Take Shelter and The Arist dominated the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards with five nominations apiece.
The awards, which were announced yesterday in Los Angeles, are the first of the season and offer some indication as to who might feature in the big one, the Oscars on February 26, 2012.
The other nominees for best feature were the father-son drama Beginners, the neo-noir LA thriller Drive and the Hawaii-set family drama The Descendants. Shame, starring Irish actor Michael Fassbender in his most uncompromising role yet, was nominated in the Best International Film category.
Other big nominees on the night include Drive, Beginners, The Descendants and Martha Marcy May Marlene which garnered four nominations apiece. The winners will be unveiled on February 25 in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
