The nominees for the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards have been announced, according to Moviefone .
The critically acclaimed motion pictures Moonrise Kingdom and Silver Linings Playbook received five nominations a piece. Both films are in the running for best picture at this year’s awards ceremony. The films were also nominated for best direction and best screenplay.
Also counted among the nominees at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards is Lincoln Lawyer star Matthew McConaughey. The actor picked up two nominations for his work in William Friedkin’s disturbingly amusing Killer Joe and the Channing Tatum stripper flick Magic Mike .
Surprisingly, actor Jack Black was nominated for the criminally ignored black comedy Bernie . Directed by School of Rock filmmaker Richard Linklater, the film tells the story of a local mortician who befriends a testy widow. The film, which also stars Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey, is currently available on Netflix streaming.
Sam Rockwell, Bruce Willis, Helen Hunt, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Jennifer Lawrence are among the many talented actors and actresses who also received nominations.
In addition to Moonrise Kingdom and Silver Linings Playbook , Beasts of the Southern Wild , Richard Linklater’s Bernie , and Keep the Lights On were nominated for best feature. According to The Inquirer , Julia Loktev, Ira Sachs, Benh Zeitlin snagged best director nominations.
The Independent Spirit Awards are designed to honor the films that aren’t fueled by huge Hollywood budgets. While most of these movies are considered to be outside the mainstream, many of the features nominated at this awards ceremony are often tapped for Academy Awards as well.
A complete list of nominees has been included below.
Best Feature Beasts of the Southern Wild Bernie Keep the Lights On Moonrise Kingdom Silver Linings Playbook
Best Director Wes Anderson – Moonrise Kingdom Julia Loktev – The Loneliest Planet David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Screenplay Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola – Moonrise Kingdom Zoe Kazan – Ruby Sparks Martin McDonagh – Seven Psychopaths David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On
Best First Feature Fill the Void – Director: Rama Burshtein Gimme the Loot – Director: Adam Leon Safety Not Guaranteed – Director: Colin Trevorrow Sound of My Voice – Director: Zal Batmanglij, The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Director: Stephen Chbosky
Best First Screenplay Rama Burshtein – Fill the Void Derek Connolly – Safety Not Guaranteed Christopher Ford – Robot & Frank Rashida Jones & Will McCormack – Celeste and Jesse Forever Jonathan Lisecki – Gayby
Best Female Lead Linda Cardellini – Return Emayatzy Corinealdi – Middle of Nowhere Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Smashed
Best Male Lead Jack Black – Bernie Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook John Hawkes – The Sessions Thure Lindhardt – Keep the Lights On Matthew McConaughey – Killer Joe Wendell Pierce – Four
Best Supporting Female Rosemarie DeWitt – Your Sister’s Sister Ann Dowd – Compliance Helen Hunt – The Sessions Brit Marling – Sound of My Voice Lorraine Toussaint – Middle of Nowhere
Best Supporting Male Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike David Oyelowo – Middle of Nowhere Michael Péna – End of Watch Sam Rockwell – Seven Psychopaths Bruce Willis – Moonrise Kingdom
Best Documentary How to Survive a Plague Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present The Central Park Five The Invisible War The Waiting Room
Best International Film Amour (France) Director: Michael Haneke Once Upon A Time in Anatolia (Turkey) Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan Rust And Bone (France/Belgium) Director: Jacques Audiard Sister (Switzerland)” – Director: Ursula Meier War Witch (Democratic Republic of Congo)” – Director: Kim Nguyen
What do you think about this year’s Independent Spirit Award nominees?