HIGH SPIRITS FOR JUNO AS FILM CLAIMS THREE INDIE AWARDS

HIGH SPIRITS FOR JUNO AS FILM CLAIMS THREE INDIE AWARDS

JUNO was the big winner at the 2008 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California on Saturday (23Feb08), claiming three of the five awards the sleeper hit was nominated for. As well as the event's big Best Feature prize, Oscar nominee Ellen Page was named the Best Female Lead and Diablo Cody claimed the Best First Screenplay honour. Double winners at the Spirits were The Diving Bell + The Butterfly, I'm Not There and The Savages. But the event belonged to the memory of late actor Heath Ledger, who was honoured with tributes from his I'm Not There director Todd Haynes and co-star Cate Blanchett, who dedicated her Best Supporting Actress prize to her fellow Aussie, who died in January (08). The independent film gala was hosted by actor Rainn Wilson, who closed the ceremony by staging a pretend fight in the audience with Best Male Lead winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, after poking fun at The Savages star throughout the prizegiving. He wasn't the only one to enjoy a laugh at Hoffman's expense - Dustin Hoffman claimed the actor was his son from a gay relationship he'd had with Spanish star Javier Bardem. The full list of winners are: Best Feature: Juno Best Director: Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell + The Butterfly) Best First Feature: The Lookout Best Screenplay: Tamara Jenkins (The Savages) Best First Screenplay: Diablo Cody (Juno) Best Female Lead: Ellen Page (Juno) Best Male Lead: Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Savages) Best Supporting Female: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There) Best Supporting Male: Chiwetel Ejiofor (Talk To Me) Best Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski (The Diving Bell + The Butterfly) Best Documentary: Crazy Love Best Foreign Language Film: Once Robert Altman Award: Director Todd Haynes and the ensemble cast of I'm Not There John Cassavetes Award: Chris Eska (August Evening) Someone To Watch Award: Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop) Truer Than Fiction Award: Laura Dunn (The Unforeseen) Producers Award: Neil Kopp (Paranoid Park + Old Joy).