Independent Spirit Awards nominations: "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Silver Linings Playbook" in the lead

The oddball romances "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Silver Linings Playbook" have picked up five nominations each to lead the Spirit Awards honoring independent film.

Both films are competing for the best-picture prize at the Spirit Awards, one of Hollywood's first big announcements on the long road to the Oscars.

Also announced Tuesday for best picture were the father-daughter tale "Beasts of the Southern Wild"; the black comedy "Bernie"; and the gay drama "Keep the Lights On."

The Spirit Awards nominees were announced on Tuesday in Los Angeles by Anna Kendrick, Zoe Saldana and Common.

Presented by the cinema group Film Independent, the Spirit Awards will be handed out at an afternoon ceremony along the beach in Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 23, the day before the Academy Awards. The Spirit Awards show will air that night on IFC.

The nominees in main categories:

Best Feature

"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

"Bernie"

"Keep the Lights On"

"Moonrise Kingdom"

"Silver Linings Playbook"

Best Screenplay

Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola ("Moonrise Kingdom")

Zoe Kazan ("Ruby Sparks")

Martin McDonagh ("7 Psychopaths")

David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook")

Ira Sachs ("Keep the Lights On")

Best Director

Wes Anderson ("Moonrise Kingdom")

Julia Loktev ("The Loneliest Planet")

David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook")

Ira Sachs ("Keep the Lights On")

Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild").

Best Female Lead

Linda Cardellini ("Return")

Emayatzy Corinealdi ("Middle of Nowhere")

Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook")

Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild")

Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Smashed")

Best Male Lead

Jack Black ("Bernie")

Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook")

John Hawkes ("The Sessions")

Thure Lindhardt ("Keep the Lights On")

Matthew McConaughey ("Killer Joe")

Wendell Pierce ("Four")

Best Supporting Female

Rosemarie DeWitt ("Your Sister's Sister")

Ann Dowd ("Compliance")

Helen Hunt ("The Sessions")

Brit Marling ("Sound of My Voice")

Lorraine Toussaint ("Middle of Nowhere")

Best Supporting Male

Matthew McConaughey ("Magic Mike")

David Oyelowo ("Middle of Nowhere")

Michael Pena ("End of Watch")

Sam Rockwell ("7 Psychopaths")

Bruce Willis ("Moonrise Kingdom")

Best Documentary

"How to Survive a Plague"

"Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present"

"The Central Park Five"

"The Invisible War"

"The Waiting Room"

Go here for a complete list of nominees.