Apple cider vinegar Is Pilates for you? 'Ambient gaslighting' 'Main character energy'
MOVIES
Academy Awards

'Spotlight' wins big at indie Spirit Awards

Andrea Mandell
USA TODAY

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Life's a beach for Spotlight, which took home the best feature film prize at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday.

Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Brian d’Arcy James in 'Spotlight.'

With five wins, Spotlight swept the Spirit Awards, which honor independent fare (aka movies made for under $20 million). The show, held annually the day before the Oscars, was a lighthearted affair, with booze flowing and salty ocean air whipping through the ceremony, held in a large white tent just off the Pacific.

Tom McCarthy won best director for Spotlight, Brie Larson won best female lead for Room, and young Ghanaian actor Abraham Attah won best male lead for Beasts of No Nation. (Attah's co-star Idris Elba, who was in the best supporting male category for Beasts, won, too.)

Backstage, McCarthy, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams introduced the real Boston Globe reporters who inspired their roles. "We stand on the shoulders of these journalists,” said the director.

As Oscar rehearsals were in full swing across town, hosts Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani kicked off festivities Saturday afternoon parodying Room, and then got in a few digs at the Oscars.

"The Spirit awards honor the year's best movies you've been meaning to see," cracked Nanjiani.

"We're going to cuss. We're going to flash some nip. We're going to nominate some people who aren't white," joked McKinnon.

Nailed it! The Spirit Awards' best one-liners

Spirit Awards Honorary Chair Jessica Chastain arrives at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

This year, Jessica Chastain (long a champion of independent film) served as the honorary chair at the Spirit Awards.

In keeping with the laid-back vibe, during the pre-broadcast Tangerine executive producer Jay Duplass took the stage and proposed a drinking game. "Whenever someone says 'independent' or 'spirit' take a drink, so we're all good and hammered," he joked.

Ha! Spirit Awards parody 'Room,' 'Carol'

The Spirit Awards made history when trans actress Mya Taylor won best supporting actress for her work in Tangerine.

"I came from almost nothing. My life did a total 360," said Taylor on stage. She added: "There is transgender talent. There's very beautiful transgender talent. You better get out there and put them in your next movie!"

Winners list

Best feature: Spotlight

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

Best screenplay: Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight

John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000): Krisha

Best cinematography: Ed Lachman, Carol

Robert Altman Award: Spotlight

Best first feature: The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Best documentary: The Look of Silence

Best first screenplay: Emma Donoghue, Room

Best supporting male: Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Best editing: Tom McArdle, Spotlight

Featured Weekly Ad