The Oscars might be the big event on filmmakers’ minds this weekend, but there’s still room for the likes of the Indie Spirit Awards, which targets those ambitious movies pulled off for a lot less than your average blockbuster. And while there seems to be even more crossover between the two nomination lists than ever this year, the Spirit Awards held a few surprises, with **Black Swan **picking up four prizes including best film, best director for Darren Aronofsky best cinematography and, completing her run to date, best female for Natalie Portman.
Winter’s Bone, which had been one of the big favourites for the event, went home with two awards, as John Hawkes won a well deserved best supporting male trophy and Dale Dickey snagged best supporting female for her performance as Merab.
But what the Sprit event tends to do best is recognise up and coming talent, with gongs handed out to those making their first film and first produced script. Tiny Furniture’s Lena Dunham won the script award and Get Low’s Aaron Schneider took best first film. Though the team behind Low probably also deserved some sort of award for managing to convince Bill Murray to show up and act in the movie.
And what of current awards champ The King’s Speech? Colin Firth and co romped home with best foreign film, though Oscar co-host James Franco scored best male for 127 Hours.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Best Feature: Black Swan
Best Director: Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Best Screenplay: Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Best Male Lead: James Franco, 127 Hours
Best Supporting Male: John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Best Female Lead: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Female: Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone
Best Cinematography: Matthew Libatique, Black Swan
Robert Altman Award: Please Give
Best First Screenplay: Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture
Best First Feature: Get Low
Best Documentary: Exit Through The Gift Shop
Best Foreign Film: The King’s Speech
John Cassavetes Award (best feature made for under $500,000): Daddy Longlegs
Piaget Producers Award: Anish Savjani, Meek’s Cutoff
Someone To Watch Award: Mike Ott, Littlerock
Truer Than Fiction Award: Jeff Maimberg, Marwencol