Juno was the big winner at the 2008 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Saturday, claiming three of the five awards the sleeper hit was nominated for.
As well as the event’s big Best Feature prize, Oscar nominee Ellen Page was named the Best Female Lead and Diablo Cody claimed the Best Screenplay honor.
Double winners at the Spirits were The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, I’m Not There and The Savages.
But the event belonged to the memory of late actor Heath Ledger, who was honored with tributes from his I’m Not There director Todd Haynes and co-star Cate Blanchett, who dedicated her Best Supporting Actress prize to her fellow Aussie, who died in January.
The independent film gala was hosted by actor Rainn Wilson, who closed the ceremony by staging a pretend fight in the audience with Best Male Lead Philip Seymour Hoffman, after poking fun at the Savages star throughout the prizegiving.
He wasn’t the only one to enjoy a laugh at Hoffman‘s expense–Dustin Hoffman claimed the actor was his son from a gay relationship he’d had with Spanish star Javier Bardem.
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