Charlize Theron won the best-actress award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster." Filmmaker Patty Jenkins also took home best first feature prize.
In the support categories, Djimon Hounsou won best supporting-actor for In America" and Shohreh Aghdashloo was named best supporting actress for "House of Sand and Fog."
All of the main prize winners were also nominated for Oscars - once again blurring the distinction between independents and studio films. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's "American Splendor" was nominated for five indie spirits but came away empty handed when the awards were divied up. Peter Sollet's "Raising Victor Vargus" and Billy Ray's "Shattered Glass" were also ignored. The only genunine indie in the group to do well was "The Station Agent," distributed by Miramax, which won the John Cassavetes Award for best feature made for under $500,000 and the best first screenplay prize for Tom McCarty.
Other Spirit Award winners:
-- Best debut performance: Nikki Reed, "Thirteen."
-- Best foreign film: "Whale Rider."
-- Best documentary: "The Fog of War."
-- Best cinematography: Declan Quinn, "In America."
