‘Precious’ Big Winner At Independent Spirit Awards

LOS ANGELES – The gritty teen drama “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire” won in all five categories it was nominated in, including best feature, at Friday’s25th Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who played the abused teen in “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire” won for best female lead in the awards honoring smaller-budget independent films.

The field also consisted of Helen Mirren of “The Last Station,” about the last year in the life of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, Gwyneth Paltrow of the drama “Two Lovers,” Maria Bello of “Downloading Nancy” and Nisreen Faour of “Amreeka,” about a Palestinian mother and son who move to Illinois to start a new life.

Sidibe and Mirren are both best actress Oscar nominees.

Mo’Nique added the best supporting female Spirit Award to her Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for her role as an abusive mother in “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire.”

“Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire’s” other Spirit Awards went to Lee Daniels for best director and Geoffrey Fletcher for best first screenplay.

Oscar favorite Jeff Bridges of “Crazy Heart” won for best male lead, beating out Oscar nominee Colin Firth of “A Single Man,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt of “(500) Days of Summer,” Adam Scott of “The Vicious Kind” and Souleymane Sy Savane from “Goodbye Solo.”

As previously announced, Joel and Ethan Coen’s “A Serious Man,” which loosely updates the Biblical story of Job, received the Robert Altman Award, given to a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.

The historical tale “The Last Station” shared the lead with “Precious” with five nominations, but did not win any awards at the ceremony at the L.A. Live complex in downtown Los Angeles.

To be eligible for a Spirit Award, films must be at least 70 minutes long, and cost less than $20 million to make.

The films must have been shown in a commercial theater for at least one week during 2009 or shown at one of the qualifying festivals — Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York, Sundance, Telluride or Toronto.

Here is a complete list of winners:

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer, Executive Producers are not listed)

— “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire,” Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

BEST DIRECTOR

— Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”

BEST SCREENPLAY

— Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, “(500) Days Of Summer”

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)

— “Crazy Heart,” Director: Scott Cooper, Producers: T Bone Burnett, Judy Cairo, Rob Carliner, Scott Cooper, Robert Duvall

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

— Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director, and producer. Executive Producers are not listed

— “Humpday,” Writer/Director/Producer: Lynn Shelton

BEST FEMALE LEAD

— Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”

BEST MALE LEAD

— Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

— Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

— Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

— Roger Deakins, “A Serious Man”

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director)

— “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” Director: Sacha Gervasi

BEST FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the director)

— “An Education,” Director: Lone Scherfig (UK/France)

ACURA SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 16th annual Acura Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Acura.

— Kyle Patrick Alvarez, “Easier With Practice”

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 15th annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.

— Bill Ross, Turner Ross, “45365”

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 13th annual Piaget Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.

— Karin Chien, “The Exploding Girl,” “Santa Mesa”

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)

— “A Serious Man,” Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen; Casting Directors: Ellen Chenoweth, Rachel Tenner; Ensemble Cast: Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Jessica McManus, Fred Melamed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Aaron Wolff