Silver Linings Playbook wins Independent Spirit Awards

Silver Linings Playbook has won four Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on the eve of the Oscars.

The ceremony honors independent movies and is Hollywood’s last big pre-Oscars ritual before Sunday’s main event.

Silver Linings Playbook, up for eight Oscars, won Independent Spirit Awards for best film, director, screenplay and actress for Jennifer Lawrence.

John Hawkes took best actor for the part of the late disabled journalist and poet Mark O’Brien in The Sessions.

Hawkes said he hoped the film would help change perceptions of disability.

“Mark O’Brien said as a disabled man he felt invisible to people. I hope this film can change that a little bit and we all see each other a little more,” he told the audience in his acceptance speech.

His co-star Helen Hunt – who plays a sex therapist in the film, based on an article written by O’Brien in 1990 – won best supporting actress.

Up for the same award at the Oscars, Hunt said backstage: “I’m proud of the movie, I can’t believe we got it made.”

‘Complete surprise‘

Matthew McConaughey, who was also nominated for best actor for Killer Joe, picked up the best supporting actor prize for Magic Mike, in which he stars alongside his mother.

He praised the process of making independent films. “The vitality you get from not having enough money and not having enough time… that’s what I love about independent films,” he said.

The prize for best foreign film went to Oscar favourite Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.

“I feel wonderful, it comes as a complete surprise,” he said, after collecting his award. “No-one would think a film dealing with ageing and death [would do so well].”

Best documentary went to The Invisible War, which addresses rape and sexual abuse in the US military.

Producer Amy Ziering made an emotional speech, saying: “This award says to our service members – you are heard, you are not alone and you are no longer invisible.”

H.SH