Independent Spirit Awards: winners, recap & photos

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

The Independent Spirit Awards have always been held the night before the Oscars, but this year they decided to move it up to the Friday before the Oscars. I have no idea why this happened, but whatever. Everyone showed up and got drunk and won big, with Precious and Crazy Heart being the two favorites of the night. Additional coverage here and here.

All of the Precious winners are nominated for Oscars too – The Precious team took Best Picture, Lee Daniels took home Best Director, Geoffrey Fletcher took Best First Screenplay, Mo’Nique took home Best Supporting Actress and Gaby Sidibe took home Best Actress. Daniels jokes during his speech that “Kathryn Bigelow’s not here tonight… I am.” Meanwhile, Mo’Nique took time during her speech to thank Sidibe, saying “You are a special gift to the universe, baby.” When Sidibe won, she showed off her “independent spirit” by announcing that she “saved up my money for a week so I could see Welcome to the Dollhouse… [I thought] I could do that!” Sidenote: Once again, Mariah looks drunk off her ass.

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Press Room

Meanwhile, Crazy Heart took Best First Picture, and Jeff Bridges took Best Actor, just as he’s done at the Golden Globes, SAGs, Critics Choice and practically everywhere else. I like the leather!

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

Woody Harrelson won Best Supporting Actor for The Messenger – he’s up for an Oscar too. Woody was gracious, thanking the other nominees in his category, saying “I think you’re all better. It’s never felt right to me to declare a winner. We’re all just actors and lucky to be doing this … of course now, it feels a little more right.”

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

Additional Spirit Award winners included: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber for Best Screenplay for (500) Days of Summer. An Education got Best Foreign Film, and Anvil! The Story of Anvil won Best Documentary. The Robert Altman Award (for director and ensemble) went to the Coen Bros and the cast of A Serious Man.

Here are some more cute photos from the night:

Piaget at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Arrivals

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show

Additional photos of the Spirit Awards, including photos of Colin Firth, Jodie Foster, Carey Mulligan, amongst others, credit: FayesVision/WENN.

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20 Responses to “Independent Spirit Awards: winners, recap & photos”

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  1. ruru says:

    Who is that pretty Asian dude in the ‘Precious’ crew photo?

    Also, I love Maggie Gyllenhaal.

  2. Peach says:

    @ruru:
    He is pretty isn’t he? I was wondering the same thing.

    Also I love Gabby’s dress.
    Also: Jeff Bridges has won my heart forever.

  3. Kiki says:

    Gabourey looks fantastic in that dress!!! I really like her and – I can’t believe I’m saying this because I don’t know her, she inspires me 🙂

  4. canadianchick says:

    Love Phillip Seymour Hoffman, what’s he up to lately?

  5. kaligula says:

    yay!!!!! i love actors, i admire these people so much…. i love seeing these photos and i’m so happy for the winners… :))))

  6. Feebee says:

    ha, the asian guy is the first face I went to!

    The awards got moved from the beach on Saturday afternoon to downtown LA on Friday night because it’s the 25th anniversary. Hopefully it will return beach side next year.

  7. Oi says:

    Same as the above. He should act. Or model.

  8. Carrie says:

    Asian dude is pretty, pretty.
    Must be a behind the scenes person- producer, DP, cinematographer, etc.

  9. max says:

    BIG mistakes: 1) moving from the beach to a big corporate space…not so independent
    2) Eddie Izzard was WORSE than Ricky Gervais
    if that is possible. WHY do these idiot producers think these English leprechauns are funnier than our guys? They are NOT funny and truly
    embarrassing.

  10. Jeandawga says:

    Philip Seymour Hoffman is now directing a play at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.

  11. DoMaJoReMc says:

    Jodie Foster looks FAN-FRIGGIN’-TASTIC! She is such a classy woman.

  12. Lala11_7 says:

    I wonder if the fact that I’ve seen all the work of most of the people shown above (except for the CUTE Asian man…HOT!!!)…means that I have good taste in cinema…or I’m pretentious…

    Perhaps it means I’m pretentious since I said “cinema” instead of “movie”…LOL!!!

  13. Sincerity says:

    Congratulations to all the individuals involved in the production of the film Precious. It’s a very worthwhile film that deserves the recognition. May these individuals be blessed with continued success. Helen Mirren, the grand dame, looked great as usual. She really knows what works for her.

  14. Gwen says:

    Ethan Hawke’s expression in that picture is priceless!

  15. Maritza says:

    Everyone else looks pretty good except Maggie Gyllenhaal, that dress is awful, her boobs look deflated! Phillip Seymour went with a sweater and jeans, is that the best he can do?. These are great actors but I just wish they made a harder effort to look good, at least at award events.

  16. neelyo says:

    Maggie G. looks way too thin and it ages her a lot. Eat something!

  17. neelyo says:

    oh and i love that picture of gaby sibide and jeremy renner. too cute.

  18. mildred says:

    Why Why Why Eddie Izzard or Ricky Gervais
    when we have so much talent here at home. THOSE guys are just Terrible…not funny…they don’t even know most in the audience. Producers!!! get a clue.

  19. snapdragon says:

    jeff bridges will always and forever be “the dude” and for that i will always love him. sidenote: is mariah still trying to pretend she’s a size 4? size 10, maybe, but a 4? uh-uh.

  20. CB Rawks says:

    The Dude Abides. As does my love.