"THE ARTIST" WINS BEST FEATURE AT INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

On the eve before the biggest night for films in Hollywood, The Independent Spirit Awards which recognizes and honors the films made outside of the studio system announced their winners today. The event, now in it's twenty-seventh year, presented "The Artist" with four awards including Best Feature. The film is also favored to win the top prize at tomorrow's Academy Awards.

Here is the complete list of the winners from this year's presentation:

Best Feature: "The Artist"

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

Best Screenplay: "The Descendants," Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Best Female Lead: Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"

Best Male Lead: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"

Best Supporting Female: Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Supporting Male: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best First Feature: "Margin Call"

Best First Screenplay: Will Reiser, "50/50"

John Cassavetes Award: "Pariah"

Best Cinematography: Guillaume Schiffman, "The Artist"

Best Documentary: "The Interrupters"

Best International Film: "A Separation"

Robert Altman Award: "Margin Call" director: J.C. Chandor, casting directors: Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey, and ensemble cast: Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey and Stanley Tucci

Piaget Producers Award: Sophia Lin, "Take Shelter"

Audi Someone to Watch Award: Mark Jackson, "Without"

Nokia Truer Than Fiction Award: Heather Courtney, "Where Soldiers Come From"

Jameson FIND Your Audience Award: Benjamin Murray and Alyssa Nahmias, "Unfinished Spaces"