Indies Continue Momentum at Academy Awards

28 Feb, 2011 By: Billy Gil

'The King's Speech'

For the second year in a row, a film financed by an independent studio took the gold at the Academy Awards when The Weinstein Co.’s The King’s Speech took the Best Picture Oscar at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. That takes the number of indies during the past 30 years to win best picture to 19, according to the Independent Film & Television Alliance.

The King’s Speech will come to DVD and Blu-ray Disc April 19 from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Other indies that won big at the awards, and their status on home video, include:

Best Supporting Actor; Supporting Actress: Christian Bale; Melissa Leo – The Fighter (The Weinstein Co.; out March 15 from Paramount)
Best Foreign Language Film: In A Better World (Denmark) (Nordisk Film; to be announced on DVD/BD from Sony Pictures)

Check out John Latchem’s story on the Oscar winners and their availability on home video for more information.

In other awards news, the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award winners were announced. Some of the winners include:

Best Feature, Best Director (Darren Aronofsky), Best Female Lead (Natalie Portman), and Best Cinematography: Black Swan (DVD/BD March 29, Fox)
Best Male Lead (James Franco): 127 Hours (March 1, Fox)
Best Supporting Female (Dale Dickey) and Best Supporting Male (John Hawkes): Winter’s Bone (on DVD/BD, Lionsgate)
Best First Screenplay (Lena Dunham): Tiny Furniture (MPI/IFC, not yet announced)
Best Screenplay (Lisa Cholodenko): The Kids Are All Right (on DVD/BD, Focus Features)
John Cassavetes Award (best feature made for less than $500,000): Daddy Longlegs (not yet on disc)
Best Foreign Film: The King’s Speech
Best Documentary: Exit Through the Gift Shop (on DVD/BD from Oscilloscope)
Best First Feature (Director: Aaron Schneider): Get Low (on DVD/BD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

The Independent Spirit Awards air tonight on IFC at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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About the Author: Billy Gil