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Precious takes top prizes at indie film awards


Saturday, March 06, 2010
LOS ANGELES: "Precious," the harrowing tale of an incest survivor's struggle for self-acceptance, enjoyed a clean sweep on Friday at the Spirit Awards, the independent film world's version of the Oscars.

The film won five prizes, including best feature and director. Its actors, newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and comedienne Mo'Nique, took home the honours for female lead and supporting female, respectively.

For Mo'Nique, who played an abusive mother, it represented a clean sweep during awards season. The only event left is the Academy Awards on Sunday.

But the 42-year-old actress told reporters backstage that she was not preparing an Oscar acceptance speech, because "I think the universe would say, 'You have a lot of nerve.'"

The film also won best first screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher. Lee Daniels, accepting his award for best director, indicated it might be his last time at the podium during awards season.

"Kathryn Bigelow's not here tonight. I am," a tearful Daniels said, referring to the "Hurt Locker" director, who is the favourite to win the Oscar.

Another Oscar favourite, Jeff Bridges, won the male lead award for playing a washed-up country singer in "Crazy Heart." He told reporters that he was "not counting any chickens."

Each year, a handful of Spirit winners usually go on to earn Oscars thanks in part to the success of low-budget films.

But this year's top Oscar race appears to be a showdown between the mega-budget sci-fi extravaganza "Avatar" and the indie war drama "The Hurt Locker," which was not eligible for the Spirits this year because it was nominated last year.

Along with the Tolstoy drama "The Last Station," "Precious" led the field with five nominations each. "The Last Station" went home empty-handed.

The 25th annual Spirit Awards were held at night underneath a marquee on a rooftop parking garage in downtown Los Angeles, ditching the traditional midday setting at the beach.

Some observers had worried the famously relaxed and boozy ceremony would lose some of its edge, but organizers have been at pains to say the cocktails would flow and speeches remain unrestricted.

British comedian Eddie Izzard hosted the awards, televised live and uncensored on cable channel IFC.

The Spirit Awards honour low-budget American films based on such criteria as original, provocative subject matter and the degree of independent financing. The event is organized by Film Independent, a nonprofit group that champions arthouse movies.
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