The Independent Spirit Awards are usually a breath of a fresh air from the cycle of familiar faces at the peak of awards season, and this year is no different. If the majority ofOscar predictionsare to be believed, tomorrow’s Academy Awards ceremony will likely rain down accolades onThe Revenant, but today’s Spirit Awards ceremony was all aboutSpotlight. The film took home five trophies in all, including Best Picture, Best Director forTom McCarthy, Best Screenplay for McCarthy and Co-writerJosh Singer, Best Editing forTom McArdle, and the tremendous work from the film’s cast led byMark Ruffalo,Rachel McAdams,Michael Keaton,Liev Schreiber,Brian d’Arcy James, andStanley Tucciearned The Robert Altman award for the director, casting director and ensemble .
As for the Spirit Award’s other major acting categories,Brie Larsonwon Best Actress for her performance inRoom,Idris Elbatook home Best Supporting Actor forBeasts of No Nation;, and as the first trans actor to win a major acting award,Mya Taylortook home Best Supporting Actress forTangerinein a history-making win. And in the category that is all but guaranteed to go to Leonardo DiCaprio at tomorrow’s Oscar ceremony, Best Actor was awarded to youngBeasts of No NationleadAbraham Attah(whose absence from the Academy Awards nominations is mystifying).
Elsewhere,Marielle Heller’s tremendous debutThe Diary of a Teenage Girltook home Best First Feature, whileRoomEmma Donoghuetook home Best First Screenplay for her adaptation of her own novel.Joshua Oppenheimer’sThe Look of Silence, his stunning follow-up toThe Act of Killing, took home Best Documentary, while Best International Film went to the Hungarian pictureSon of Saul.
Todd Haynes' stunningly goregeous period romance,Carol, took home a well deserved Cinematography win for Ed Lachman, whose splendid work has been woefully overshadowed by the awards-forceThe Revenanthas become.
Check out the full list of the 2016 Independent Spirit Awards winners below.
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Brie Larson,Room
BEST MALE LEAD
Abraham Attah,Beasts Of No Nation
BEST DIRECTOR
Tom McCarthy,Spotlight
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Mya Taylor,Tangerine
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Son of Saul(Hungary)
Director: László Nemes
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Look of Silence(Drafthouse Films/Participant Media)
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen
BEST SCREENPLAY
Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer,Spotlight
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Best Feature Under $500,000)
Writer/Director: Trey Edward Shults
Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, Wilson Smith
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ed Lachman,Carol
BEST FIRST FEATURE
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Director: Marielle Heller
Producers: Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit
Robert Altman Award (Best Ensemble)
Director: Tom McCarthy
Casting Directors: Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee
Ensemble Cast: Billy Crudup, Paul Guilfoyle, Neal Huff, Brian d’Arcy James, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Jamey Sheridan, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Emma Donoghue,Room
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Idris Elba,Beasts Of No Nation
Piaget Producers Award
Truer Than Fiction Award
Incorruptible
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
Director: Felix Thompson
BEST EDITING
Tom McArdle,Spotlight
