2009 Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

It's impossible to pay attention to all the movie awards announcements each year, because there are just so many of them. But the Independent Spirit Awards is one of the second tier (read: non-Academy/Globe) Awards shows that I actually respect and pa attention to. Today the 2009 Indie Spirit nominations were announced. Frozen River and Ballast lead with six nominations each, followed by Rachel Getting Married with five nominations, The Wrestler, Milk, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Visitor with three each. Take a look at the full list below:

Best FeatureBallastFrozen RiverRachel Getting MarriedWendy and LucyThe WrestlerBest First FeatureAfterschoolMedicine for MelancholySangre De Mi SangreSleep DealerSynecdoche, New YorkBest Director

Ramin Bahrani – Chop Shop

Jonathan Demme – Rachel Getting Married

Lance Hammer – Ballast

Courtney Hunt – Frozen River

Tom McCarthy – The Visitor

Best Male Lead

Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Richard Jenkins – The Visitor

Sean Penn – Milk

Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker

Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Female Lead

Summer Bishil – Towelhead

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married

Melissa Leo – Frozen River

Tarra Riggs – Ballast

Michelle Williams – Wendy and Lucy

Best Supporting Male

James Franco – Milk

Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker

Charlie McDermott – Frozen River

JimMyron Ross – Ballast

Haaz Sleiman – The Visitor

Best Supporting Female

Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Rosemarie DeWitt – Rachel Getting Married

Rosie Perez – The Take

Misty Upham – Frozen River

Debra Winger – Rachel Getting Married

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck – Sugar

Charlie Kaufman – Synecdoche, New York

Howard A. Rodman – Savage Grace

Christopher Zalla – Sangre De Mi Sangre

Best Cinematography

Maryse Alberti – The Wrestler

Lol Crawley – Ballast

James Laxton – Medicine for Melancholy

Harris Savides – Milk

Michael Simmonds – Chop Shop

Best DocumentaryThe BetrayalEncounters at the End of the WorldMan on WireThe Order of MythsUp the Yangtze

Best Foreign Film

The Class (France)Gomorra (Italy)Hunger (U.K./Ireland)Secret of the Grain (France)Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committee applies the following guidelines in making its selections. Final interpretation of all rules and regulations and eligibility of submissions shall be made by the Spirit Awards Nominating Committee:

1. Uniqueness of vision

2. Original, provocative subject matter

3. Economy of means

4. Percentage of financing from independent sources

via: FSR