Awards Watch

Mike Mills (left) and the cast of "Beginners" after winning Best Ensemble performance for the drama. The film went on to tie for Best Film with "The Tree of Life." "He doesn't act like a legend," Mills said of his star Christopher Plummer to Indiewire. "I learned a lot about storytelling through him. It's a character based on my dad. I'm so glad to have somebody so with it and with so much integrity playing him."

Two of the night's honorees, Charlize Theron and Tim Rothman, caught up backstage at the Gothams shortly after Theron accepted her award. [Photo by Brian Brooks]

"Scenes of a Crime" directors Blue Hadaegh and Grover Babcock backstage at the Gothams after winning the Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You cash prize. [Photo by Brian Brooks]

Alec Baldwin and Gotham honoree Gary Oldman backstage at the Gothams shortly after Baldwin presented the "Tinker Tailor" star with the award. [Photo by Brian Brooks]

"Like Crazy" star Felicity Jones backstage at the Gothams after winning Best Breakthrough Performance. "This is the only awards ceremony which I was present, which is just awesome," she told Indiewire. "I was praying that I wouldn't win because I didn't have anything prepared to say. But it's really exciting. I said something awful and disastrous and now I have to recover from the embarrassment."

The honorees for the Academy's Governors Awards, for lifetime achievement, bask in the glory of their peers on stage at the 2011 Academy Awards. Noticeably absent is legendary French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard. L-R: historian Kevin Brownlow, director Francis Ford Coppola and actor Eli Wallach. [Photo Credit: Michael Yada/AMPAS]

After a quite entertaining Vaudevillesque routine, Kirk Douglas awarded "The Fighter" actress Melissa Leo with the award for Best Supporting Actress. Leo went on to give a flabbergasted acceptance speech, which concluded with an expletive and a bleep from ABC. [Photo Credit: Michael Yada/AMPAS]

After performing a parody of Les Mis standard "On My Own," Oscar host Anne Hathaway was joined on stage by her "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"-inspired co-host, James Franco. [Photo Credit: Michael Yada/AMPAS]

Although James Franco (left) and Anne Hathaway (right) got decidedly mixed reviews for their joint hosting duties at the Academy Awards, there's no denying that they both looked the part. [Photo credit: Michael Yada/A.M.P.A.S.]

The team behind "The King's Speech" took to the stage last night at The Kodak Theater to accept the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 83rd annual event. From left to right: Oscar-winners Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, David Seidler, Tom Hooper and Gareth Unwin. [Photo credit: Richard Hardbaugh/A.M.P.A.S.]

Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash accepted the Spirit Award for "Exit Through the Gift Shop," suggesting its mysterious director Bansky was indeed on the premises. Photo by Brian Brooks.

"The Kids Are All Right"'s screenwriters Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg celebrate their Indie Spirit Award win for best screenplay. Photo by Brian Brooks.

"Mad Men" and "The Town" actor Jon Hamm arrives at the Film Independent's Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon. Photo by Brian Brooks.

Spirit Award nominee and "Rabbit Hole" director John Cameron Mitchell makes a fashionable entrance at this year's ceremony. Photo by Eric Kohn.

Spirit nominee Samuel L. Jackson enjoys a bite with his "Mother and Child" co-star Naomi Watts and her husband Liev Schreiber as the Spirit Awards get underway in Santa Monica. Photo by Eric Kohn.

"The Fighter" actress and potential Oscar winner Melissa Leo showed off her tattoo at the Spirit Awards, where she was a winner two years ago for "Frozen River." Photo by Eric Kohn.

Oscar show producers Don Mischer and Bruce Cohen sat down with Academy President Tom Sherak outside the Kodak Theater today to talk about this Sunday's show. Though they didn't give too much in the way of details - other than the obligatory "we'll try and keep the speeches" short and a tease about the presentations of categories like animated feature and art direction getting a bit of a makeover. But Mischer and Cohen did give some insight when asked whether hiring James Franco and Anne Hathaway as hosts was a deliberate move to appeal to younger audiences. "As we've been putting the show together, we've naturally come up with things that go that way," Cohen said. "We all feel it's a real exciting thing. This is the next generation of moviegoers." The 83rd Annual Academy Awards go down this Sunday night in Hollywood.

The team at the Kodak Theater were busy today setting up for 83rd Academy Awards, which in case you're living under a rock, go down this Sunday in Hollywood. Check out indieWIRE's predictions here, and come back to us all weekend for coverage of both the Oscars and the Spirit Awards.

"Littlerock" director Mike Ott and the film’s star and co-writer Atsuko Okatsuka celebrate their Gotham Award for the "best film not playing at a theater near you." Check out indieWIRE's profile of Ott here. Photo by Brian Brooks.

Josh (left) and Ben (right) Safdie embrace their "Daddy Longlegs" star Ronald Bronstein after his Gotham Award win for best breakthrough performance. Photo by Brian Brooks.

Gotham Award presenters Paul Rudd and Julianna Margulies backstage at the awards last night after presenting the breakthrough filmmaker trophy to "Holy Rollers"' Kevin Asch. Photo by Brian Brooks.

"Holy Rollers" director Kevin Asch backstage at the Gotham Awards after his surprise win in the best breakthrough director category. “I love movies so much,” a clearly touched and surprised Asch said on stage. “You have all inspired me my whole life.” Photo by Brian Brooks

"12th & Delaware" directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady celebrate their Gotham Award nomination for best documentary last night at the at the Cipriani Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. Photo by Brian Brooks.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the 2010 Governors Awards in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood last night. Pictured here at the event, from left to right: Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy, Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall, Honorary Award recipient Eli Wallach, Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipient Francis Ford Coppola, Talia Shire, James Caan, Oscar-winning director Sofia Coppola and Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro. Photo courtesy of AMPAS.

In Telluride, director Danny Boyle (left), James Franco, and author Aron Ralston who penned the book on which Boyle's film, "127 Hours," is based, pose for photographers. Photo © Pamela Gentile, courtesy Telluride Film Festival.

A great photo! Director Lee Daniels won the prize for Best Director and actors Gabourey Sidibe & Mo'Nique won in the acting categories, while the film's Geoffrey Fletcher won for Best First Screenplay. And the whole feature, which premiered a little more than one year ago at the Sundance Film Festival took Best Film at the ceremony Friday night. Daniels is pictured here with John Waters, himself a stalwart of the Spirit Awards, having hosted the ceremony a number of times in its 25 year history. [Photo by Eugene Hernandez]

The posse from "Humpday" last Friday night walking the Blue Carpet at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in downtown Los Angeles ahead of their win of the John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer). Pictured are: "Humpday" lead actor Josh Leonard, D.P. Ben Kasulke, actress Alycia Delmore, and writer/director Lynn Shelton. The Blue carpet itself was quite a social event in itself, with all attendees walking down as they arrived. Of course the stars would block the traffic a bit as they were posed for photos in front of the large contingent of photogs, but all was good. Invitees were offered a cocktail for the walk and it was great people watching.

The posse from "Humpday" last Friday night walking the Blue Carpet at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in downtown Los Angeles ahead of their win of the John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer). The Blue carpet was quite a social event in itself, with all attendees walking down as they arrived. Of course the stars would block the traffic a bit as they were posed for photos in front of the large contingent of photogs, but all was good. Invitees were offered a cocktail for the walk and it was great people watching.

Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir donned the usual flash for his side gig as an on-air host for Sundance Channel during the Spirits...

"Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe took the Spirit for Best Actress last Friday, much to the delight of the audience. She gave a sweet speech, thanking "Mr Daniels" for believing in her and the rest of her fellow actors, including pop star, Mariah Carey who attended the ceremony.

Legendary singer Sir Elton John attended the Film Independent Spirit Awards along with producer/husband David Furnish (sitting next to him, but out of the photo). Sir Elton definitely had a good seat in the rather cavernous main tent (some in the back could barely make out a figure on the stage), but it may not have been quite the front and center that he is used to. Still, he had some of the rock star accoutrement - three bodyguards stood behind him and Furnish.

British actress Helen Mirren greeted a well-wisher inside the main tent at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Mirren was nominated for Best Female Lead for her role in "The Station Agent," which also had multiple nominations for Best Director (Michael Hoffman), Best Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Male (Christopher Plummer).

The peeps from "Crazy Heart" had a good weekend, with wins at the Spirit Awards and two nights later at the Academy Awards. The film's director, Scott Cooper (here entering the Spirit Awards with his wife, Jocelyne Cooper) won Best First Feature at the Spirits, while Jeff Bridges won Best Actor at both ceremonies. Gooo 'Crazy Heart!'

Sebastian Silva's "The Maid" (La Nana) had a good ride, picking up a Golden Globe nomination and Spirit Award nomination for Best Foreign Language film. It also won the "Breakthrough Award" for actress Catalina Saavedra (who also won a nod at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival where it debuted). The Chilean film also took Sundance's Best World Cinema - Dramatic prize among the other nods at events around the world. Here, Silva gives some love to Kim Jose of Elephant Eye Films, which released the film as they checked out the IFC tent ahead of the awards ceremony.

"A Prophet" was nominated for Best Foreign Language film at both the Spirits and at the Academy Awards, but didn't get either. Never mind though, it's a great film, and it did take home a BAFTA and the Grand Jury Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival where it debuted. Making their way along the Blue Carpet at the Spirits on their way atop the LA Live parking structure, French actor Tahar Rahim and the film's co-writer (with director Jacques Audiard), Thomas Bidegain.

"The Square" actress Claire van der Boom looked fab in her dress inside the main tent at the Film Independent Spirit Awards last Friday. The drama/thriller, directed by Nash Edgerton is the story of a man escaping a loveless marriage after beginning an affair with Carla (van der Boom).

"Treeless Mountain" writer/director So Yong Kim walked the blue carpet along with producer Bradley Rust Gray. Their film was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer).

Meryl Streep snaps a photo at the Governor's Ball. In her sights: screenwriting Oscar Geoffrey Fletcher (middle) with Brian Siberell (right), and an unidentified guest (L). Photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

AMPAS boasted a new feature of their annual Governor's Ball this year, touting the fact that Oscar winners could have their trophies engraved with their names on-site, rather than having to ship it away. Here, engraver Alex Youst shows Jeff Bridges' engraved name plate. Photo credit: Greg Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

"Avatar" visual effects Oscar winners Andrew Jones and Richard Baneham, with best supporting actor Christoph Waltz, and best actress Sandra Bullock at the Governors Ball. Photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

A trio of Oscar winners smile with their trophies backstage. On the right is Best Documentary Short winner Roger Ross Williams, whose Oscar speech was strangely interrupted; Best Supporting Actress winner Mo'Nique, who noted that she avoided most campaigning; and Best Adapted Screenplay winner Geoffrey Fletcher, a winner who caught many Oscar prognosticators off guard, many thought that "Up In The Air" would win. Photo credit: Niall McCarthy / ©A.M.P.A.S.

“I’m glad I’m not twenty-five anymore,” Christoph Waltz told me over the summer, ahead of the opened of Quentin Tarantino’s "Inglourious Basterds." The film stirred immediate Oscar talk for Waltz after it debuted at the Cannes festival in May. Here he's hanging out with Tarantino at the Governor's Ball after winning his Oscar. Photo credit: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.

"Precious" backer Oprah winner hangs out at the Oscar Governor's Ball with screenwriting Oscar winner Geoffrey Fletcher and Tyler Perry, along with her best friend, Gayle King. Photo credit: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Hanging out here at the Governor's Ball with Best Actor Osacr winner Jeff Bridges is Fox Searchlight co-President Steve Gilula. The company took a risk with the movie, acquiring it and quickly releasing it into Oscar season rather late in the game. The gamble paid off and the film took off. Scott Cooper recently chatted with indieWIRE about the movie. Photo credit: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Oscar winner Fisher Stevens, a producer of Dolphin doc, "The Cove," at the Governors Ball. We previewed the movie on indieWIRE prior to its debut at Sundance last year. Photo credit: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Alex Youst engraves best actress Oscar winner Sandra Bullock trophy at the Governors Ball. Photo credit: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Animated film Oscar winner Pete Docter at the Governors Ball on Sunday night. The film kicked off the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in 3D last May en route to its awards season run. Docter and Pixar guru John Lasseter talked about the film at the time. credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

The directors of the Oscar-nominated Foreign Language films paused for a photo-op along with Foreign Language Film Award Committee Chair Mark Johnson. Pictured (from left to right): Jacques Audiard ("A Prophet"), Michael Haneke ("The White Ribbon"), Yaron Shani ("Ajami"), Mark Johnson, Claudia Llosa ("The Milk of Sorrow"), Scandar Copti ("Ajami"), Juan Jose Campanella ("The Secret in Their Eyes"). The 82nd Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010. [Photo by Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.]

The Palm Springs International Film Festival had a very impressive crowd at its annual Awards Gala Tuesday night. Honorees included Anna Kendrick (Rising Star Award for "Up in the Air"), Helen Mirren (Career Achievement Award presented by Morgan Freeman), Jason Reitman (Director of the Year, presented by Norman Jewison), Jeff Bridges (Desert Palm Achievement Award – Actor, presented by Michelle Pfeiffer), Jeremy Renner (Breakthrough Actor Performance Award presented by Shohreh Aghdashloo), Mariah Carey (Breakthrough Actress Performance Award presented by "Precious" director Lee Daniels), Marion Cotillard (Desert Palm Achievement Award – Actress presented by Nine director Rob Marshall), Morgan Freeman (Career Achievement Award – Actor presented by Clint Eastwood), Quentin Tarantino (Sonny Bono Visionary Award presented by Diablo Cody) and T Bone Burnett (Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing presented by Sean Penn). Here, Quentin Tarantino hangs out with screenwriter, Diablo Cody. [Image from WireImage, courtesy of the Palm Springs International Film Festival].

Another from the Michael Stuhlbarg lunch... Focus Features hosted a lovely lunch for "A Serious Man" star Michael Stuhlbarg Thursday afternoon... The Awards Campaign is in full swing. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tim Blake Nelson, Kristen Johnston, Billy Crudup & Michael Shannon came along as well to lend their support in addition to Focus Features chief, James Schamus - pictured with Stuhlbarg. Good luck!!

At lunch in Manhattan Thursday: actors Tim Blake Nelson, Billy Crudup, Michael Stuhlbarg and Philip Seymour Hoffman. "It's a great thing doing this for Michael - he's such a mensch," said Focus Features James Schamus Thursday afternoon during a lunch for "A Serious Man" star Michael Stuhlbarg (and 2010 Golden Globe nominee) at Monkey Bar in Midtown Manhattan. (For all you non-Jews, "mensch" is the Yiddish word meaning, a person of integrity and honor according to Wikipedia). "When we got the script for [the Coens] "A Serious Man," [the cast] that I wanted was what we got. It was one of the best casts ever assembled. It really worked out," added Schamus who added that the film was needed. "I'm Jewish - and we never make movies about ourselves..." "I've been enjoying every minute of it," Stuhlbarg told indieWIRE as lunch was winding down and Hoffman and others came by to give him good bye hugs. "I originally auditioned [for another part] then five months later, they called me in. It was down to [characters] 'Larry' or 'Uncle Arthur' (eventually played by Richard Kind). Then Joel [Coen] called and said, "We'll put you out of your misery now, you're Larry..." [Photo by Amanda Schwab @ StarPix]

"The Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow got to know the press room pretty well last night at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in downtown Manhattan. Her film "The Hurt Locker" won Best Feature as well as Best Ensemble Cast at the awards show which is produced by IFP. Willem Dafoe attended the ceremony and presented the prize.

Honorary Award recipient Lauren Bacall (left) and fashion designer/"A Single Man" director Tom Ford attend the 2009 Governors Awards in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, CA, Saturday, November 14. For more on the event, check out Anne Thompson's report at Thompson on Hollywood. Image courtesy of Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S.

Past Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipients (left to right) Saul Zaentz, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Walter Mirisch look on as Tom Hanks speaks as part of the award presentation to Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipient John Calley during the 2009 Governors Awards in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Michael Yada/A.M.P.A.S.

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe attended the UK premiere of "Precious" during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival on Friday. Earlier in the day, she answered questions from a packed screening of the film for London area students that the festival put on. Photo courtesy of the festival.

Doc legend Albert Maysles (let) at the Cinema Eye Awards cocktail party. "In a fiction film, the director is god, in a non-fiction film, God is the director," Al Maysles said, on stage on Sunday night in New York City, quoting Alfred Hitcock. Continuing, before announcing the best director award for Ari Folman ("Waltz With Bashir"), he added, "It's nice to know that you have someday that important on your side!"

Cinema Eye Awards co-founders Thom Powers (left) and AJ Schnack (right) with Morgan Spurlock at the pre-show cocktail party.

"Man on Wire" subject Phillipe Petit, performance artist Laurie Anderson and musician Lou Reed spent a few quick moments chatting for the cameras at the Cinema Eye Awards. Anderson presented the music prize at the second annual ceremony.

Best actress winner Zhou Xun ("The Equation of Love and Death") and Best actor Motoki Masahiro ("Departures") at the 3rd Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata" won the prize for best film. [Photo courtesy of Image.net]

More from the Spirit Awards: Catherine Keener decided to take her exit backstage after a quick pose with her fellow "Synecdoche, New York" stars. The film won the best first feature prize at the event, which took place last Saturday in Santa Monica. Perhaps Keener caught wind of the many two-faced photographers in the room who are nice when the winners come into the tent, then make fun of them after they leave... Also with Keener here were Philip Seymour Hoffman and Michelle Williams (behind). Williams was also a bit overwhelmed by the situation, giving out an audible "Oh s__t" to Hoffman as they entered the room.

More from the 2009 Spirit Awards: Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson greeted Alec Baldwin, who served as an honorary chair and a presenter at the Spirit Awards this year...

More from the 2009 Spirit Awards: Lookin' pretty in pink! Actress Greta Gerwig ("Baghead," "Hannah Takes the Stairs") sports the big glasses outside the ceremony Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica. Gerwig is tapped for Noah Baumbach's upcoming project, "Greenberg" with Ben Stiller - you go girl! [Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE]

More from the 2009 Spirit Awards: Bingham Ray from Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (right), "Savage Grace" writer Howard A. Rodman and producer Michael Andreen (left) take in the great outdoors outside the main tent of Saturday's awards show in Santa Monica. [Photo by Eugene Hernandez]

Margaret Brown (middle) screened her doc "The Order of the Myths" as the awards weekend was getting underway in Los Angeles. She then took the Truer Than Fiction Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon. Her film streamed over the weekend via Daily Motion (and we had planned to post this photo with a link then, but we had a snafu, sorry). Posing with Margaret is Matt Dentler of Cinetic Rights Management and Joy Marcus of Daily Motion.

This was a huge weekend for Yojiro Takita (left), director of "Depatures." The film not only won the Oscar for best foreign language film last night in Hollywood, but it picked up 10 prizes (including best picture) on Friday night in Tokyo at Japan's version of the Academy Awards. After the Japanese ceremony, Yojiro Takita, film star Masahiro Motoki (right) and others, hopped on a plane and made it to LA in time for Saturday morning's Foreign Language Film Symposium at the Academy in Beverly Hills. Chatting briefly with indieWIRE on Sunday at the Roosevelt Hotel after winning the Oscar, Yojiro Takita was giddy as he spoke through a translator. He called the prize his "baby," related his excitement at meeting so many stars and filmmakers at the Oscar ceremony, and said that he was particularly excited to get home to celebrate with his family. On stage accepting his Oscar, Yojiro Takita spoke briefly, saying "I am here because of films. This is a new "departure" for me. And I will, we will be back. I hope. Thank you. Thank you." Regent will release the film in the U.S. later this year. [Photo © A.M.P.A.S., text by Eugene Hernandez]

"Slumdog" director Danny Boyle with his best director Oscar backstage at the Kodak Theater. Photo ©A.M.P.A.S.

“Oh my god,” proclaimed “Milk” writer Dustin Lance Black, before beginning a stirring speech in which he spoke out for gay rights and marriage equality. “This was not an easy film to make,” Black began, elaborating on the film and then relating his experience growing up as a Mormon kid, recalling when he first learned about Harvey Milk at age 13. “It gave me hope,” he said of Milk’s life. “I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am, even when there was pressure not to.” Finally, speaking to gay and lesbian kids watching the telecast at home, Black said, “You are beautiful…God does love you…and very soon, I promise, you will have equal rights Federally across this great nation of ours.” Photo ©A.M.P.A.S.

Philippe Petit celebrates the best documentary Oscar win of "Man on Wire" on the stage of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo ©A.M.P.A.S.

Mickey Rourke puttered around the main tent Saturday afternoon at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. He won best actor for his role in "The Wrestler" (Darren Aronofsky) and gave the most hilarious four-letter word-filled speech that left everyone cracking up. If you haven't seen it, you must (scroll down). [Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE]

Mickey Rourke puttered around the main tent Saturday afternoon at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. He won best actor for his role in "The Wrestler" (Darren Aronofsky) and gave the most hilarious four-letter word-filled speech that left everyone cracking up. If you haven't seen it, you must (scroll down). [Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE]

Geoff Gilmore threw everyone for a loop earlier in the week when it was announced he was leaving his post as director of the Sundance Film Festival for a post at Tribeca Enterprises. But it's time to move on. He hung out with actor Lou Taylor Pucci who served on a jury at this year's Sundance in January. [Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE]

Would there be a Spirit Awards without the likes of John Waters or Gregg Araki? Waters hosted the event a few times some years back, but came as a guest and presented an award Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica.

Yojiro Takita, director of "Departures", Ari Folman, director of "Waltz with Bashir", Academy Governor Mark Johnson, Uli Edel, director of "The Baader Meinhof Complex", Laurent Cantet, director of "The Class", and Gotz Spielmann, director of "Revanche", at the Academy's Foreign Language Film Award Symposium yesterday. credit: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Sharing a moment Thursday night in Santa Monica, CA at a Spirit Awards nominees party, Someone to Watch nom Lynn Shelton ("My Effortless Brilliance"), Best Actress contender Melissa Leo ("Frozen River"), and "The Betrayal" director Ellen Kuras (Best doc nominee). The winners will get their fete this afternoon.

Actress Kerry Washington had a say in an always nice reception Thursday night in Santa Monica, CA for the honorees of the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Film Independent's Dawn Hudson looked Radiant, Terrific and all that introducing Washington and the crew of this year's Spirit Awards nominees at an informal ceremony in their honor.

Actress Kerry Washington had a say in an always nice reception Thursday night in Santa Monica, CA for the honorees of the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Film Independent's Dawn Hudson looked Radiant, Terrific and all that introducing Washington and the crew of this year's Spirit Awards nominees at an informal ceremony in their honor.

Standing in front of a life-sized Oscar (actually a very tall Oscar), "Trouble the Water" directors Tia Lessin and Carl Deal (middle) are joined by the film's co-producer Amir Bar-Lev and cinematographer P.J. Raval (left) at the AMPAS building in Beverly Hills Wednesday night. The International Documentary Association hosted an evening fete for the narrative and short documentary Academy Award nominees with an event featuring clips from each film, hosted by Lily Tomlin.

[Editor's Note: In the lead up to the Academy Awards and Spirit Awards this coming weekend, images from this year's nominated films will appear in iPOP.] From an entry posted in November: With no acting experience, former model Freida Pinto (left) spent six months auditioning for a co-starring role role in Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." Thrilled that Boyle was willing to take a risk on her, she said Monday night that she looks back now and realizes that the audition process was very educational. Meanwhile, "Slumdog" lead Dev Patel (right) is mostly a new face for American audiences, best known for his lead role on the sexy British TV teen dramedy, "Skins." Asked about the show during at a party after the Tribeca Cinemas Series screening last night, Patel shied a bit, understandably more interested in chatting about his breakthrough role in the new Boyle movie. The film opens in theaters this week. [Photo and caption by Eugene Hernandez]

More from the Spirits: Celebrating a successful IFC TV bash at Shutters, on the beach in Santa Monica, are (left to right) IFC's Erik Batt and Elektra Gray , with Raquel Bruno from Drive Entertainment.

At this year's IFC party, immediately following the Spirit Awards, nominee Chris Smith ("The Pool") with IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring.

More from the Spirits: Hanging out at the IFC Party: Sundance Film Festival programmer John Nein, Kevin Iwashina, and producer Jamie Patricof.

More from the Spirits: Inside the tent on Saturday, Spirit Award nominees Craig Zobel ("Great World of Sound") and Ronnie Bronstein. ("Frownland").

More from the Spirits: After the show, SKE's Bingham Ray and actor Matt Dillon had a quick chat on their way out. Dillon was a presenter at this year's ceremony.

More from the Spirits: SXSW Film Festival producer Matt Dentler greeted filmmaker Laura Dunn who won the Truer Than Fiction prize at the Film Independent Spirit Awards last Saturday. Both attended the hard-to-get-an-invite IFC after-party at the Shutters Hotel following the ceremony. Dentler undoubtedly had no problem securing an invite after having co-hosted a program earlier in the day for IFC.

More from the Spirit Awards: Filmmakers Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein sport some sunglasses and some cocktails outside before the ceremony began at the Film Independent Spirit Awards last Saturday. Also basking in the sun were Netflix's Liesl Copland and Toronto doc programmer Thom Powers. The clouds later rolled in from the Pacific and award attendees noticed the patter of rain on the tent during the broadcast. One person even noticed a leak. Tucker and Epperlein will be at the upcoming SXSW Film Festival with their latest doc, "Bulletproof Salesman," screening in competition.

More from the Spirits: This duo from Miramax had plenty to celebrate on awards weekend in Los Angeles. Pictured at the Spirit Awards on Saturday are marketing EVP Jason Cassidy with the company's president, Daniel Battsek. Later that night, Miramax held a swanky party in West Hollywood to celebrate its nominees and a best picture prize for "No Country For Old Men" followed on Sunday.

More from the Spirit Awards: Hanging outside the tent before the rains came on Spirit Awards Saturday are (left to right): Samuel Goldwyn's Meyer Gottleib, Lakeshore's David Dinerstein, Variety's Madelyn Hammond and Landmark Theaters' Ted Mundorff.

More from awards weekend: Hanging out at the Women in Film bash -- presented by Perrier-Jouet -- at Peter Guber's house over the weekend are "Tanghi Argentini" producer Anja Daelemans and director Guido Thys, sipping the tasty champagne and enjoying the run up to the Academy Awards, where they were nominated for live action short film.

"Diving Bell and the Butterfly" director Julian Schnabel and wife Olatz Lopez Garmendia brought along the whole 'fam-damily' to the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday. Their sons got a chance to see their dad win the best director prize at the Spirits...

More from the Spirit Awards: "Mysterious Skin" director Gregg Araki hung out with friends at the IFC after-party in Santa Monica. Joining in on all the fun were Paul Federbush from Warner Independent, Ben Cotner from Paramount Vantage and Mia Goldwyn from Paramount.

More from the Spirit Awards: Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson chatted with pal Patricia Clarkson following the conclusion of the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica.

More from the Sprit Awards: IFC hosted a more scaled down version of its post-Spirits party at the Shutters hotel in Santa Monica, but there were still a decently large crowd in attendance including former porn star Ron Jeremy. Jeremy stood in front of the word "uncut..." for IFC's slogan "always uncut."

Inside the tent, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" producer Jon Kilik chats up Miramax acquisitions exec Peter Lawson. The company swiftly nabbed the film in Cannes last year and quickly put it on track for an awards season release, garnering heaps of kudos along way. Accepting his best director award last night, filmmaker Julian Schnabel praised Kilik on stage, saying he doesn't make a movie without the veteran producer.

Outside the Spirit Awards on Saturday, before the rain came, Cinetic's John Sloss (center) escorts Killer Films' Christine Vachon (right) and Charles Pugliese (left). The group collaborated on this year's Robert Altman Award winner, "I'm Not There."

Oscar nominee Cynthia Wade ("Freeheld") with Stacie Andree, one of her film's subjects, at the Women in Film celebration in Los Angeles on Friday (co hosted by Perrier-Jouet). The film received a finishing grant from the organization before debuting at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

At the Women in Film/Perrier-Jouet bash celebrating the women nominated for Oscars this year, Cinetic's Bart Walker, "The Savages" writer/director Tamara Jenkins, and actress Dana Delaney smile alongside Batman in host Peter Guber's office.

Actress Patricia Clarkson joined in on hosting duties at the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees party Thursday night in Santa Monica. Prior to bringing up this year's crop of nominees to the stage, Clarkson joked that when she first attended the awards years back it was a more modest affair. "There was a catering truck back then," Clarkson joked. Indeed the event has stepped up the glam factor. Spirits sponsor Piaget displayed some heavy-duty jewelry at the party (with a guard watching nearby of course).

Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson welcomed the Spirit Award nominees to a rainy Santa Monica Thursday night at a reception in their honor. Among the slew of nominees attending the event at the swank Casa del Mar hotel were Marisa Tomei ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") and Marcus Carl Franklin ("I'm Not There").

Brendan McFadden (producer), Aaron Katz (director) and Ben Stambler (producer) take in the party for Film Independent Spirit Award nominees. The trio are in Santa Monica for their film "Quiet City," which is nominated for a slew of awards including the John Cassavetes Award" .

UTA agent Rich Klubeck with Spirit Award nominee Mike White (best screenplay for "Year of the Dog") hanging out at the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees party in Santa Monica Thursday night. White then headed east to West Hollywood for the Paramount Vantage party at STK on La Cienega held in honor of "There Will Be Blood."

Pictured at Wednesday's International Documentary Association's celebration for documentary Oscar nominees are short film nominees, left to right: Tim Sternberg ("Salim Baba"), Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega ("La Corona"), Cyntia Wade ("Freeheld"), and James Longley ("Sari's Mother"). Filmmakers screened clips from their films and celebrated their success with food and drinks at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Among the most critically acclaimed films of 2007 was a student film directed by Charles Burnett some thirty years ago. Chatting with indieWIRE during a cocktail party at Sunday's New York Film Critics Circle event, Burnett (pictured, second from right), explained that he felt a bit awkward amidst all the attention his film has received. On stage, he was equally humble in accepting the special critics prize from Ruby Dee. Burnett is pictured with Dennis Doros of Milestone Films(left), producer Carolyn Hays (second from left), and Amy Heller (right).

Filmmaker Jonathan Demme (left) poses for a photo with "Persepolis" filmmaker Marjane Satrapi (center) and Sony Pictures Classics' co-president Tom Bernard. Smiliing broadly while accepting the award for best animated feature from the New York Film Critics Circle on stage later in the evening, Satrapi quipped that she had always heard that film critics were "tough bastards," graciously noting that as such, she tremendously appreciated their support of her film. She and co-director Vincent Paronnaud recently spoke with indieWIRE about the movie in an interview with Erica Abeel.

US Weekly critic Thelma Adams (right) poses for a photo with the New York Film Critics Circle's best first film honoree Sarah Polley ("Away From Her") and the film's co-star, Olympia Dukakis (right). Introducing the actress-turned-director during the ceremony, Dukakis called Polley, "fierce," and Polley accepted the award noting that when she made the movie, she was, "very certain that nobody would see it," adding that she thought it might play for just one week in a theater somewhere. Acquired at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, the film opened in theaters last Spring and was a hit for Lionsgate. During an interview with indieWIRE at the time, Polley explained, "About eight years ago, I decided on a whim to make a short film and discovered that I knew almost nothing about the process of actually putting a film together, and that I had never been so challenged or rewarded by anything in my life. I knew then that I never wanted to stop."

Charles Ferguson (right), director of the acclaimed "No End In Sight" -- winner of the best documentary award from the New York Film Critics Circle -- poses for a quick photo with Magnolia Pictures president Eamonn Bowles during the event's cocktail party on Sunday night.

"My Kid Could Paint That" director Amir Bar-Lev, a Gotham Awards nominee, with Ryan Harrington, who was among the project's shepherds at A & E Indie Films. Harrington recently joined the new Tribeca/Gucci doc fund.

Kodak's Anne Hubbell with Filmmaker Magazine editor and producer Scott Macaulay at the Gothams cocktail party.

Hanging out inside a Steiner Studios soundstage at the Gothams, producer Shelby Stone with Jeanne Berney from the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Picturehouse president Bob Berney.

Cinetic's Dana O'Keefe with IFC's Liz Nastro and Ryan Werner at the Gothams. (That's Noah Baumbach barely pictured over to the right...)

Moments before the Gothams would get underway, Miramax president Daniel Battsek chats with SKE's Bingham Ray.

Howard Gertler from Process with casting director Laura Rosenthal (among the team from "I'm Not There" who will be honored with the Robert Altman Award at the Spirit Awards) and Tim Perrell from Process.

Pat Kaufman from the New York Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, with Troma's Lloyd Kaufman, new chairman of the IFTA.

Producer Lemore Syvan with Sony Pictures Classics' Dylan Leiner.

Toronto International Film Festival co-director Noah Cowan with producer Fred Berner.

Actor turned filmmaker Giancarlo Esposito, director of the upcoming "Gospel Hill," with casting director Amy Gossels, at the Kodak post-Gothams bash.

More from the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson must have felt some relief after the awards ceremony was over. She, like many others, headed over to the IFC after-party for some fun. Next up for Film Independent, the Los Angeles Film Festival in June (though the group has all sorts of activities throughout the year).

More from the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Producers Howard Gertler and Tim Perell were honored with the Spirits' Axium Producers Award for their work on "Shortbus" and "Pizza." The pair are seen here at the end of the event in the main tent.

More from the Film Independent Film Awards: Actor Masi Oka and Red Envelope's Liesl Copland make their way into IFC's post-Spirits party at the Shudders Hotel right smack on the beach. The party is quite a popular one (it also helps that it's a five minute walk from the awards). This year, organizers lured the crowds to the downstairs area by putting all the bars below, making the beach-level area much more managable (unless you were ready for another drink).

More from the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Last year's best actress in a lead role winner Felicity Huffman ("Transamerica") made her way into the main tent at the Spirits last weekend. The "blue carpet" was ringed with tons of photographers and camera crews as well as "spirited" fans hailing for attention from their favorite celebs--or any celebs for that matter. Huffman stopped of for a chat with Entertainment Tonight here.

More from the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Actor Alan Cumming put on his producer's hat for "Sweet Land" (directed by Ali Selim) and shared the prize for best first feature along with fellow producers James Bigham and Selim at the Spirits. Cumming left the main tent--sporting his prize--where many invitees hang out for a respite. There's also a gifting tent (not for everyone attending the awards) and a bar that was decorated with beach balls.

More from the Film Independent Spirit Awards: ThinkFilm's U.S. head Mark Urman joins "Half Nelson" actress Shareeka Epps for a pic ahead of the ceremony Saturday morning. "Half Nelson," (directed by Ryan Fleck) which ThinkFilm released, did quite well, with Epps winning the best female lead prize, while her counterpart, Ryan Gosling, won the best male lead nod.

Matt Dentler and Guillermo del Toro at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: Dennis Hopper was among those finding their way to their tables Saturday in Santa Monica ahead of the live broadcast of the Spirits. Most of the "A-listers" seemed to be sitting in the same area, near the stage of course.

Actor Ryan Gosling had a good day at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday (which is great because he's a great actor, nice and hot), winning the best actor in a leading role prize for his performance in "Half Nelson," directed by Ryan Fleck. Gosling stopped by the IFC post-Spirits party at the Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica along with Cheri Barner, who works with him. And just a bit of iW trivia: Barner is also a former indieWIREer from back in the early days before we became the big bad behemoth we are now... (kidding of course).

Filmmaker John Waters and actress/talk show host Ricki Lake ("Serial Mom") made a darling couple at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday. Waters hosted the show for a number of years, but handed the job (at least for now) to Sarah Silverman who probably caused a lot of bleeps on the live broadcast. Or does IFC need to bleep? Not sure...

James Bond hung out at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon where he presented one of the prizes. Daniel Craig enjoyed some lunch with his companion Satsuki Mitchell ahead of the live broadcast where invitees hung out for cocktail hour, which began at 11:30am, which helps with the looping up of the audience. The area near the stage was quite a celeb cluster-funk.

IFC Films hosted a dinner for their film "After The Wedding" (Efter bryllupet) in Hollywood Friday evening, bringing out a room full of New Yorkers and Danes... The film, directed by Susanne Bier (front and center) is nominated for an Academy Award in the foreign-language category. Left to right: IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring, Bier's husband Jesper Winge Leisner, Bier, producer Sisse Graum Jorgenson (behind Bier), editor Pesnille Bech, Peter Aalboek Jensen, head of Trust/Zentropa, and writer Anders Thomas Jensen.

At the Academy on Saturday, four of the five foreign language nominees pose for a photo... (left to right) Susanne Bier, director of "After the Wedding" (Denmark), Guillermo del Toro, director of "Pan's Labyrinth" (Mexico), Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, director of "The Lives of Others" (Germany) and Deepa Mehta, director of "Water" (Canada). Not pictured is Rachid Bouchareb, director of "Days of Glory" (Indigenes) from Algeria). They are shown with chair of the Foreign Language Film Committee, producer Mark Johnson.

At the New York Film Critics Circle awards ceremony Sunday night in Manhattan, "Half Nelson" director Ryan Fleck (right), winner of the Best First Film prize this year, poses for a shot with Capote director Bennett Miller (left), winner of the same award from the NY critics at last year. Miller, after chatting with Fleck about upcoming projects, joked that next year the prize will go to an even skinnier filmmaker... In an indieWIRE: Video clip, Ryan Gosling presents the best first film award to Ryan Fleck.

Currently on the short list for consideration for a best doc Oscar nomination is Amy Berg (left), and her film "Deliver Us From Evil". She is pictured at the New York Film Critics Circle awards ceremony with Wall St. Journal film critic Joe Morgenstern, an early chamption of her film.

Hanging out on Sunday night at Osteria del Circo in Manhattan are "Notes on a Scandal" stars Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy. Blanchett is having quite a year, making the awards season rounds with Babel, The Good German, and now "Scandal." She has also recently filmed a pair of anticipated new movies, Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There and her return to the role of Queen Elizabeth in Shekhar Kapur's "Golden Age".

"Jesus Camp" directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing arrived in Amsterdam just in time for the Saturday night screening of their film at IDFA. The doc, which recently was named on the Oscar shortlist for documentary, receives various reactions from different audiences, one of the film's producers, Ryan Harrington from A&E (middle) mentioned, with audiences here looking "scared." The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April--TFF's David Kwok joined the Jesus Campers for some happy hour festivities at the IDFA headquarters Saturday afternoon.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: "Capote" director Bennett Miller (right) had been quite the traveling man prior to the Awards weekend, logging up frequent flyer miles for the European premiere of his film at the Berlin International Film Festival and then going to the BAFTAs in London, followed by LA (and that's just what we're aware of). Miller is pictured here with "Capote" cinematographer Adam Kimmel, who received a Spirit nomination. He also got a little Miller chest feel here at the nominees party in Santa Monica.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: "Conventioneers" director and co-writer Mora Stephens with the film's producer, co-writer and editor Joel Viertel (center), celebrating their John Cassavetes Award win, honoring a film made for under $500,000, at the Independent Spirit Awards. They are pictured with David Garber from Lantern Lane Releasing following the ceremony Saturday.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: Basking in the glow of the California sunset, "Paradise Now" director Hany Abu-Assad and "Control Room" director Jehane Noujaim look seaward at the Shutters hotel, site of the IFC after party following the Spirit Awards. "Paradise Now" received both an Oscar and Spirit Award nominations.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: Sundance and Cannes '06 alums, and Independent Spirit Award nominees Miranda July ("Me and You and Everyone We Know") and Kyle Henry ("Room"), at last week's nominees party at Casa Del Mar. Peace!

More from the Indpendent Spirit Awards: "Room" star Cindy Williams stepped off the stage at the nominees party in Santa Monica two days before the awards ceremony. Instead of a host naming off all the nominees' names in a roll call, Film Independent, organizers of the awards, decided to let the dozens of nominees to introduce themselves one by one. We thought it might turn into a zoo, but it worked very well and gave everyone a chance to have their "moment."

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: The boys from "Cavite" indulged in a couple of cocktails prior to the start of the ceremony last Saturday. The invitation had "cocktails" starting at 11:30am and lunch at 1pm. Co-director Ian Gamazon and star (left) and co-director Neill Dela Llana won the Someone to Watch Award this year.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: Kevin Smith, director of the upcoming "Clerks 2" with his wife Jennifer Schwalbach, outside the Independent Spirit Awards. During a raunchy and hilarious monologue, Smith mentioned that he went on his first date with Jen at the Spirit Awards years ago, when he was nominated for "Chasing Amy" (he eventually won for best screenplay and Jason Lee won best supporting male). According to Smith (later from the stage during the ceremony), he received a prize of the carnal nature later that night.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: The main tent at the Spirits served as a sort of nice backdrop for some portrait-esque snaps. Pictured here are attorney Linda Lichter with First Look Pictures president Ruth Vitale (right). Originally we took a pic of the pair under the sun (being from New York and all, we were enjoying soaking it up) but Ruth had other plans... Good choice though.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: indieWIRE avid readers may recognize this photo from our interview we ran with Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson (left) prior to the Independent Spirit Awards last Saturday. But, it's such a good picture (and iPOP certainly has a soft spot for hot women too), so what the hell, why not run it again in this section. Hudson posed here with Naomi Watts at the nominees party Thursday night at Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica. Watts served as this year's Honorary Chair of the Spirits.

More from the Independent Spirit Awards: "Transamerica" producer Sebastian Dungan (left) with Joe Matukewicz and Ben Cotner (right) from Paramount's still unnamed new specialty division. The iPOP Award for Best Shoes at the ceremony went to Joe, they were so cool (though we didn't get a picture).

Lookin' H-O-T against a white backdrop and a potted tree, "Transamerica" star Kevin Zegers outside the main tent at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica. After we took this photo, someone said to us, "he's your new Jake [Gyllenhaal]," recalling iPOP's first pic of Jake at the Spirits several years ago -- back in the day. Well, we didn't get a Jake shot this time around (we didn't see him there), but we sure would've loved one. And we're sure we'll recall the first Zeger shot a few years down the line. Zeger attended the ceremony and cheered on co-star Felicity Huffman as she won the Spirt Award for best actress for her role in "Transamerica," directed by Duncan Tucker.

Producer Kathryn Tucker ("The Station Agent"), actor Bobby Cannavale and Cinetic Media/Sloss Law head John Sloss took in some rays outside the main tent at the Independent Spirit Awards (organized by Film Independent) prior to the ceremony. Tucker told iW she was also looking forward to attending the Oscar ceremony the next day and even scored a Valentino dress to do the occasion in style. Cannavale, who starred in "The Station Agent" as well as TV's "Will & Grace," will appear later this year in Richard Linklater's "Fast Food Nation."

Veteran punk Henry Rollins joined the festivities at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday, and walked over to the Shutters hotel nearby for the annual IFC after-party. The bash was popular as always, and Rollins, seen here with actor Judah Friedlander, went to the downstairs bar to hang out. Rollins will be debuting his new gig, "The Henry Rollins Show" on IFC April 1st. He also appears in recent Sony Classics pick up, "American Hardcore," (documentary) by Paul Rachman, which screened at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

The glamor continued at the IFC after party in Santa Monica at the Shutters Hotel. Macy Gray introduces a party-goer to "Hustle & Flow" nominee Terrence Howard. Of course their presence brought on just a few stares.

Hanging out at IFC's annual post Independent Spirit Awards bash at Shutters in Santa Monica is "Mysterious Skin" director (and best directing nominee) Gregg Araki with the film's co-star Brady Corbet, chatting in the corner near the mini-burgers.

Amy Adams is the best person to photograph. We asked her following the conclusion of the Independent Spirit Awards for a photo and she replied with a big smile, "Sure you can have a photo..." No attitude, just friendly. Adams won the Spirit Award for best supporting actress for her role in "Junebug," directed by Phil Morrison. Film Independent organizes the annual awards ceremony in Santa Monica right smack by the sea.

We're not quite sure which one is which, but Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were among the bevy of celebs who showed up at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon. The rain stayed away, so the two were ripe for the red carpet outside the main tent (although it's actually a blue carpet), which was lined with a throng of photographers. The Olsens also scored some damn good seats for the ceremony.

"Transamerica" star Felicity Huffman basked in the sun talking to well-wishers Saturday at the Independent Spirit Awards outside the main tent prior to the start of the ceremony. Many celebs were escorted inside the main tent or to one of the gifting tents to pick up some free goodies, but Huffman opted to hang out. The "Desperate Housewives" star won the best actress Spirit Award for her role in the film, directed by Duncan Tucker.

Oscar winner for best actor in "Capote," Philip Seymour Hoffman with Mimi O'Donnell, earlier this evening on the red carpet at the Academy Awards. Photo copyright A.M.P.A.S.

Arriving at the Kodak Theater for the 78th Academy Awards tonight: Dolly Parton, nominee for best original song for "Travelin' Thru" from the film "Transamerica," with the film's writer/director Duncan Tucker. Photo copyright A.M.P.A.S.

On the red carpet outside the Kodak Theater Saturday are foreign language film Oscar nominees (left to right): Cristina Comencini, director of "Don't Tell"; Christian Caron, director of "Joyeux Noel"; Hany Abu-Assad, director of "Paradise Now"; Marc Rothemund, director of "Sophie Scholl - The Final Days"; and Gavin Hood, director of "Tsotsi". Photo copyright A.M.P.A.S.

Chatting inside the tent at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday are fellow Oscar nominees Bennett Miller (director of "Capote") and George Clooney (director of "Good Night, and Good Luck" and co-star of "Syriana"), a pair who seem to have developed quite a bond during awards season, as evidenced in a recent Newsweek roundtable session in which they traded barbs.

Chatting with friends and well-wishers backstage at the Independent Spirit Awards are best actor nominee Heath Ledger and best supporting actress nominee Michelle Williams. The husband and wife were nominated for their roles in "Brokeback Mountain, but went home empty-handed.

Here's a trio we've been seeing quite a bit throughout awards season...three of the catalysts who created the acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain, a film we saw (and subsequently fell for) exactly six months ago... At the Independent Spirit Awards nominees party Thursday, the team behind "Brokeback" celebrates their four Spirit Award nominations. Pictured are the film's director Ang Lee, co-writer and producer Diana Ossana and producer (and Focus Features co-president) James Schamus. All we could really say to them as they embark on the next few days was a hearty -- "congrats" -- and a hopeful -- "have a great weekend"...

Sarah Silverman (right) poses with veteran Independent Spirit Awards show producer Diana Zahn-Storey at the event's nominees reception at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. Silverman took the stage for a few minutes to say hello to the full room of nominees (giving them a taste of what to expect on the live show that will air uncut on IFC). She kept her remarks quite short, telling the crowd, "I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday and that's it...let's get back to jerking each other off."

The "Paradise Now" folks have a big weekend coming up, and will be at both the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on the beach Saturday and at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sunday. Enjoying a light moment with iPOP at the Spirit Awards Nominees party Thursday night, director and co-writer Hany Abu-Assad (left), one of the film's stars Ali Suliman, and Warner Independent Pictures' Paul Federbush (right). The film is nominated for best foreign-language film at both the Academy Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards, which is produced by Film Independent.

Nominees, industry and other guests (including a celeb here and there) hung out at the Spirit Awards nominees party (organized by Film Independent) at the Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica. The crew from "The Puffy Chair" were also in Left to right: Dustin Smith (Roadside Attractions acquisitions -- the distributor will be releasing the film), Mark Duplass (producer, co-writer and star of "The Puffy Chair), Kathryn Aselton (co-star of The Puffy Chair"), Howard Cohen (co-president, Roadside Attractions), and Eric D'Arbeloff (co-president, Roadside Attractions). Jay Duplass is nominated for the IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award and both John and Jay are nominated for the John Cassavetes Award. Stay tuned for Saturday...

Recalling t-shirts that once read W.W.P.S.H.D ("What would Philip Seymour Hoffman Do"), presenter and longtime friend of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bogosian toasted the actor for his work in "Capote". Hoffman is pictured inside the crowded Tavern on the Green cocktail party prior to the dinner and ceremony. On stage graciously accepting his prize, the actor decided to take a moment to acknowledge the people he thought about while making the movie. He mentioned a number of folks, from his girlfriend Mimi to his own mother. The actor has been making the awards season rounds of late...Sunday night he was at Cipriani 42nd St. for the New York Film Critics Circle ceremony, then in LA on Monday night for the Critics Choice awards, and back in NYC the following night for the National Board of Review. we expect him to be on other stages as well as awards season continues...

For most of the evening Tuesday, National Board of Review awards host Paul Reiser apologized for the length of this year's ceremony. With nearly more prizes to present than the annual Academy Awards, Reiser held is own and by the end of the night, some were speculating that he might be a worth Oscar night master of ceremonies some day. He is pictured with Eileen Newman, the new executive director of the organization who joined the group this fall after leaving IFP. Leaving Tavern on the Green after the five hour event, Reiser was standing in the coat check line next to a woman holding a young child. He leaned our way and quipped, "that child was still in vitro when this show started..."

George Clooney (pictured here in a car with David Strathairn after signing a few autographs) was especially quotable Tuesday night at Central Park's Tavern on the Green in Manhattan. Accepting his best picture prize for "Good Night, And Good Luck" from the National Board of Review, he took a moment to connect his film to current events. Poking fun at the recent confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Alito, Clooney (accepting the prize with writer/producer Grant Heslov he quipped, "I don't want to do any damage to the Alito nomination, but Grant and I were at a midnight screening of 'Brokeback Mountain' last night...Judge Alito was there. He had been there since 6 o'clock...wearing a big cowboy hat, chaps and a funny bolo tie thing...someone tell Fox News." He also more seriously noted, "The battle for civil liberties is a battle that is forever fought and that is never won." After he left the stage, the final award of the night went to Jane Fonda, celebrating her career. She added, "Its been a great great year for films that really mattered, and its really great to be back! Thank you."

Best actress award winner for "Walk The Line," Reese Witherspoon with best screenplay winner Noah Baumbach for "The Squid and the Whale" with his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh. Accepting her award for best actress, a thrilled Reese Witherspoon explained that she had never won anything before. Baumbach thanked his parents. His mother is a former member of the New York film critics group. He also passed along warm thanks to the group on behalf of he wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, who was honored by the group exactly ten years ago for her role in "Georgia", the infamous "Blizzard of '96" hit 10 years ago, forcing her to miss the ceremony and return to LA to the set of "Hudsucker Proxy," which she was shooting at the time.

Introducing a filmmaker he greatly admires, at the New York Film Critics Circle awards dinner Sunday, Ang Lee praised Wong Kar-wai, winner of the best foreign language film prize. Referring to Wong's films, he said, "We feel them as if they are opium. Either its a dream, or we are drugged." On stage to accept his award, WKW offered equal praise to Ang Lee, saying that he and his family traveled to New York for New Year's this year, to see his wife's family...he decided to spend New Year's Day in NYC catching up on new films and praised "Brokeback Mountain" as the best film he has seen in the past year.

Horsing around after the New York Film Critics Circle dinner Sunday night at Cipriani 42nd St. are award-winning D.P. Chris Doyle and James Schamus (right) with Ethan Hawke. Doyle was a humorously distruptive presence at the event, introduced as a "contemporary legend on screen and off screen" and "a man of substance and many substances." When it was said that he shot 8 films for Wong Kar-wai, the Asian auteur yelled out: "With...", giving Doyle a handshake held high above their heads for all to see. Any rumored ill will between the two seems to have faded...but was certainly referenced. Later, on stage, Doyle seemingly thanked Wong for being a demanding director, calling him "the horrible shadow with glasses hanging over me...with a great location and no script", and then adding, "I am pushed by this fucker who says, 'Is that all you can do Chris?" However, he then thanked WKW and leaving the stage again gave him a high-five handshake.

"The Squid and the Whale" star Jesse Eisenberg stopped by the post-Gotham Awards party at the Tribeca Film Center in Lower Manhattan, hosted by Kodak, Paste Magazine and indieWIRE. Jesse, seen here with his g/f Anna Trout, has been a favorite of ours since "Roger Dodger" back in '02. The actor, along with fellow cast members Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, and Anna Paquin received a Gotham for best ensemble cast in Noah Baumbach's "The Squid and the Whale."

In town on the eve of her new film "North Country" opening in theaters was Charlize Theron who praised Bob Berney at the Hamptons/indieWIRE toast Thursday night. On stage during the intimate event for about 80 people honoring Berney, she said, "My career is where it is today because of you, I owe a lot to you." Concluding her remarks she quipped, "You really deserve all this ass-kissing!"

At the Sheffield International Documentary Festival this weekend in the U.K., organizers presented the second Jerwood First Cuts Documentary Award, recognizing the work of a student filmmaker. The winner was Sasha Maja Djurkovic from the National Film and Television School for her film "Last Men Standing." Pictured last night with Roanne Dods (left) from Jerwood Charity are the film's editor Benjamin Gerstein (center) and cinematographer Zillah Bowes (Djurkovic was away working on another movie).

Gavin Hood's Toronto Contemporary World Cinema film, "Tsotsi" won the festival's People's Choice Award Saturday afternoon at a downtown hotel, its second audience award in less than a month (the film also won the equivalent prize at the Edinburgh Film Festival in August). The film, set in a gritty Johannesburg ghetto, is a portrayal of one man's battle with his "own brutal nature and the past that bred it," according to the festival's catalog. Hood, pictured here with Toronto International Film Group CEO Piers Handling (left) and Toronto International Film Festival co-director Noah Cowan (right) following the ceremony, was a bit choked up when accepting his prize, and expressed pleasant surprise that a "foreign-language" film could receive an audience prize.

"Tsotsi" producer Peter Fudakowsky (right) at the awards brunch accepting the Standard Life Audience Award while Edinburgh International Film Festival artistic director Shane Danielsen (left) looks on. The award was much coveted by the "Tsotsi" crew, asking audiences to vote for it at their screenings. The film, by Gavin Hood, will screen soon at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE.