25th annual “Independent Spirit Awards”

Academy Award nominees Mo’nique, Jeff Bridges, Gabourey Sidibe and Woody Harrelson got their Oscars weekend off to a great start in Los Angeles on Friday night by picking up top acting prizes at the 25th annual “Independent Spirit Awards”.

Sidibe’s Precious and Mo’Nique was the night’s big winner, claiming five honours, including Best Feature. Bridges’ Crazy Heart and the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man were double winners and other major awards were shared by The Messenger, (500) Days of Summer and Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Highlights of the night included Bridges’ performance of Falling & Flying from Crazy Heart with songwriters T-Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham and heavy rockers Anvil’s live rendition of Metal on Metal.

The winners are:
Best Screenplay – (500) Days of Summer (Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber)
Best Documentary – Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Best Foreign Film – An Education (U.K./France)
Best Female Lead – Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
Best Male Lead – Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Best Director – Lee Daniels (Precious)
Best Feature – Precious
Best Supporting Male – Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Best First Feature – Crazy Heart (Scott Cooper)
Best First Screenplay – Precious (Geoffrey Fletcher)
Best Supporting Female – Mo’Nique (Precious)
Best Cinematography – A Serious Man (Roger Deakins)
John Cassavetes Award – Humpday (writer/director: Lynn Shelton)
Robert Altman Award – A Serious Man
Someone to Watch Award – Kyle Patrick Alvarez (director or Easier With Practice)
Piaget Producers Award – Karin Chien
Truer Than Fiction Award – Bill & Turner Ross (directors of 45365)