'Artist,' 'Shelter' earn 5 Spirit nods each

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- "The Artist" and "Take Shelter" were each nominated for five Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles Tuesday.

The films, which were made by American producers for less than $20 million, will compete with "50-50," "Beginners," "The Descendants" and "Drive" for the top prize of Best Feature.

Nominated in the Best Male Lead category are Demian Bichir for "A Better Life," Jean Dujardin for "The Artist," Ryan Gosling for "Drive," Woody Harrelson for "Rampart" and Michael Shannon for "Take Shelter."

The nominees in the Best Female Lead race are Lauren Ambrose for "Think of Me," Rachael Harris for "Natural Selection," Adepero Oduye for "Pariah," Elizabeth Olsen for "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn."

The nominees for Best Supporting Male are Albert Brooks for "Drive," John Hawkes for "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Christopher Plummer for "Beginners," John C. Reilly for "Cedar Rapids" and Corey Stoll for "Midnight in Paris."

Up for the Best Supporting Female honor are Jessica Chastain for "Take Shelter," Anjelica Huston for "50/50," Janet McTeer for "Albert Nobbs," Harmony Santana for "Gun Hill Road" and Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants."

Vying for the Best Director statuette are Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist," Mike Mills for "Beginners," Jeff Nichols for "Take Shelter," Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Nicolas Winding for "Refn Drive."

Nominated for the Best Screenplay trophy are Joseph Cedar's "Footnote," Michel Hazanavicius' "The Artist," Tom McCarthy's "Win Win," Mike Mills' "Beginners" and Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash's "The Descendants."

Winners of the Spirit Awards will be announced Feb. 25 at a ceremony in Santa Monica.