by Marla Lewin

Film Independent which sponsors the Independent Spirit Awards which honor the independent filmmaker gave its awards today.

Best Feature                                                   Fox Searchlight

Black Swan                                                      Producers: Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Brian Oliver

Best Director                                                  Fox Searchlight

Darren Aronofsky                                           Black Swan

Best Screenplay                                              Focus Features

The Kids Are All Right                                     Writers: Stuart Blumberg & Lisa Cholodenko

Best First Feature                                           Sony Pictures Classics

Get Low                                                           Director: Aaron Schneider

                                                                        Producers: David Gundlach, Dean Zanuck

Best First Screenplay                                     IFC Films

Lena Dunham                                                  Tiny Furniture

John Cassavetes Award                                 IFC Films

(For the best feature made under $500,000)    Writers/Directors: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Daddy Longlegs                                              Producers: Casey Neistat, Tom Scott

Best Supporting Female                                 Roadside Attractions

Dale Dickey                                                     Winter’s Bone

Best Supporting Male                                     Roadside Attractions

John Hawkes                                                   Winter’s Bone

Best Female                                                    Fox Searchlight

Natalie Portman                                               Black Swan

Best Male                                                        Fox Searchlight

James Franco                                                   127 Hours

Best Cinematography                                    Fox Searchlight

Matthew Libatique                                           Black Swan

Best Foreign Film                                           The Weinstein Company

The King’s Speech                                           Director: Tom Hooper

Best Documentary                                          Producers Distribution Agency

Exit Through The Gift Shop                             Banksy

2011 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS BY DISTRIBUTOR

Fox Searchlight                                                            5

IFC Films                                                                     2

Roadside Attractions                                                    2

Focus Features                                                             1

Producers Distribution Agency                                    1

Sony Pictures Classics                                                 1

The Weinstein Company                                             1

I left the Beach at Santa Monica which was cold 55 degrees, and blustery and returned to my home in the Angeles Crest mountains to be greeted by  a snowstorm. There were multiple car pile ups in both directions leading to our house and snow on the ground.