( CNN ) -- `` Birdman '' is flying high . The Michael Keaton film , about a former superhero-playing actor who tries to revive his career with a Broadway show , earned six Independent Spirit Awards nominations Tuesday , including best feature , best director ( Alejandro G. Inarritu ) and best actor for Keaton . The other nominees for best feature are `` Boyhood , '' `` Love Is Strange , '' `` Selma '' and `` Whiplash . '' Three films earned five nominations -- `` Boyhood , '' `` Selma '' and `` Nightcrawler '' -- and two earned four : `` Whiplash '' and `` Love Is Strange . '' Though not necessarily an Oscar indicator , getting picked by the Independent Spirit Awards -- which are open to American films with budgets below $ 20 million -- does n't hurt in creating awards season buzz , and many do go on to win the big trophy . In fact , as GoldDerby.com observed , several of last year 's Independent Spirit winners -- including Matthew McConaughey ( `` Dallas Buyers Club '' ) , Cate Blanchett ( `` Blue Jasmine '' ) , Jared Leto ( `` Dallas Buyers Club '' ) and Lupita Nyong ' o ( `` 12 Years a Slave '' ) -- went on to win Oscars in their respective categories . And the Oscar for best picture went to `` 12 Years a Slave , '' which was also named best feature at the Independent Spirit Awards . `` Boyhood , '' the Richard Linklater-directed film that follows a boy for a dozen years as he grows up , is considered a strong contender for best picture this year . The 30th Independent Spirit Awards are scheduled for Saturday , February 21 , the day before the Oscars .
`` Birdman '' earns six Independent Spirit Award nominations . `` Boyhood , '' `` Selma , '' `` Nightcrawler '' all receive five . Independent Spirit Awards go to American films with budgets below $ 20 million . Many of last year 's winners won Oscars .