With all the Oscar buzz and anticipation some might have forgotten or overlooked the indie-Oscars, the Independent Spirit Awards.
The awards which took place Saturday early evening, live on IFC were a low-key and relaxed affair and the indie hit of the year, “Juno,” was naturally the big winner.
The film took Best Picture, Best Actress for diminutive star Ellen Page and Best First Screenplay for Diablo Cody. Director Jason Reitman was however, bested by “The Diving Bell & The Butterfly” filmmaker Julian Schnabel.
Though it had the most number of nominations (if you include the Robert Altman casting award that was announced along with the initial nominees), Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There,” was shut out outside of Cate Blanchett who won for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Bob Dylan composite Jude Quinn.
Scooping up two awards each were ‘Diving Bell,’ which also won Best Cinematography for Janusz Kaminski’s amazing work, and “The Savages” which was honored with Best Screenplay for director/writer Tamara Jenkins and Best Actor for Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
The ISA awards are in their 23rd of existence and honor independent films with a cap of $20 million dollars. (1/3 the average cost of a normal Hollywood production. Performances included the ‘Once’ duo Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performing “Falling Slowly” (the film was awards Best Foreign Film) and Kimya Dawson playing the tender ‘Juno’ song “Tire Swing.”
Both Blanchett during her win and the ‘I’m Not There’ cast award delivered tributes to Heath Ledger. “To probably one of the most beautiful independent spirits of all, Heath Ledger,” Blanchett said dedicating her award to the deceased actor. During Haynes acceptance for the Altman award he also delivered a tribute to to the actor he worked with on “I’m Not There.” “We all loved him so dearly. He really was unlike anybody I’ve ever known, he was more of a creative partner than an actor,” and noted that Ledger was working on his own film project around the time of his death (the chess film “The Queen’s Gambit”). “”I have no doubt he would have made an astounding director. I treasure the time we shared on this film (I’m Not There) and the love and talent that he gave so freely.”
Blanchett revealed backstage that actor Val Kilmer had spoken to Bob Dylan about the movie. But she recalled that as Kilmer recently tried to whisper Dylan’s reaction to her at a party, his voice was drowned out.
Independent Spirit Awards Winners
Best Film – Juno
Best Foreign Film – ‘Once’ (Ireland)
Best First Feature – ‘The Lookout’
Best Director – Julian Schnabel, ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’
Best Actor – Philip Seymour Hoffman, ‘The Savages’
Best Supporting Actor – Chiwetel Ejiofor, ‘Talk to Me’
Best Actress – Ellen Page, ‘Juno’
Best Supporting Actress – Cate Blanchett
Best Screenplay – Tamara Jenkins, ‘The Savages’
Best First Screenplay – Diablo Cody, ‘Juno’
Best Documentary: “Crazy Love”
Best Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Truer Than Fiction Award: The Unforeseen
Watch: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – “Falling Slowly”
Watch: Kimya Dawson – “Tire Swing”
Download: Kimya Dawson – “Tire Swing”
