BOB DYLAN - I'M NOT THERE LEADS SPIRIT NOMS

I'M NOT THERE LEADS SPIRIT NOMS

Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There has been announced as the 2008 Independent Spirit awards frontrunner, with four major nominations.

Six different actors play the revered songwriter in Haynes' film, including Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Richard Gere.

But its unorthodox approach to the Blonde on Blonde legend's life is exemplified by the parts played by Cate Blanchett and young black actor Marcus Carl Franklin, who received best supporting actress and best supporting actor nominations.

The film was also nominated for best feature, alongside Juno, The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, A Mighty Heart and Paranoid Park, while Haynes received a best director nomination.

And I'm Not There was yesterday confirmed as the recipient of the event's inaugural Robert Altman award, a prize given in honour of the late auteur to the director, casting agent and cast of an outstanding independent film.

Tony Leung and Tang Wei, the stars of Ang Lee's Venice Golden Lion winner Lust, Caution, are named in the best actor and best actress categories, while Julie Delpy is nominated for best first feature for her debut 2 Days In Paris.

Angelina Jolie's role as widow Marianne Pearl sees her as the firm favourite in the best actress category, with Wei, Sienna Miller (Interview) Parker Posey (Broken English) and Ellen Page (Juno) nominated.

Leung faces stiff competition from Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Savages) Frank Langella (Starting Out In The Evening) Don Cheadle (Talk To Me) and Pedro Castaneda (August Evening).

The 2008 ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on February 23rd, the day before the 80th Academy Awards.