'Sideways' Sweeps Indie Awards

'The Motorcycle Diaries' and 'Mean Creek' also do well at the low-budget Oscar alternative, which honours films made outside the studio system.

Feb 28 2005

On a weekend when a seemingly endless stream of back-slapping, navel-gazing and prize-giving ceremonies were taking place throughout Hollywood, 'Sideways' was the big winner at the IFP Independent Spirit Awards, walking away with a total of six major honours.

Paul Giamatti, who was cruelly overlooked at the Oscars, won the best actor award, Thomas Haden Church was named best supporting actor, Virginia Madsen scooped best supporting actress and Alexander Payne won awards for best screenplay (together with Jim Taylor) and best director. The comedy-drama was also named best feature.

Best actress went to Catalina Sandino Moreno for 'Maria Full of Grace', while best debut was won by Rodrigo de la Serna for his scene-stealing performance in 'The Motorcycle Diaries'.

Elsewhere 'Scrubs' star Zach Braff won the best first feature award for 'Garden State', which he wrote, directed and starred in, while euthanasia drama 'The Sea Inside' was named best foreign film.

Jacob Aaron Estes also won big with thriller 'Mean Creek', picking up the John Cassavetes award for a film that costs under $500,000 and a special distinction for the film's young ensemble cast.

The awards, which honour films that are made outside the studio system, took place in Santa Monica on Saturday and were hosted by the Samuel L Jackson.

Full list of winners:

Best Film: 'Sideways'

Best Director: Alexander Payne ('Sideways')

Best Actor: Paul Giamatti ('Sideways')

Best Actress: Catalina Sandino Moreno ('Maria Full of Grace')

Best Supporting Actor: Thomas Haden Church ('Sideways')

Best Supporting Actress: ‘Virginia Madsen ('Sideways')

Best Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor ('Sideways')

Best First Feature: Zach Braff ('Garden State')

Best First Screenplay: Joshua Marston ('Maria Full of Grace')

Best Debut Performance: Roger de la Serna ('The Motorcycle Diaries')

Best Cinematography: 'The Motorcycle Diaries'

Best Foreign Film: 'The Sea Inside'

Best Documentary: 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster'

John Cassavetes Award: 'Mean Creek'