Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced its winners for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Anthony Mackie and Kate Beckinsale served as presenters.
In order to be considered, a film must be made by a U.S. producer for under $20 million.
And the winners are…
BEST FEATURE
THE ARTIST | Producer, Thomas Langmann
BEST DIRECTOR
THE ARTIST | Michel Hazanavicius
BEST FEMALE LEAD
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN | Michelle Williams
BEST MALE LEAD
THE ARTIST | Jean Dujardin
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
THE DESCENDANTS | Shailene Woodley
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
BEGINNERS | Christopher Plummer
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
A SEPARATION | Iran; Director, Asghar Farhadi
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Given to the director and producer)
THE INTERRUPTERS | Director/Producer, Steve James Producer, Alex Kotlowitz
BEST SCREENPLAY
THE DESCENDANTS | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE ARTIST | Guillaume Schiffman
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Given to the director and producer)
MARGIN CALL | Director, J.C. Chandor; Producers, Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa & Zachary Quinto
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
50/50 | Will Reiser
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Given to the writer,director, and producer of the best feature made for under $500,000P
PARIAH | Writer/Director, Dee Rees; Producer, Nekisa Cooper
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD (Honors emerging producers)
TAKE SHELTER | Sophia Lin
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
WITHOUT | Mark Jackson
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD (Presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features)
WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM | Heather Courtney
