Indie Awards Read Like Oscar Prequel

The melancholy western “Brokeback Mountain” continued its domination of the awards season Saturday, receiving two Independent Spirit Awards: best picture and best director, for Ang Lee.

“Brokeback” is the clear front-runner leading into tonight’s Academy Awards. The film has won the lion’s share of prizes from critics organizations, including the Golden Globes for best film and best director.

Although the Independent Spirit Awards prides itself on honoring films outside the mainstream, this year’s show -- held in a tent at the beach near the Santa Monica Pier -- was like an R-rated warm-up for the Oscars because 11 of the winners are also in contention for the Academy Awards.

Comedian-actress Sarah Silverman was master of ceremonies. Her salty banter was upstaged by director Kevin Smith, who presented the best director honor with an intro laced with sexually explicit comments -- most involving references to his wife -- that drew groans and catcalls from the audience.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was chosen best actor for his performance as author Truman Capote in “Capote.” Hoffman has already won nearly every major critics award.

“It’s been ludicrous,” Hoffman said of the accolades. “I’ve been given enough -- I want to share this so bad” with the other nominees.

Best screenplay honors went to “Capote” writer Dan Futterman. Hoffman and Futterman are also nominated for Oscars.

Felicity Huffman was selected best actress for her role as a transgender man in “Transamerica.” The “Desperate Housewives” actress, whose acceptance speech also included some colorful language that wouldn’t have made it past network censors, is also nominated for an Oscar. The film’s director, Duncan Tucker, won the best first screenplay award.

Amy Adams was named best supporting actress for her comedic turn as the eternally optimistic pregnant wife of a slacker in the comedy-drama “Junebug.” Adams is also nominated for an Oscar.

The gritty racial drama “Crash,” considered the main competition for “Brokeback” for best picture Oscar honors, received the best first feature award for director Paul Haggis; Matt Dillon, who is also nominated for an Academy Award, was named best supporting actor for his role in the controversial drama as a bigoted Los Angeles cop.

The Independent Spirit Awards show, begun 21 years ago as a small grass-roots event to honor indie films, is a standout on the awards season circuit for its irreverent flavor. Although the overall mood of the show was casual and fun, there was a poignant moment when Ian Olds arrived on stage to collect the Truer Than Fiction award for his documentary, “Occupation: Dreamland.” Olds announced that his partner on the film, director Garrett Scott, had died two days earlier of a heart attack.

Other categories and winners:

* John Cassavetes award, for the best feature made for under $500,000: “Conventioneers.”

* Best cinematography: Robert Elswit, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

* Best foreign film: “Paradise Now.”

* Best documentary: “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.”

* Producers Award: Caroline Baron, “Capote.”

* Someone to Watch award: Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana, directors of “Cavite.”