Ava DuVernay, Melissa Haizlip among 2013 Film Independent Spirit WinnersPosted by Wilson Morales
February 23, 2013
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, handed out top honors to Silver Linings Playbook, The Sessions and The Perks of Being A Wallflower at this afternoon’s 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.
Tune in to IFC tonight at 10:00 pm ET/PT to catch all the action at the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards, with actor and writer Andy Samberg hosting. Highlights include: Samberg’s trademarked digital shorts and a surprise, courtesy of web phenomenon Bad Lip Reading.
The Spirit Awards were the first event to exclusively honor independent film, and over the past 28 years, has become the premier awards show for the independent film community, celebrating films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. Artists receiving industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Joel & Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams and many more.
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.
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.
The film explores the groundbreaking PBS television series SOUL!, while profiling its noted producer and host, Ellis Haizlip. In 1968, on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, SOUL! was the first nationally telecast all-black variety/ entertainment show to be produced and hosted by an African American, who also happened to be gay. At a time of deep racial turmoil, Haizlip gave radical voice to the struggles and successes of the black experience
Piaget is a Premier Sponsor and the Official Jeweler, Jameson® Irish Whiskey is a Premier Sponsor and Official Spirits, Lincoln, a Premier Sponsor, is the Official Automotive Partner, T-Mobile® is a Premier Sponsor and the Official Wi-Fi Provider, IFC is a Premier Sponsor and the Spirit Awards Broadcaster, Stella Artois is a Principal Sponsor and Official Beer, Windows Phone is a Principal Sponsor and the Official After Party Sponsor, jcp and Joe Fresh are the Official Gift Bag Sponsor, VOSS Artesian Water from Norway is the Official Water, WireImage is the Official Photographer, American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Best Feature The Weinstein Company
Silver Linings Playbook Producers: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon
Best Director The Weinstein Company
David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook
Best Screenplay The Weinstein Company
David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook
Best First Feature Summit Entertainment
Thee Perks of Being A Wallflower Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky
Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith
Best First Screenplay FilmDistrict
Derek Connolly Safety Not Guaranteed
John Cassavetes Award AFFRM in partnership with Participant Media
(For best feature made under $500,000) Writer/Director/Producer: Ava DuVernay
Middle of Nowhere Producers: Howard Barish, Paul Garnes
Best Supporting Female Fox Searchlight
Helen Hunt The Sessions
Best Supporting Male Warner Bros. Pictures
Matthew McConaughey Magic Mike
Best Female Lead The Weinstein Company
Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook
Best Male Lead Fox Searchlight
John Hawkes The Sessions
Robert Altman Award Music Box Films
Starlet Director: Sean Baker
Casting Director: Julia Kim
Ensemble Cast: Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Karren Karagulian, Stella Maeve, James Ransone
Best Cinematography Fox Searchlight
Ben Richardson Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best International Film Sony Pictures Classics
Amour Director: Michael Haneke
(France)
Best Documentary Cinedigm Entertainment Group
The Invisible War Director: Kirby Dick
Producers: Amy Ziering,
Tanner King Barklow
Special Distinction
Harris Savides
