27th Independent Spirit Awards


The 27th Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films of 2011, were presented on February 25, 2012. The nominations were announced on November 29, 2011. The ceremony was hosted by Seth Rogen and aired exclusively on IFC. Highlights included John Waters as the "Voice of God", and musical performances by My Morning Jacket and K'naan.

Winners and nominees

Best FeatureBest Director
The Artist50/50BeginnersThe DescendantsDriveTake ShelterMichel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Best Male LeadBest Female Lead
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
  • Demián Bichir – A Better Life
  • Ryan Gosling – Drive
  • Woody Harrelson – Rampart
  • Michael Shannon – Take Shelter
    		• Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn
  • Lauren Ambrose – About Sunny
  • Rachael Harris – Natural Selection
  • Adepero Oduye – Pariah
  • Elizabeth Olsen – Martha Marcy May Marlene
    • Best Supporting MaleBest Supporting Female
    Christopher Plummer – Beginners
  • Albert Brooks – Drive
  • John Hawkes – Martha Marcy May Marlene
  • John C. Reilly – Cedar Rapids
  • Corey Stoll – Midnight in Paris
    		• Shailene Woodley – The Descendants
  • Jessica Chastain – Take Shelter
  • Anjelica Huston – 50/50
  • Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
  • Harmony Santana – Gun Hill Road
    • Best ScreenplayBest First Screenplay
    Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash – The Descendants
  • Joseph Cedar – Footnote
  • Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
  • Tom McCarthy – Win Win
  • Mike Mills – Beginners
    		• Will Reiser – 50/50
  • Mike Cahill and Brit Marling – Another Earth
  • J. C. Chandor – Margin Call
  • Patrick deWitt – Terri
  • Phil Johnston – Cedar Rapids
    • Best First FeatureBest Documentary Feature
    Margin CallAnother EarthIn the FamilyMartha Marcy May MarleneNatural SelectionThe InterruptersAn African ElectionBill Cunningham New YorkThe Redemption of General Butt NakedWe Were Here
    Best CinematographyBest International Film
    Guillaume Schiffman – The Artist
  • Joel Hodge – Bellflower
  • Benjamin Kasulke – The Off Hours
  • Darius Khondji – Midnight in Paris
  • Jeffrey Waldron – The Dynamiter
    		• A Separation • IranThe Kid with a Bike • Belgium / France / ItalyMelancholia • Denmark / France / Germany / SwedenShame • UKTyrannosaur • UK

    Films with multiple nominations and awards

    AwardsFilm
    4The Artist
    2The Descendants
    2Margin Call

    Special awards

    [Independent Spirit [John Cassavetes Award|John Cassavetes Award]]

    PariahBellflowerCircumstanceThe Dynamiter

    Truer Than Fiction Award

    Where Soldiers Come FromBombay Beach

    Piaget Producers Award

    Sophia Lin – Take Shelter

    Someone to Watch Award

    Mark Jackson – Without

    [Independent Spirit [Robert Altman Award|Robert Altman Award]]

    Margin Call – J. C. Chandor, Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, and Stanley Tucci