The best independent films of 2008 were recognized with the announcement of the Independent Spirit Award nominees. The awards show was broadcast live on IFC on Saturday, February 21st, and Milk and The Wrestler came away the biggest winners in a year that saw recognition handed out to several different recipients. Have a look at our full list of Nominees and Winners:

Best Feature

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best First Feature

Best First Screenplay

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)

Best Female Lead:
Summer Bishil, Towelhead
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo, Frozen River -
Tarra Riggs, Ballast
Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy

Best Male Lead:
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Sean Penn, Milk
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler -

Best Supporting Female:
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona -
Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
Rosie Perez, The Take
Misty Upham, Frozen River
Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Male:
James Franco, Milk -
Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker
Charlie McDermott, Frozen River
JimMyron Ross, Ballast
Haaz Sleiman, The Visitor

Best Cinematography:
Maryse Alberti, The Wrestler -
Lol Crowley, Ballast
James Laxton, Medicine for Melancholy
Harris Savides, Milk
Michael Simmonds, Chop Shop

Best Documentary:
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
Encounters at the End of the World Director: Werner Herzog
Man on Wire Director: James Marsh -
The Order of Myths Director: Margaret Brown
Up the Yangtze Director: Yang Chung

Best Foreign Film:
The Class (France) Director: Laurent Cantet -
Gomorrah (Italy) Director: Matteo Garrone
Hunger (UK/Ireland) Director: Steve McQueen
Secret of the Grain (France) Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany) Director: Carlos Reygadas

Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast):
Synecdoche, New York Director: Charlie Kaufman Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams

Someone to Watch Award:
Barry Jenkins, Medicine for Melancholy
Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues
Lynn Shelton, My Effortless Brilliance -

Truer Than Fiction Award:
Margaret Brown, The Order of Myths -
Sacha Gervasi, Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Darius Marder, Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, Treeless Mountain and I'll Come Running
Jason Orans, Goodbye Solo and Year of the Fish
Heather Rae, Frozen River and Ibid