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Precious won big at last night’s Independent Spirit Awards. The drama directed by Lee Daniels swept numerous categories including Best Director, Screenplay, Actress and Supporting Actress. Congrats to all of the winners and nominees.

We’re cheering for everyone to win big at the Oscars!

The harrowing drama “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” was the big winner Friday evening at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which was held in a tent on L.A. Live’s event deck in downtown Los Angeles.

The film about a pregnant African American teenager and her abusive mother won best feature, best director for Lee Daniels, best first screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher, best female lead for Gabourey Sidibe and best supporting female for Mo’Nique.

Daniels basked in his win away from his fellow Oscar nominees. “Kathryn Bigelow’s not here tonight,” he said. “I am.”

“Precious” is nominated for Academy Awards in many of the same categories, with Mo’Nique considered the odds-on favorite to receive best supporting actress Sunday evening at the Kodak Theatre.

Mo’Nique’s acceptance speech wasn’t as emotional as some of her other winning speeches this awards season, but she did take a special moment to acknowledge her co-star Sidibe, telling her, “You are a special gift to the universe, baby.”

Presenter Ben Stiller, noting the ceremony’s late hour and the independent nature of the assembled crowd, brought half-naked porn stars onstage to writhe in sexual positions while he read the nominees for best film.

On Friday, best male lead went to Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges for his moving performance as a dissolute country singer in “Crazy Heart.” The role has won Bridges numerous awards this season, including honors from the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild.

Bridges gave a rambling speech in which he thanked many people and told the crowd, ” ‘Crazy Heart’ is a gem of an independent film.”

“Crazy Heart,” directed by Scott Cooper, also won the Spirit prize for best first feature. Robert Duvall, who came to the stage with Cooper, told the crowd that the latter hadn’t directed so much as a high school play before this film. “But,” Duvall added, “he does a great job.”

Woody Harrelson, also an Oscar contender, won for supporting male for “The Messenger.”

Screenplay honors went to Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber for “(500) Days of Summer.” Roger Deakins received the cinematography award for “A Serious Man.”

“An Education” won best foreign film, and “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” took documentary honors.

The John Cassavetes Award for best feature made under $500,000 went to Lynn Shelton, the writer-director-producer of “Humpday.” Kyle Patrick Alvarez, director of “Easier With Practice,” received the Acura Someone to Watch Award. Bill and Turner Ross, directors of the documentary “45365,” received the Chaz & Roger Ebert Truer Than Fiction Award. And Karin Chien, producer of “The Exploding Girl” and “Santa Mesa,” received the Piaget Producers Award.

The third annual Robert Altman Award, which is given to a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast, went to Joel and Ethan Coen’s “A Serious Man.” 

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On Thursday night, New Yorkers braved a snow storm to attend USA NETWORK’s CHARACTER APPROVED AWARDS reception. The invitation only event in partnership with Vanity Fair  was hosted by USA’s Mark Feuerstein who officially unveiled the 2010 honorees and their on-air vignettes.

The event was held at the iconic IAC Building, which was designed by Frank Gehry.

Guests were also treated to the first live appearance of Green Day’s “American “Idiot”  in New York City ahead of the show’s Broadway debut on Wednesday, March 24.

Attendees were treated to an Oscar Preview on the red carpet when nominees Maggie Gyllenhall and Gabourey Sibide posed for the press.  For more information on Character Approved, visit characterapproved.usanetwork.com.

The second annual Character Approved Awards is a multimedia campaign honoring individuals who are changing the face of American culture.  Inspired by USA’s Characters Welcome brand, the initiative is dedicated to celebrating the true trailblazers across a variety of disciplines such as art, philanthropy, new media and film.

“Character Approved is a celebration of the real Characters making an impact on our culture today,” said Chris McCumber, USA executive vice president, marketing, digital and brand strategy.  “Our honorees are all at the top of their game, and we’re thrilled to shine a light on their unique accomplishments.”

Character Approved honorees are innovators in their field who are influencing our opinions, our style and our view of the world. They surprise us and inspire us with fresh ideas. They are celebrated by their peers and have an authentic style. USA recognizes these ten individuals for their cultural impact, legacy and persona with the hallmark of recognition, the USA Network “seal of approval”:

* Green Day, Grammy Award-winning rock band (Music)
* Kathryn Bigelow, Academy Award-nominated film director, “The Hurt Locker” (Film/TV)
* Nora Ephron, best-selling novelist, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and playwright (Writing)
* Narciso Rodriguez, multiple award-winning American fashion designer (Fashion)

* Angela Brooks, groundbreaking sustainable architect, principal of Pugh + Scarpa Architects (Architecture)
* Kehinde Wiley, revolutionary urban arts painter (Art)
* Yves Behar, innovative industrial designer of the Jawbone Bluetooth headset and the $100 XO laptop (Design)
* Dan Barber, renowned restaurateur, Blue Hill and Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture (Food)
* Jessica Jackley, social entrepreneur and microfinancier, co-founder Kiva.org (Giving)
* Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, game creators of Guitar Hero and Rock Band (New Media/Technology)

Here is Binside TV’s scoop on the A list cocktail soiree.

Socialite Tinsley Mortimer was promoting her upcoming CW reality show by posing with her showmance  co-star American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis.   We also chatted with actress Saffron Burrows who looked beautiful in a clingy black Herve Leger dress. “The Law and Order Criminal Intent” actress was excited about working with Jeff Goldblum on their series.

“Psych” star Dule Hill and “White Collar” hottie  Matt Bomer were just some of the USA Network stars who  attended the network party.

Models have fun too!

One of our favorite moments of the evening was when  supermodels Tiuu Kuik and Michelle Buswell gave Binside TV producer Shani Harris modeling tips and posed for an impromptu photo.

Did we mention that we loved the chocolate cheesecake dessert on a stick?  Yummy…..

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