娱乐英语新闻:Film Independent Spirit Awards to be handed out in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The organizers of the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards will hand out awards to smaller- budge film makers in Los Angeles Friday evening, two days before the annual 82nd Oscars awards ceremony will be held in Kodak Theater.

"Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' by Sapphire," which landed six nods at the upcoming Oscars, and a history epic about illustrated Russian writer Lev Tolstoy's latter-day life "The Last Station" are frontfunners with five nominations each, pitting themselves against a solid army of rivals which also include romance "(500) Days of Summer," immigration drama "Amreeka" and thriller "Sin Nombre." The two directors, Lee Daniels and Michael Hoffman are both nominated for best directors and they will see who will come off from the scene as the winner.

Oscar best actor favorite Jeff Bridges who is nominated for his act in "Crazy Heart," is pitted against fellow Oscar nominee Colin Firth of "A Single Man," Joseph Gordon-Levitt of "(500) Days of Summer" and two others. Gabourey Sidibe, who plays the abused teen and Mo'Nique, who acted as the abusive mother in "Precious" were nominated for best actress and best supporting female respectively.

This year the award ceremony will be moved from Santa Monica to L.A.Live ocmplex in downtown Los Angeles. Founded in 1984 and originally known as FINDIE (Friends of Independents) Awards, the annual event honors independent productions with a budge less than 20 million dollars. It has now evolved into a non-profit organization of 5,000 members including almost all independent producers in Hollywood. It usually presented its own awards one day prior to the presentation of the Oscars.

Eddie Izzard will play the host at the occasion which is expected to bring together a variety of stellar entertainers.