ALAN ARKIN - SUNSHINE BEAMS ON SPIRIT AWARDS

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE got a pre-Oscars boost yesterday (24FEB07) after claiming four honours at the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, including the ceremony's Best Film prize. The movie, which is up for a handful of honours at today's (25FEB07) Academy Awards, also earned moviemakers JONATHAN DAYTON and VALERIE FARIS the Best Director prize, while ALAN ARKIN claimed the Best Supporting Male gong and screenwriter MICHAEL ARNDT was also honoured. It was also a good day for HALF NELSON, which claimed both lead acting awards, giving RYAN GOSLING a boost as he prepared to fight Oscars favourite FOREST WHITAKER. The full list of winners is: Best Film - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE Best Director - JONATHAN DAYTON + VALERIE FARIS (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) Best First Feature - SWEET LAND Best Screenplay - JASON REITMAN (THANK YOU FOR SMOKING) Best First Screenplay - MICHAEL ARNDT (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) Best Female Lead - SHAREEKA EPPS (HALF NELSON) Best Male Lead - RYAN GOSLING (HALF NELSON) Best Supporting Female - FRANCES MCDORMAND (FRIENDS WITH MONEY) Best Supporting Male - ALAN ARKIN (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) Best Cinematography - GUILLERMO NAVARRO (PAN'S LABYRINTH) Best Documentary - THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO Best Foreign Film - THE LIVES OF OTHERS John Cassavetes Award - RICHARD GLATZER, WASH WESTMORELAND + ANNE CLEMENTS (QUINCEANERA) Someone To Watch Award - JULIA LOKTEV (DAY NIGHT DAY NIGHT) Truer Than Fiction Award - ADELE HORN (THE TAILENDERS) Producers Award - HOWARD GERTLER + TIM PERELL (SHORTBUS) Special Distinction Award - LAURA DERN + DAVID LYNCH Special Award - ROBERT ALTMAN

25/02/2007 14:30