Los Angeles  - The Wrestler Saturday swept three top awards in the Independent Spirit Awards for indie films.

The drama of an ageing, physically and psychologically wrecked athlete who attempts one more round in the ring received the award as the best film.

Michael Rourke, for whom the role was a Hollywood comeback, was also celebrated as the best actor in the casual ceremony under an afternoon tent on the beach at Santa Monica, California.

The third prize went to the film, which also has Oscar chances at the Academy Awards Sunday night, for its technical accomplishments.

In the documentary category, James Marsh won with Man on Wire, the story of the high wire act of Frenchman Philippe Petit between the twin towers of the then newly-opened World Trade Center, since destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 2001.

The Spirit Awards portray themselves as Hollywood's alternative to the Oscars, and had a top cost of 20 million dollars.

Later Saturday, local time, a group of renegade movie buffs will present the dubious Golden Raspberry awards to the worst movie moments of the year. (dpa)