LOS ANGELES — Existential black comedy "Birdman" led the Independent Spirit Awards nominees on Tuesday, as thriller "Nightcrawler," coming-of-age chronicle "Boyhood" and civil rights drama "Selma" followed with five nods each. "Birdman," which follows the journey of a washed-up actor as he embarks on a theater comeback, scored a Best Actor nod for Michael Keaton, Best Supporting Actor and Actress for Edward Norton and Emma Stone and Best Director for Alejandro G. Inarritu.
The Independent Spirit Awards, held at a casual luncheon on California's Santa Monica beach the day before Hollywood's glitzy Oscars ceremony on Feb. 21, bestows awards on the best achievements in independent film.
The award recipients are often an indicator of Academy Award winners, with slavery drama "12 Years a Slave" taking top honors at both the Spirit Awards and Oscars this year. Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna announced the nominees live from the W Hotel in Hollywood.
The awards re cognize achievements in independent film, and Oscar hopefuls are sprinkled throughout each category.— Reuters
