The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards were held today and while I decided to watch my beloved Tar Heels go down to Maryland just as my hometown (sort of) WSU Cougars beat UCLA it didn’t stop me from keeping one eye open as The Wrestler took more than one award including Best Feature. Mickey Rourke won for Best Actor and the film won for Maryse Alberti’s Cinematography.
Penelope Cruz took home the award for Best Supporting Actress while James Franco took home the award in the male category for his work in Milk.
You can check out the complete list of winners below and click here for a list of the nominees.
Best Feature
Best Director
- Thomas McCarthy, The Visitor
Best First Feature
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
- In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Best First Screenplay
- Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Best Screenplay
- Woody Allen, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Female Lead
- Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Best Male Lead
- Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Supporting Female
- Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Male
- James Franco, Milk
Best Cinematography
- Maryse Alberti, The Wrestler
Best Documentary
- Man on Wire
Best Foreign Film
- The Class (France)
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
