Gabourey Sidibe in Lee Daniels' Precious
John Cassavetes Award winner Lynn Shelton, Best First Film Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper, and Precious screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher all shed tears when accepting their awards. But the most emotional moment of the evening was the standing ovation given to Roger Ebert, who presented the Chaz and Roger Ebert Truer Than Fiction award to Bill Ross and Turner Ross' documentary 45365, which depicts various aspects of life in a small American town.
The Someone to Watch Award went to Easier with Practice filmmaker Kyle Patrick Alvarez. Easier with Practice tells the story of a troubled young writer (The Hurt Locker's Brian Geraghty) who develops a (mostly) phone-sex-based long-distance relationship with a woman named "Nicole" until reality finally interferes. According to Alvarez, Easier with Practice was left unrated because the MPAA would have slapped the film with their ludicrous NC-17 rating — for language alone, since there's no nudity in Easier with Practice.
Sacha Gervasi's Anvil! The Story of Anvil won the Best Documentary trophy, while Gabourey Sidibe was named Best Actress for her abused, illiterate, pregnant teen in Lee Daniels' Precious. "It has wings on it!" Sidibe exclaimed upon accepting her award.
The Best Foreign Film Award went to Lone Scherfig's British-made An Education, the story of a London schoolgirl who becomes involved with a man twice her age. An Education and star Carey Mulligan are both in the running for Academy Awards in the Best Picture and Best Actress categories, respectively.
Photo: Precious (Anne Marie Fox / Lionsgate)