February 2009
At this year’s Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, films ‘The Wrestler,’ ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and ‘Milk’ shared top category honors, making the highly anticipated annual award event a celebration of the diverse films that captured the public’s attention.
Other films like ‘The Visitor,’ ‘Frozen River,’ ‘In Search Of A Midnight Kiss,’ ‘Man On Wire,’ ‘The Class’ and ‘Synecdoche, New York’ were honored as well.
Fox Searchlight Pictures’ ‘The Wrestler’ won ‘Best Feature,’ ‘Best Male Lead’ for Mickey Rourke, and ‘Best Cinematography’ by Maryse Alberti.
The Weinstein Company’s ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ won ‘Best Screenplay’ by Woody Allen and ‘Best Supporting Female’ for Penelope Cruz.
Overture Films' ‘The Visitor,’ won ‘Best Director’ going to Tom McCarthy.
Sony Pictures Classics' ‘Synecdoche, New York,’ won ‘Best First Feature’ and the ‘Robert Altman Award,’ ‘Frozen River’ won ‘Best Female Lead’ for Melissa Leo; and ‘The Class,’ won ‘Best Foreign Film’.
IFC Films' ’In Search of a Midnight Kiss’ won the ‘John Cassavetes Award’ for the ‘Best Feature made for under $500,000.’
Magnolia Pictures’ ‘Man on Wire,’ won ‘Best Documentary.’
Heather Rae, producer of ‘Frozen River’ and ‘Ibid,’ received the thirteenth annual ‘Piaget Producers Award,’ which honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The winner of the ‘Producers Award’ receives an unrestricted grant of $25,000 funded by Piaget.
Lynn Shelton, director of ‘My Effortless Brilliance,’ won the sixteenth annual ‘Acura Someone To Watch Award,’ a $25,000 unrestricted grant created to honor a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is funded by Acura.
Margaret Brown, director of ‘The Order of Myths,’ won the fifteenth annual ‘Lacoste Truer Than Fiction Award,’ presented to an emerging director of nonfiction features who has not yet received significant attention. The award is accompanied by a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Lacoste.
Also given was the second annual ‘Robert Altman Award,’ given to one film's director, casting director, and ensemble cast. Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut ‘Synecdoche, New York’ received this award, along with casting director Jeanne McCarthy, and ensemble cast members Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Michelle Williams.
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