Host Seth Rogen said during his opening monologue “With all the four seasons, there’s no season better than awards season.” For a town like Los Angeles, he speaks the truth. The whole city lights up in the warm glow of awards season around this time every year as Hollywood’s brightest and most talented are given prestigious awards further heightening their career. But what about the independent circuit? That’s where Film Independent comes in, an organization that formed the Independent Spirit Awards that not only honors some of the mainstream cinema we all are acquainted with but tips their hats to the indie front where the constant passion for filmmaking always resides.

The 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards resides once more in Santa Monica as mainstream and independent cinema all praise the best that both sectors have to offer. Take a look at the winners for this year’s Independent Spirit Awards below.

Best Feature
“The Artist”
Producer: Thomas Langmann

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius – “The Artist”

Best Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – “The Descendants”

Best First Feature
“Margin Call”
Director: J.C. Chandor
Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Neal Dodson, Zachary Quinto

Best First Screenplay
Will Reiser – “50/50”

John Cassavetes Award
(For the best feature made under $500,000)
Writer/Director: Dee Rees – “Pariah”
Producer: Nekisa Cooper

Best Supporting Female
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

Best Supporting Male
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners”

Best Female
Michelle Williams – “My Week With Marilyn”

Best Male Lead
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist”

Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman – “The Artist”

Best Foreign Film
“A Separation”
Director: Asghar Farhadi

Best Documentary
“The Interrupters”
Director: Steve James
Producer: Alex Kotlowitz