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2009 Independent Spirit Awards Nominees Announced

by Alex Billington
December 2, 2008

The Independent Spirit Awards are an annual award given in the name of independent film, featuring those little indies which deserve the honor and recognition that they won't necessarily be receiving at the Oscars. The nominees for the 2009 awards have been announced today. The three films with the most nominations include Ballast, Frozen River, and Rachel Getting Married. Also rounding out the list of films nominated for Best Features are The Wrestler and Wendy and Lucy. A very interesting selection and not at all what I was expecting, but nevertheless a great selection of the finest in independent film. Read on!

You'll notice an [IMDb] link next to each film. This is so you can explore and discover great new films, because there is guaranteed to be at least one you've never heard of in here.

BEST FEATURE
Ballast [IMDb]
Frozen River [IMDb]
Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]
Wendy and Lucy [IMDb]
The Wrestler [IMDb]

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Afterschool [IMDb]
Medicine for Melancholy [IMDb]
Sangre De Mi Sangre [IMDb]
Sleep Dealer [IMDb]
Synecdoche, New York [IMDb]

BEST DIRECTOR
Ramin Bahrani - Chop Shop [IMDb]
Jonathan Demme - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]
Lance Hammer - Ballast [IMDb]
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River [IMDb]
Tom McCarthy - The Visitor [IMDb]

BEST MALE LEAD
Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor [IMDb]
Sean Penn - Milk [IMDb]
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker [IMDb]
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler [IMDb]

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Summer Bishil - Towelhead [IMDb]
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]
Melissa Leo - Frozen River [IMDb]
Tarra Riggs - Ballast [IMDb]
Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy [IMDb]

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
James Franco - Milk [IMDb]
Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker [IMDb]
Charlie McDermott - Frozen River [IMDb]
JimMyron Ross - Ballast [IMDb]
Haaz Sleiman - The Visitor [IMDb]

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]
Rosie Perez - The Take [IMDb]
Misty Upham - Frozen River [IMDb]
Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

BEST SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]
Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck - Sugar [IMDb]
Charlie Kaufman - Synecdoche, New York [IMDb]
Howard A. Rodman - Savage Grace [IMDb]
Christopher Zalla - Sangre De Mi Sangre [IMDb]

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Maryse Alberti - The Wrestler [IMDb]
Lol Crawley - Ballast [IMDb]
James Laxton - Medicine for Melancholy [IMDb]
Harris Savides - Milk [IMDb]
Michael Simmonds - Chop Shop [IMDb]

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Betrayal [IMDb]
Encounters at the End of the World [IMDb]
Man on Wire [IMDb]
The Order of Myths [IMDb]
Up the Yangtze [IMDb]

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Class (France) [IMDb]
Gomorra (Italy) [IMDb]
Hunger (U.K./Ireland) [IMDb]
Secret of the Grain (France) [IMDb]
Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany) [IMDb]

For last year's list of nominees and winners, which included Juno, The Lookout, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, click right here. The Independent Spirit Awards will host a show and announce the winners early next year on Saturday, February 21st, 2009. Check in again then to see who ended up winning!

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Related categories: Awards News, Indies, Movie News

Markers

Yay 4 Misty Upham!
BahHumbug

My picks (what I want to win, not what I think will win) In order of nominees... Rachel Getting Married Synecdoche New York Jonathan Demme Mickey Rourke Anne Hathaway James Franco Penelope Cruz Charlie Kaufman The Wrestler Man On Wire Hunger
BahHumbug

Oh, and FYI, the only two films I haven't seen on this list those last two in the documentary category so Alex is right again...
James

where is Slumdog Millionaire???
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#3 - Why was I right again? I'm confused... #4 - Damn good question!!
BahHumbug

"because there is guaranteed to be an indie movie you've never heard of on this list...."
Marc

Why is everbody forgetting the Best First Screenplay category? It's missing here, it's missing on FSR, it's missing on /Film. Looks like you are all copying the same incomplete source. So here it is: Best First Screenplay ----------------------------- Dustin Lance Black - Milk Lance Hammer - Ballast Courtney Hunt - Frozen River Jonathan Levine - The Wackness Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
Peloquin

I really hope The Wackness, Encounters at the End of the World, and the Visitor get some recognition. Those films resonated with me more than any others this year. Encounters at the End of the World had the most surreal cinematography between the breathtaking landscapes and the crazy seal noises it's definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it. Check out the techno sounding seal chatter...http://www.traileraddict.com/clip/encounters-at-end-of-world/seal-sounds And I know Sean Penn or Mickey Rourke are going to take home the best male lead, but Richard Jenkins definitely deserves it in my mind. I saw him in a whole new light in The Visitor and it opened my eyes to what an amazing actor he is. In regards to The Wackness, it was the most original contemporary period piece I've ever seen and the dialogue really inspired me and made me look at life in a whole new light. I guess it was just comforting to know that there are others out there who can relate to the same questions I ask myself everyday...I'm surprised and saddened it's only nominated for a forgotten category that had to be reposted in the comments section.
Peloquin

I also would have liked to see In Search of a Midnight Kiss or Wristcutters nominated for something as those were very well done and very inexpensive independent films.
theotherbluth

Peloquin, totally agree The Wackness and Wristcutters were both awesome