Birman leads the nominations for the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards with six nods.
The nominations include best feature, as well as nods for stars Michael Keaton and Emma Stone and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, reported Ace Showbiz.
Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma have each received five nominations, which were announced by Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna in Hollywood.
The best female lead category sees Marion Cotillard take on Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, Jenny Slate and Rinko Kikuchi.
Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Lithgow, David Oyelowo, Andre Benjamin and Michael Keaton will battle it out in the best male lead category.
The awards will be handed out on February 21, the day before the Oscars takes place. -PTI