The Wrestler Sweeps The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards
The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards were held last night, celebrating the best of the best independent films that were released over the last year. I love the Indie Spirits because it gives you a great bunch of indie selections to seek out. Films that might be just out of reach for the Academy Awards like The Wackness, Medicine for Melancholy and The Signal get recognition through nominations. The big news is that Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler took home Best Picture, Best Male Lead (Mickey Rourke) and Best Cinematography (Maryse Alberti). Check out the full list of winners after the jump.
Best FeatureThe Wrestler
Ballast
Frozen River
Rachel Getting Married
Wendy and Lucy
Best First FeatureSynecdoche, New York
Afterschool
Medicine for Melancholy
Sangre De Mi Sangre
Sleep Dealer
Best DirectorTom McCarthy – The Visitor
Ramin Bahrani – Chop Shop
Jonathan Demme – Rachel Getting Married
Lance Hammer – Ballast
Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Best Male LeadMickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Sean Penn – Milk
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
Best Female LeadMelissa Leo – Frozen River
Summer Bishil – Towelhead
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Tarra Riggs – Ballast
Michelle Williams – Wendy and Lucy
Best Supporting MaleJames Franco – Milk
Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker
Charlie McDermott – Frozen River
JimMyron Ross – Ballast
Haaz Sleiman – The Visitor
Best Supporting FemalePenelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rosemarie DeWitt – Rachel Getting Married
Rosie Perez – The Take
Misty Upham – Frozen River
Debra Winger – Rachel Getting Married
Best ScreenplayWoody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck – Sugar
Charlie Kaufman – Synecdoche, New York
Howard A. Rodman – Savage Grace
Christopher Zalla – Sangre De Mi Sangre
Best First ScreenplayDustin Lance Black – Milk
Lance Hammer – Ballast
Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Jonathan Levine – The Wackness
Jenny Lumet – Rachel Getting Married
Best CinematographyMaryse Alberti – The Wrestler
Lol Crawley – Ballast
James Laxton – Medicine for Melancholy
Harris Savides – Milk
Michael Simmonds – Chop Shop
Best Documentary
The Betrayal
Encounters at the End of the World
Man on Wire
The Order of Myths
Up the Yangtze
Best Foreign FilmThe Class (France)
Gomorra (Italy)
Hunger (U.K./Ireland)
Secret of the Grain (France)
Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
John Cassavetes Award (Best feature made for less than $500,000)In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Prince of Broadway
The Signal
Take Out
Turn the River