But, in something of a semi-split decision, “Boyhood’s” Richard Linklater was the victor in the best directing competition, and his film also earned Patricia Arquette the best supporting actress award.
“I think all these films were an act of love and I feel so proud and so emotional to be here tonight with you,” “Birdman” director Alejandro Inarritu said, as he accepted the top honors for his film about a movie actor trying to redeem himself by taking to the stage.
Julianne Moore was hailed as best actress for her performance as a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.” “I was lucky enough to come in at the beginning of the independent film movement, and it’s really shaped my life and my career,” she said. She reserved most of her thanks for the movie’s directors, Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.
“This film is their accomplishment,” she said.
Spirit Awards 2015: The complete winners list
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Before the beginning of the live broadcast, carried by IFC, Lubeski received the award for best cinematography for his bravura work on “Birdman,” filmed to appear as if the entire movie was one uninterrupted shot. Tom Cross won the editing award for “Whiplash,” with its tightly-edited jazz riffs.
Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell hosted the awards.
Heading into the always free-wheeling ceremony, “Birdman,” with six nominations, led the pack, followed closely by “Boyhood,” “Nightcrawler” and “Selma,” which had five nominations each. By the end of the event, the awards had been fairly evenly distributed. “Birdman” led with three, followed by “Boyhood,” “Nightcrawler” and “Whiplash” with two each.
Among distributors, Sony Pictures Classics prevailed, with five wins for four of its films, led by “Whiplash.” Fox Searchlight had three and Open Road Films and IFC Films had two each.
Several awards were previously announced: Chris Ohlson received the Piaget Producers Award; Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia, directors of “H.,” received the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award; and Dan Krauss, director of the documentary “The Kill Team,” received the LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award.
