High-profile studios pics mingled with small-scale indies as Fox Searchlight’s “12 Years a Slave” led nominations for the 29th Independent Spirit Awards with seven followed by Paramount Vantage’s “Nebraska” with six.

In a year chock full of worth films, Film Indpendent voters spread the wealth among titles that are serious Oscar contenders as well as true indies with minimal budgets and a lack of marquee names.

“12 Years” was tapped for best feature, director for Steve McQueen, best actor for Chiwetel Ejiofer, supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o, supporting actor for Michael Fassbender, cinematography for Sean Bobbit and screenplay by John Ridley. Nominated “12 Years” producers are Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Brad Pitt and Bill Pohlad.

“12 Years” has grossed $29 million in the U.S. since its launch on Oct. 18.

“Nebraska” received noms for best feature, director Alexander Payne, best actor for Bruce Dern, supporting actress for June Squibb, supporting actor for Will Forte and best first screenplay for Bob Nelson. Producers are Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa. Dern won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his work in the dark comedy.

Besides “12 Years” and “Nebraska,” the best feature nominations went to Lionsgate’s “All Is Lost,” IFC’s “Frances Ha” and CBS Films’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” That meant two nominations for Scott Rudin, a producer on “Frances Ha” with Noah Baumbach, Rodrigo Texeira and Lila Yacoub and a producer with Joel and Ethan Coen on “Llewyn Davis.” “All Is Lost” is produced by Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb.

“All Is Lost” was also nominated for best director for J.C. Chandor, best actor for Robert Redford and best cinematography for Frank DeMarco for a total of four noms. “Blue Jasmine,” “Fruitvale Station,” “Inside Llewyn Davis” and “Short Term 12” each garnered three nominations.

PHOTOS: 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

Octavia Spencer and Paula Patton announced the nominations Tuesday morning at the W Hotel. The awards ceremonies will take place March 1 – the day before the Oscars – at the usual location in a massive white tent on Santa Monica beach.

Spencer, who starred in “Fruitvale Station,” teared up for all three of its noms — best first feature for Ryan Coogler, best actor for Michael B. Jordan and Melonie Diaz for supporting actress. “Fruitvale Station” won the Sundance grand jury prize.

Only films with budgets of $20 million or less are eligible for the Spirits. Focus Features’ “Dallas Buyers Club” took two noms for Matthew McConaughey for best actor and Jared Leto for supporting actor. McConaughey won the Spirit’s supporting actor trophy in February for “Magic Mike.”

McConaughey was overlooked for his lead role in “Mud,” which snagged a nod for director Jeff Nichols. The drama also won the Robert Altman award — bestowed upon a director, cast and casting director.

Other films with two noms included”Before Midnight,” “Computer Chess,” “Crystal Fairy,” “Enough Said,” “Frances Ha,” “The Spectacular Now,” “Una Noche” and “Upstream Color.”

The late James Gandolfini was nominated for a supporting performance in “Enough Said.” Joseph Gordon-Levitt was tapped as a nominee in the first screenplay category for “Don Jon” as was Lake Bell for her script for “In a World.”

David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” dominated the awards last February with trophies for best feature, actress for Jennifer Lawrence and director and screenplay for Russell.

2014 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations:

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

12 Years a Slave

PRODUCERS: Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Brad Pitt, Bill Pohlad

All Is Lost

PRODUCERS: Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb

Frances Ha

PRODUCERS: Noah Baumbach, Scott Rudin, Rodrigo Teixeira, Lila Yacoub

Inside Llewyn Davis

PRODUCERS: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

Nebraska

PRODUCERS: Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa

BEST DIRECTOR

Shane Carruth

Upstream Color

J.C. Chandor

All Is Lost

Steve McQueen

12 Years a Slave

Jeff Nichols

Mud

Alexander Payne

Nebraska

BEST SCREENPLAY

Woody Allen

Blue Jasmine

Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater

Before Midnight

Nicole Holofcener

Enough Said

Scott Neustadter &

Michael H. Weber

The Spectacular Now

John Ridley

12 Years a Slave

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

Blue Caprice

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Alexandre Moors

PRODUCERS: Kim Jackson, Brian O’Carroll, Isen Robbins, Will Rowbotham, Ron Simons, Aimee Schoof, Stephen Tedeschi

Concussion

DIRECTOR: Stacie Passon

PRODUCER: Rose Troche

Fruitvale Station

DIRECTOR: Ryan Coogler

PRODUCERS: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker

Una Noche

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Lucy Mulloy

PRODUCERS: Sandy Pérez Aguila, Maite Artieda, Daniel Mulloy, Yunior Santiago

Wadjda

DIRECTOR: Haifaa Al Mansour

PRODUCERS: Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Lake Bell

In A World

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Don Jon

Bob Nelson

Nebraska

Jill Soloway

Afternoon Delight

Michael Starrbury

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

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.

Computer Chess

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Andrew Bujalski

PRODUCERS: Houston King & Alex Lipschultz

Crystal Fairy

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Sebastiàn Silva

PRODUCERS: Juan de Dios Larraín & Pablo Larraín

Museum Hours

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Jem Cohen

PRODUCERS: Paolo Calamita & Gabriele Kranzelbinder

Pit Stop

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Yen Tan

WRITER: David Lowery

PRODUCERS: Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston,

Eric Steele, Kelly Williams

This is Martin Bonner

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Chad Hartigan

PRODUCER: Cherie Saulter

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Cate Blanchett

Blue Jasmine

Julie Delpy

Before Midnight

Gaby Hoffmann

Crystal Fairy

Brie Larson

Short Term 12

Shailene Woodley

The Spectacular Now

BEST MALE LEAD

Bruce Dern

Nebraska

Chiwetel Ejiofor

12 Years a Slave

Oscar Isaac

Inside Llewyn Davis

Michael B. Jordan

Fruitvale Station

Matthew McConaughey

Dallas Buyers Club

Robert Redford

All Is Lost

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Melonie Diaz

Fruitvale Station

Sally Hawkins

Blue Jasmine

Lupita Nyong’o

12 Years a Slave

Yolonda Ross

Go For Sisters

June Squibb

Nebraska

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Michael Fassbender

12 Years a Slave

Will Forte

Nebraska

James Gandolfini

Enough Said

Jared Leto

Dallas Buyers Club

Keith Stanfield

Short Term 12

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Sean Bobbitt

12 Years a Slave

Benoit Debie

Spring Breakers

Bruno Delbonnel

Inside Llewyn Davis

Frank G. DeMarco

All Is Lost

Matthias Grunsky

Computer Chess

BEST EDITING

Shane Carruth & David Lowery

Upstream Color

Jem Cohen & Marc Vives

Museum Hours

Jennifer Lame

Frances Ha

Cindy Lee

Una Noche

Nat Sanders

Short Term 12

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

20 Feet From Stardom

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Morgan Neville

PRODUCERS: Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers

After Tiller

DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS: Martha Shane & Lana Wilson

Gideon’s Army

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Dawn Porter

PRODUCER: Julie Goldman

The Act of Killing

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Joshua Oppenheimer

PRODUCERS: Joram Ten Brink, Christine Cynn, Anne Köhncke, Signe Byrge Sørensen,

Michael Uwemedimo

The Square

DIRECTOR: Jehane Noujaim

PRODUCER: Karim Amer

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

A Touch of Sin

(China)

DIRECTOR: Jia Zhang-Ke

Blue is the Warmest Color

(France)

DIRECTOR: Abdellatif Kechiche

Gloria

(Chile)

DIRECTOR: Sebastián Lelio

The Great Beauty

(Italy)

DIRECTOR: Paolo Sorrentino

The Hunt

(Denmark)

DIRECTOR: Thomas Vinterberg

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)

Mud

Director: Jeff Nichols

Casting Director: Francine Maisler

Ensemble Cast: Joe Don Baker, Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Sam Shepard, Tye Sheridan, Paul Sparks, Bonnie Sturdivant, Reese Witherspoon

17th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 17th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.

Toby Halbrooks & James M. Johnston

Jacob Jaffke

Andrea Roa

Frederick Thornton

20th ANNUAL SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 20th annual Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.

My Sister’s Quinceañera

DIRECTOR: Aaron Douglas Johnston

Newlyweeds

DIRECTOR: Shaka King

The Foxy Merkins

DIRECTOR: Madeline Olnek

19th ANNUAL STELLA ARTOIS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 19th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by Stella Artois, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.

Kalyanee Mam

A River Changes Course

Jason Osder

Let the Fire Burn

Stephanie Spray & Pacho Velez

Manakamana