | Nominated |
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Academy Awards | 2012 | Best Picture | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Academy Awards | 2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| American Comedy Awards | 2014 | Best Comedy Director – Film | Nebraska | Nominated |
| American Screenwriters Association | 2003 | Discover Screenwriting Award | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Astra Film Awards | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | 1999 | Best Screenplay | Election | Runner-up |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | 2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Runner-up |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | 2004 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| British Academy Film Awards | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| British Academy Film Awards | 2012 | Best Film | The Descendants | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | 2024 | Best Direction | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Nominated |
| Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Nominated |
| Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2003 | Best Writer | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2005 | Best Writer | Sideways | Won |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | 3rd place |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Won |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | 3rd place |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | 2023 | Best Director | The Holdovers | 3rd place |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | 2005 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Sideways | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | 2012 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Won |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Won |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2004 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Georgia Film Critics Association | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| Golden Raspberry Awards | 2008 | Worst Screenplay | I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | Nominated |
| Gotham Awards | 2004 | Best Feature | Sideways | Won |
| Gotham Awards | 2011 | Best Feature | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2013 | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Houston Film Critics Society | 2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| Humanitas Prize | 2012 | Feature Film | The Descendants | Finalist |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2000 | Best Director | Election | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2012 | Best Feature | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2012 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2014 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| London Film Critics' Circle | 2005 | Director of the Year | Sideways | Nominated |
| London Film Critics' Circle | 2005 | Screenwriter of the Year | Sideways | Nominated |
| London Film Critics' Circle | 2012 | Screenwriter of the Year | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Runner-up |
| National Board of Review | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| National Board of Review | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | 2nd place |
| National Society of Film Critics | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | 2nd place |
| National Society of Film Critics | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | 2nd place |
| National Society of Film Critics | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 2000 | Best Screenplay | Election | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 2003 | Best Director | About Schmidt | 3rd place |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 2003 | Best Screenplay | About Schmidt | 2nd place |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | 3rd place |
| New York Film Critics Online | 2011 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society | 2003 | Best Adapted Screenplay | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Online Film Critics Society | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Online Film Critics Society | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 2005 | Director of the Year | Sideways | Won |
| Producers Guild of America Awards | 2012 | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | The Descendants | Nominated |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | 1999 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | 2004 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle | 2004 | Best Director | Sideways | Won |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle | 2004 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Satellite Awards | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Satellite Awards | 2024 | Best Director | The Holdovers | Nominated |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Director – Comedy or Musical | Sideways | Won |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2005 | Best Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 2013 | Best Director | Nebraska | Nominated |
| Thessaloniki International Film Festival | 1996 | Best Screenplay | Citizen Ruth | Won |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Runner-up |
| USC Scripter Awards | 2003 | USC Scripter Award | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| USC Scripter Awards | 2005 | USC Scripter Award | Sideways | Nominated |
| USC Scripter Awards | 2012 | USC Scripter Award | The Descendants | Won |
| Valladolid International Film Festival | 1999 | Best New Director | Election | Won |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | 2005 | Best Director | Sideways | Nominated |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | 2012 | Best Screenplay | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2004 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Director | The Descendants | Nominated |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2000 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Election | Won |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2003 | Best Adapted Screenplay | About Schmidt | Nominated |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2005 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sideways | Won |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |

### Special awards and other honors

| Year | Award | Recognized work |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association's New Generation Award | Citizen Ruth and Election |
| 2004 | Filmmakers Alliance's Vision Award | — |
| 2011 | Hawaii International Film Festival Vision in Film Award | — |
| 2012 | ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award | — |
| 2014 | Location Managers Guild's Eva Monley Award | — |
| 2017 | Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Orpheus Award Honoree | — |
| 2023 | St. Louis International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award | — |
| 2024 | Advanced Imaging Society's Harold Lloyd Award | — |
| 2024 | Sarajevo Film Festival's Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award | — |
| 2024 | National Autonomous University of Mexico Film Archive Medal [es] | — |