"A Separation" Wins Best Foreign Film Oscar

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

WINNER - A Separation: Asghar Farhadi (Iran)

Nominees:
Bullhead: Michael R. Roskam (Belgium)
Footnote: Joseph Cedar (Israel)
In Darkness: Agnieszka Holland (Poland)
Monsieur Lazhar: Philippe Falardeau (Canada)

"The Iron Lady" Wins Best Makeup Oscar

Best Achievement in Makeup

WINNER - The Iron Lady: Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland

Nominees:
Albert Nobbs: Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin

"The Artist" Wins Best Costume Design Oscar

Best Achievement in Costume Design

WINNER - The Artist: Mark Bridges

Nominees:
Anonymous: Lisy Christl
Hugo: Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre: Michael O'Connor
W.E.: Arianne Phillips

"Hugo" Wins Best Art Direction Oscar

Best Achievement in Art Direction

WINNER - Hugo: Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo

Nominees:
The Artist: Laurence Bennett, Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan
Midnight in Paris: Anne Seibel, Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse: Rick Carter, Lee Sandales

"Hugo" Wins Best Cinematography Oscar

Best Achievement in Cinematography

WINNER - Hugo: Robert Richardson

Nominees:
The Artist: Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Jeff Cronenweth
The Tree of Life: Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse: Janusz Kaminski

"The Artist" Wins Best Film at 2012 Independent Spirit Awards

The Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience. This is the 27th year of the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

The 27th Film Independent Spirit Awards were given out in a televised ceremony on Saturday, February 25, 2012.  The Artist won the best picture and best director awards and now seems like a runaway train on the way to tonight's 84th Academy Awards.

2012 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS:

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer, Executive Producers are not listed)
The Artist - Producer: Thomas Langmann

BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist

BEST SCREENPLAY
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash for The Descendants

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
Margin Call
Director: J.C. Chandor
Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Zachary Quinto

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Will Reiser for 50/50

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD - Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director, and producer. Executive Producers are not listed
PariahWriter/Director: Dee Rees
Producer: Nekisa Cooper

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn

BEST MALE LEAD
Jean Dujardin for The Artist

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Shailene Woodley for The Descendants

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Christopher Plummer for Beginners

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman for The Artist

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
The Interrupters
Director/Producer: Steve James
Producer: Alex Kotlowitz

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
A Separation (Iran)
Director: Asghar Farhadi

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Margin Call
Director: J.C. Chandor
Casting Director: Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey
Ensemble Cast: Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci

FILMMAKER GRANT NOMINEES:

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 15th annual Piaget Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.
WINNER: Sophia Lin for Take Shelter

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 18th annual Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
WINNER: Mark Jackson for Without

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 17th annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
WINNER: Heather Courtney for Where Soldiers Come From

Jameson FIND Your Audience Award:
Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray

http://www.spiritawards.com/

2012 Cesar Awards Name "The Artist" Best Film

First given out in 1975, the César Award is the national film award of France. Some even think of the César Award as the French equivalent of the American Academy Awards (Oscars). The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, and the award ceremony is held in Paris each February.  The name of the award comes from the late sculptor César Baldaccini, and the trophies are actual sculptures of the artist

The 37th Cesar Awards were presented on Friday, February 24, 2012.  The French film, The Artist, which is poised to win big at the 84th Academy Awards tonight, won 6 of the 10 categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Film."  Also of note, Roman Polanski shares a screenwriting award.

The 37th César Award winners:

FILM
"The Artist," Michel Hazanavicius

DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

ACTOR
Omar Sy, "Intouchables"

ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michel Blanc, "The Minister"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Carmen Maura, "Service Entrance"

NEWCOMER, ACTOR
Gregory Gadebois, "Angele et Tony"

NEWCOMER, ACTRESS
Naidra Ayadi, "Poliss"
Clotilde Hesme, "Angele et Tony"

FIRST FILM
Sylvain Estibal, "When Pigs Have Wings"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pierre Schoeller, "The Minister"

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski, "Carnage"

FOREIGN FILM
"A Separation," Asghar Farhadi

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman, "The Artist"

ANIMATED FILM
"The Rabbi's Cat," Joann Sfar, Antoine Delesvaux

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Tous au Larzac," Christian Rouaud

MUSIC
Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"

BEST SOUND
Olivier Hespel, Julie Brenta and Jean-Pierre Laforce, “The Minister” (L'Exercice de l'État)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Laurence Bennett, “The Artist”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Anaïs Romand, “House of Tolerance” (L'Apollonide: Souvenirs de la maison close)

BEST SHORT FILM
L'Accordeur

BEST EDITING
Laure Gardette and Yann Dedet, “Poliss”