The Independent Spirit Film Awards always seem like the more fun, younger sibling to the Oscars, held the day before the big ceremony on the beach in Santa Monica. And true to form, they chose more interesting winners than the Academy, including The Wrestler for Best Picture and Best Actor for Mickey Rourke.

Best Actor Rourke, Best Actress Melissa Leo and Best Supporting Actress Penelope Cruz are both potential winners for tonight, but other trophies went to movies or actors the Academy wouldn't go near: James Franco for Best Supporting Actor, The Visitor director Tom McCarthy for Best Director, and The Wrestler cinematographer Maryse Alberti for Best Cinematography. Variety has the full list of winners, which also include two awards for Synecdoche, New York-- Best First Feature for Charlie Kaufman and Best Ensemble.

It's hard to draw any Oscar predictions from these winners, but also worth noting that Mickey Rourke triumphed over Sean Penn for Best Actor. Really, it's just good that smaller independent movies that got unfairly shunned by the Academy get their chance for recognition. Plus it's on a beach instead of in a stuffy auditorium-- not bad for the indies.