Independently financed films received more Academy Award nominations this year than those from the major studios, according to figures released Thursday from the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). Films from independents received 79 overall Oscar nominations versus 42 for the majors, while in the top categories indies had 21 nominations to 14 for the majors. Independent best picture nominations included “District 9” (QED International), “An Education” (Hanway Films), “The Hurt Locker” (Voltage Pictures/Summit), “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Co.), “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate) and “A Serious Man” (Focus Features/Studio Canal). “We are not surprised to see these numbers, since over the past quarter-century, independents have produced the most Oscar-winning movies, including ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Crash’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby,’” said IFTA president-CEO Jean Prewitt.