"Little Miss Sunshine" Wins Big at Independent Spirit Awards

"Little Miss Sunshine" was the big winner at Saturday's Independent Spirit Awards. The dark comedy about a dysfunctional family won the best feature award. "Sunshine," which is nominated for four Oscars including best picture, took home a total of four Independent Spirit awards. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris won best director, supporting male actor went to Alan Arkin, and Michael Arndt won for best first screenplay.

"Little Miss Sunshine" has been a Cinderella story in this year's awards race. Made for $8 million and bought by Fox Searchlight for $10 million, the film has won the Producers Guild of America Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble, the Writers Guild of America Award, and BAFTA's for screenplay and supporting actor. Many consider "Sunshine" the trump card at this year's Academy Awards. They think it could upset "The Departed" for best picture of 2006.

Alan Arkin received a standing ovation as he approached the stage. Afterwards, he said "I feel very small, which is how I felt when I started in this business." When Arndt received his award, he thanked the organization for having an award for bet first screenplay.

The best male lead award went to Ryan Gosling for his role as a drug-addicted middle school teacher in "Half Nelson." The performance also got him nominated for an Oscar. His co-star, Shareeka Epps, won best female lead for h performance as a student that befriends Gosling's character.

The tables at the awards were filled with familiar faces. Among those in attendance were Anjelica Houston, Daniel Craig, Sean Penn and Zach Braff.

After thanking his mother and his film's team, Gosling thanked his co-star: "She doesn't believe this, but this wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for you. I've been doing this, making movies, for a while now and this has never happened. I do one with you and look what happens."

Best supporting female went to Frances McDormand for her role in "Friends With Money." Jason Reitman won best screenplay for "Thank You For Smoking." The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best film made for less than $500,000, went to Quinceanera." The romantic drama "Sweet Land" won the award or best first film.

Other winners were:

Best documentary: "The Road to Guantanamo"

Axium Producers Award: Howard Gertler and Tim Perrell, producers of "Shortbus" and "Pizza"

IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award: Julia Loktev, director of "Day Night Day Night."

Axium Truer Than Fiction Award: Adele Horne, director of "The Tailenders."

Special Distinction Award: David Lynch and Laura Dern for their collaborative work.

Source:

"Sunshine' Day At Spirit Awards"( http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/spirit/env-indiespirits24feb24,0,775232.story)