2009 Spirit Picks

NEW IN THEATERS

FILM FESTIVALS

FF2 TWOZIES

2009 Independent Spirit Awards
Spirit Awards winners were announced on
Saturday, February 24th.

For complete details, visit:
http://filmindependent.org

FF2 Extra:
What are the Independent Spirit Awards?

FF2 NOTE:
Since we are voting members of IFP, choices below represent
our actual top picks in each category.

Many Spirit Award candidates also appear on our 2008 TWOZIES List.

Best Feature

	BALLAST Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
	FROZEN RIVER Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
	RACHEL GETTING MARRIED Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
	WENDY AND LUCY Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
	THE WRESTLER Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin

Best Director

	Ramin Bahrani CHOP SHOP
	Jonathan Demme RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
	Lance Hammer BALLAST
	Courtney Hunt FROZEN RIVER
	Tom McCarthy THE VISITOR

Best First Feature

	AFTERSCHOOL
	MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY
	SANGRE DE MI SANGRE
	SLEEP DEALER
	SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK

John Cassavettes Award
(Best Feature Made for Under $500,000)

	IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS
	PRINCE OF BROADWAY
	THE SIGNAL
	TAKE OUT
	TURN THE RIVER

Top

Best Screenplay

	Woody Allen, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
	Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, SUGAR
	Charlie Kaufman, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
	Howard A. Rodman, SAVAGE GRACE
	Christopher Zalla, SANGRE DE MI SANGRE

Best First Screenplay

	Dustin Lance Black, MILK
	Lance Hammer, BALLAST
	Courtney Hunt, FROZEN RIVER
	Jonathan Levine, THE WACKNESS
	Jenny Lumet, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Best Female Lead

	Summer Bishil, TOWELHEAD
	Anne Hathaway, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
	Melissa Leo, FROZEN RIVER
	Tarra Riggs, BALLAST
	Michelle Williams, WENDY AND LUCY

Best Male Lead

	Javier Bardem, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
	Richard Jenkins, THE VISITOR
	Sean Penn, MILK
	Jeremy Renner, THE HURT LOCKER
	Mickey Rourke, THE WRESTLER

Top

Best Supporting Female

	Penélope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
	Rosemarie DeWitt, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
	Rosie Perez, THE TAKE
	Misty Upham, FROZEN RIVER
	Debra Winger, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Best Supporting Male

	James Franco, MILK
	Anthony Mackie, THE HURT LOCKER
	Charlie McDermott, FROZEN RIVER
	Jim Myron Ross, BALLAST
	Haaz Sleiman, THE VISITOR

Best Cinematographer

	Maryse Alberti, THE WRESTLER
	Lol Crawley, BALLAST
	James Laxton, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY
	Harris Savides, MILK
	Michael Simmonds, CHOP SHOP

Best Foreign Film

	THE CLASS
	GOMORRA
	HUNGER
	SECRET OF THE GRAIN
	SILENT LIGHT

Best Documentary

	THE BETRAYAL
	ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
	MAN ON WIRE
	THE ORDER OF MYTHS
	UP THE YANGTZE

Top

IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award

	Barry Jenkins, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY
	Nina Paley, Sita SINGS THE BLUES
	Lynn Shelton, MY EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE