“Spotlight” was the big winner at Saturday night’s 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which honor the best in independent film.
The journalism drama about a team of reporters investigating sexual abuse of children by priests in Boston won best feature, best screenplay, best editing, best director for Tom McCarthy and the Robert Altman Award, given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.
“Room,” about a mother and young son held captive in a cramped room for years, won two awards — best female lead for Oscar front-runner Brie Larson and best first screenplay for Emma Donoghue.
The African war drama “Beasts of No Nation” had two winners, best male lead for young Abraham Atta and best supporting male for Idris Elba.
The Spirit Awards ceremony, held in Santa Monica, were hosted by Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani.
Here is a list of winners:
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
— “Spotlight,” Producers: Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar
BEST FIRST FEATURE – Award given to the director and producer.
— “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” Director: Marielle Heller; Producers: Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
— “Krisha,” Writer/Director/Producer: Trey Edward Shults; Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, Wilson Smith
BEST DIRECTOR
— Tom McCarthy, “Spotlight”
BEST SCREENPLAY
— Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer, “Spotlight”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
— Emma Donoghue, “Room”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
— Ed Lachman, “Carol”
BEST EDITING
— Tom McArdle, “Spotlight”
BEST FEMALE LEAD
— Brie Larson, “Room”
BEST MALE LEAD
— Abraham Attah, “Beasts of No Nation”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
— Mya Taylor, “Tangerine”
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
— Idris Elba, “Beasts of No Nation”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.
— “Spotlight,” 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 DOCUMENTARY – Award given to the director and producer.
— “The Look of Silence,” Director: Joshua Oppenheimer; Producer: Signe Byrge Srensen
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM – Award given to the director.
— “Son of Saul” (Hungary), Director: Laszlo Nemes
