Gay-themed movies were among the winners at Saturday night's Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California.

Director Darren Aronofsky's much heralded thriller Black Swan was the big winner, taking home the best picture prize. Oscar-nominated Aronofsky also won the prize for directing.

The film's leading lady, Natalie Portman, won the best actress prize for her portrayal of a lesbian ballerina.

The writers behind the lesbian moms flick The Kids Are All Right, Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, won for best screenplay.

Oscar co-host James Franco took home the best actor prize for his role in 127 Hours.

The Kids Are All Right and Black Swan are also among the ten films nominated for the Oscar best picture, and Portman will compete against Annette Bening, who stars as a lesbian mother trying to hold her family together in The Kids Are All Right, in the best actress category at Sunday night's Academy Awards show.

Bening recently said she hopes her film opens some hearts and minds.

The Academy has also nominated Cholodenko and Blumberg for their screenplay.