Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

Best Feature

“Ballast”
“Frozen River”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Wendy and Lucy”
“The Wrestler”

Best Director

Ramin Bahrani, “Chop Shop”
Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Thomas McCarthy, “The Visitor”

Best First Feature

“Afterschool”
“Medicine for Melancholy”
“Sangre de Mi Sangre”
“Sleep Dealer”
“Synecdoche, New York”

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)

“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
“Prince of Broadway”
“The Signal”
“Take Out”
“Turn the River”

Best First Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Jonathan Levine, “The Wackness”
Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Anna Fleck and Ryan Boden, “Sugar”
Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
Howard A. Rodman, “Savage Grace”
Christopher Zalla, “Sangre de Mi Sangre”

Best Female Lead

Summer Bishil, “Towelhead”
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Tarra Riggs, “Ballast”
Michelle Williams, “Wendy and Lucy”

Best Male Lead

Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

Best Supporting Female

Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”
Rosie Perez, “The Take”
Misty Upham, “Frozen River”
Debra Winger, “Rachel Getting Married”

Best Supporting Male

James Franco, “Milk”
Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker”
Charlie McDermott, “Frozen River”
JimMyron Ross, “Ballast”
Haaz Sleiman, “The Visitor”

Best Cinematography

Maryse Alberti, “The Wrestler”
Lol Crowley, “Ballast”
James Laxton, “Medicine for Melancholy”
Harris Savides, “Milk”
Michael Simmonds, “Chop Shop”

Best Documentary

“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“Man on Wire”
“The Order of Myths”
“Up the Yangtze”

Best Foreign Film

“The Class” (France)
“Gomorrah” (Italy)
“Hunger” (UK/Ireland)
“Secret of the Grain” (France)
“Silent Light” (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)

With all the nominations for "Frozen River" this seriously will put Melissa Leo is a near lock position for the Oscar nom. Also the love for "Rachel Getting Married" will be helpful for that film in other categories. This also helps "Ballast" in getting a screenplay Oscar nod. Other people this helps is Misty Upman, Richard Jenkins, James Franco and especially Michelle Williams - with an Actress and Picture nod.