Memento Wins at the 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards

Posted on March 28, 2002

The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards, an event for the independent film community, was held Saturday, March 23, at a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. This year's big winner was Newmarket Films' Memento, which won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Female. Memento was written and directed by Christopher Nolan and produced by Jennifer Todd and Suzanne Todd.

United Artists' Ghost World, written by Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff, won Best First Screenplay and Best Supporting Male for Steve Buscemi. Miramax Films' In The Bedroom won Best Female Lead, Best Male Lead and Best First Feature. Miramax Films also won the Best Foreign Film for Amelie.

Director John Waters served as Master of Ceremonies. Actress Nicole Kidman and director Ang Lee served as Honorary Co-Chairs. DJ Mix Master Mike provided all the musical entertainment. Diana Zahn-Storey produced the 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards for the eighth year.

2002 IFP/West Independet Spirit Award Winners

BEST FEATURE
(Newmarket Films) Memento Producers: Jennifer Todd & Suzanne Todd

BEST DIRECTOR
(Newmarket Films) Christopher Nolan Memento (First-time filmmakers are not eligible for this category)

BEST SCREENPLAY
(Newmarket Films) Christopher Nolan Memento

BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Miramax Films) In The Bedroom Director: Todd Field

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
(United Artists) Daniel Clowes & Terry Zwigoff Ghost World

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(for Best Feature -- Under $500,000)
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Jackpot
Director: Michael Polish
Writer/Producers: Mark Polish & Michael Polish

BEST DEBUT PERFORMANCE
(Lot 47 Films) Paul Franklin Dano L.I.E. (Actors making their first appearance in a feature film)

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
(Newmarket Films) Carrie-Anne Moss Memento

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
(United Artists) Steve Buscemi Ghost World

BEST FEMALE LEAD
(Miramax Films) Sissy Spacek In The Bedroom

BEST MALE LEAD
(Miramax Films) Tom Wilkinson In The Bedroom

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
(Universal Focus) Peter Deming Mulholland Drive

BEST FOREIGN FILM
(Miramax Films) Amelie Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Sony Pictures Classics) Dogtown and Z-Boys Director: Stacy Peralta

Rene Bastian & Linda Moran, producers of Martin and Orloff and L.I.E., received the fifth annual Motorola Producers Award, which honors producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent films. The winner of the Motorola Producers Award received an unrestricted grant of $20,000, funded by Motorola. The award was presented by Stockard Channing & Dennis Quaid.

Debra Eisenstadt, director of Daydream Believer, won the eighth annual Turning Leaf Coastal Reserve Someone To Watch Award, a $20,000 grant created to honor a director of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is funded by Turning Leaf Coastal Reserve Vineyards, to help the winning filmmaker pursue his or her craft. The award was presented by Don Cheadle & Heather Graham.

Monteith McCollum, director of Hybrid, won the sixth annual DIRECTV/IFC Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features; a filmmaker of unique vision and talent who has not yet received significant attention. The award is accompanied by a $20,000 unrestricted grant funded by DIRECTV and the Independent Film Channel. The award was presented by Vondie Curtis Hall & Leelee Sobieski.

Hosted annually on the Saturday before the Oscars, the IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards honor films and filmmakers who embody independence and challenge the status quo. In order to be eligible for consideration, submitted films must have shown at a commercial theater during the 2001 calendar year or have played at one of the following seven film festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival, New York, Seattle, Sundance, Telluride, Toronto, or New Directors/New Films.



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