Film Independent handed out top honors to “Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Sessions” and “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” at the 28th Film Independent Spirit Awards. “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Magic Mike,” “Amour” and “The Invisible War” also received awards at the ceremony, which is held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
This year’s major category winners were “Silver Linings Playbook,” which won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Female Lead and “The Sessions,” which won Best Supporting Female and Best Male Lead; “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” which won Best First Feature and “Safety Not Guaranteed,” which won Best First Screenplay; “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” which won Best Cinematography, “Magic Mike,” which won Best Supporting Male and “Middle of Nowhere” from AFFRM in partnership with Participant Media, which won the John Cassavetes Award; Sony Pictures Classics’ “Amour,” which won Best International Film and Cinedigm Entertainmet Group’s “The Invisible War,” which won Best Documentary; A Special Distinction Award was given posthumously to Cinematographer Harris Savides.
The 6th annual Robert Altman Award was given to one film’s director, casting director, and ensemble cast. Sean Baker’s Starlet received this award, along with casting directors Julia Kim and ensemble cast members Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Karren Karagulian, Stella Maeve, James Ransone.
The 2013 Chaz and Roger Ebert Fellowship, which is awarded to a filmmaker in Project Involve, Film Independent’s diversity mentorship program and includes a cash grant of $10,000, was given to Melissa Haizlip, director of the documentary Mr. SOUL!. Haizlip is a Film Independent Fellow participating in Project Involve 2012-2013. Her film, which is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, was screened at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41st Annual Independent Film Series in 2011.
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The following is a complete list of the winners:
Best Feature
Silver Linings Playbook The Weinstein Company
Producers: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon
Best Director
David O. Russell
“Silver Linings Playbook” The Weinstein Company
Best Screenplay
David O. Russell
“Silver Linings Playbook” The Weinstein Company
Best First Feature
Thee Perks of Being A Wallflower Summit Entertainment
Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky
Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith
Best First Screenplay
Derek Connolly
“Safety Not Guaranteed” FilmDistrict
John Cassavetes Award
(For best feature made under $500,000)
Writer/Director/Producer: Ava DuVernay
“Middle of Nowhere” AFFRM in partnership with Participant Media
Producers: Howard Barish, Paul Garnes
Best Supporting Female
Helen Hunt
“The Sessions” Fox Searchlight
Best Supporting Male
Matthew McConaughey
“Magic Mike” Warner Bros. Pictures
Best Female Lead
Jennifer Lawrence
“Silver Linings Playbook” The Weinstein Company
Best Male Lead
John Hawkes
“The Sessions” Fox Searchlight
Robert Altman Award
Starlet Music Box F
