The Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced yesterday, and we are beginning to see a pattern in the tea leaves. The best feature nominees echo the Gotham nominations except replace "The Master" (Weinstein) with "Keep the Lights on," a Music Box Film.

Russell O. David's "Silver Linings Playbook" is tied with Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" for five nominations. O.Russell's film received nominations that included for film, director and for leads Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, Wes Anderson is in the running as we mentioned for best feature, screenplay, Bruce Willis in a supporting role and cinematography for Robert Yeoman.

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" courtesy of Fox Searchlight, is nominated for best feature, director, for its adorable child star Quvenzhane Wallis and for cinematographer Ben Richardson.

Tied with four nominations each is "Keep the Lights On," "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and Ava DuVernay's "Middle of Nowhere."

Female leads are a strong field with Emayatzy Corinealdi, who won in that category last night for "Middle of Nowhere," and a terrific Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who starred in "Smashed." Linda Cardellini is also in the running with "Return," a little-seen film about a female soldier who returns from duty and struggles to find her place in everyday life.

Best male lead has six nominees, with Jack Black ("Bernie"), which should insure a fun evening, Cooper, John Hawkes ("The Sessions"), Thure Lindhardt ("Keep the Lights On"), and Wendell Pierce ("Four"). Matthew McConaughey, who is having a very busy year, has been nominated twice, for best male lead for the bloody "Killer Joe" and he is also nominated in the supporting category for his performance as a stripper in "Magic Mike."

The Independent Spirit Awards honors films " made with an economy of means" (think cheap) - " by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience. "

Awards are given in these categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best International Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, Someone to Watch Award, Stella Artois Truer Than Fiction Award and Jameson FIND Your Audience Award.

Below are the complete list of nominees:

2013 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer, Executive Producers are not awarded)

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD - Given to the best feature made for under $500,000.  Award given to the writer, director, and producer.  Executive Producers are not awarded.

BEST FEMALE LEAD

BEST MALE LEAD

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

BEST SUPPORTING MALE