Written by Reem Saleh, New Media, DFI

Previously named the FINDIE Awards (Friends of Independent), the Film Independent Spirit Awards was founded in 1984 and celebrates the best of Independent American cinema.

Black Swan prevailed at this year’s awards, with Darren Aronovsky receiving “Best Director” and Nathalie Portman “Best Female Lead”, as well as “Best Cinematography” and “Best Feature” for the film itself.

Watch the trailer for Black Swan:

A mere few hours before the Academy Awards themselves, competition is strong as “The King’s Speech”, which has 12 Oscar nominations, wins “Best Foreign Film”.

James Franco, who is also nominated for an Oscar, goes home him with “Best Male Lead” for his role in “127 Hours”, a film by Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle. A challenging role, the film is inspired by the true story of mountain climber Aron Raltson, who becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

Watch the trailer of “127 Hours”:

“Winter’s Bone” was also a favourite at the Film Independent Spirit Awards this year, winning 2 awards for “Best Supporting Female” and “Best Supporting Male”, granted respectively to Dayle Dickey and John Hawkes. The film tells the story of the unforgiving conditions a young woman endures to protect her family as she searches for her drug-dealing father.

Watch the trailer of “Winter’s Bone”:

The festival honors new talent as well as established artists in categories such as “Best First Feature” (“Get Low”) and “Best First Screenplay” (Lena Dunham for “Tiny Furniture”).

For a full list of Awards at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, please click here.