21st Independent Spirit Awards facts for kids

The 21st Independent Spirit Awards was a special event held on March 4, 2006, to celebrate the best movies made outside of major Hollywood studios in 2005. These films are known as independent films, or "indie films," because they are often made with smaller budgets and more creative freedom. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Sarah Silverman.

The night's biggest winners were Brokeback Mountain, Capote, and Transamerica, each taking home two awards. The film with the most nominations was The Squid and the Whale, which was recognized in six different categories.

Main Award Winners

The Independent Spirit Awards honor many parts of filmmaking, from acting and directing to writing and cinematography. Here are some of the key winners from the 2006 ceremony.

Best Feature and Best Director

Ang Lee won the Best Director award for his work on Brokeback Mountain.

The most important award of the night, Best Feature, went to Brokeback Mountain. This film tells the story of a complex relationship between two cowboys in the American West. It was praised by critics for its powerful story and beautiful scenery.

The other movies nominated for Best Feature were:

• Capote
• Good Night, and Good Luck.
• The Squid and the Whale
• The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

The director of Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee, also won the award for Best Director. A director is like the captain of a ship, guiding the actors and crew to bring the story to life.

Top Acting Awards

Philip Seymour Hoffman won for his role as the famous writer Truman Capote.

Felicity Huffman was awarded Best Female Lead for her role in Transamerica.

The award for Best Male Lead was given to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his amazing performance in Capote. In the film, he played the famous author Truman Capote. Hoffman was celebrated for how completely he transformed into the character.

Felicity Huffman won Best Female Lead for her role in Transamerica. She played a woman on a journey of self-discovery who finds out she has a teenage son. Her performance was called brave and moving by critics.

Best Supporting Actors

Amy Adams received the award for Best Supporting Female for the film Junebug.

Supporting actors play very important roles that help tell the main story. The award for Best Supporting Male went to Matt Dillon for the film Crash. Crash explored the lives of many different people in Los Angeles whose stories connect in unexpected ways.

Amy Adams won Best Supporting Female for her role in Junebug. In the movie, she played a cheerful and optimistic young woman from the South. Her performance was a breakout moment in her career.

Screenplay and First Feature Awards

A screenplay is the script for a movie, containing all the dialogue and action. The award for Best Screenplay went to Dan Futterman for Capote.

The award for Best First Screenplay, which honors a writer's first major script, was given to Duncan Tucker for Transamerica.

The Best First Feature award celebrates the best movie made by a first-time director. This prize went to Crash, directed by Paul Haggis.

Other Major Awards

• Best Documentary: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, a film about the collapse of a major American company.
• Best Foreign Film: Paradise Now, a film from Palestine, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. This award honors the best movie made outside of the United States.
• Best Cinematography: Good Night, and Good Luck. won for its beautiful black-and-white visuals, captured by cinematographer Robert Elswit.

Films with Multiple Nominations and Awards

Some films were recognized in many categories, showing how much the judges liked them.

Films with Multiple Nominations

Films with Multiple Wins

Special Awards

These awards honor unique achievements in independent filmmaking.

• John Cassavetes Award: This award is for the best film made for under $500,000. The winner was Conventioneers.
• Producers Award: This award honors producers who create great films with limited resources. It was given to Caroline Baron for her work on Capote and Monsoon Wedding.
• Someone to Watch Award: This award highlights a talented filmmaker who is just starting their career. It went to Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana for their film Cavite.
• Truer Than Fiction Award: This award is for a director of a documentary who is just emerging. The winner was Occupation: Dreamland.