Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, the indie-movie precursor to tomorrow’s Oscars, announced two Portland winners this afternoon: Neil Kopp was given the The Piaget Producers Award, while Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There took home the Robert Altman Award.
Kopp, who was interviewed in this week’s edition of WW, was honored for his work in producing Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy and Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park.
It wasn’t a clean sweep for nominated Portland movies: I’m Not There and Paranoid Park both lost best feature to Juno, while Haynes and Van Sant were toppled by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’s Julian Schnabel. But I’m Not There was the only nominee for the Altman Award, and its victory provided a chance for Haynes to pay tribute to Heath Ledger:
The convention-defying film also was singled out with the first-ever Robert Altman Award, recognizing an ensemble cast. Presented to Haynes, casting director Laura Rosenthal and the movie’s cast, who offered multiple takes on the life and work of Dylan, the award marked the afternoon’s most emotional moment.
After testifying to Rosenthal’s contributions to the project, Haynes acknowledged, “It’s so bittersweet given how shattered all of us are by Heath’s inconceivable absence.” He then dedicated the prize to “the memory and the dazzling creative spirit of Heath Ledger.”
