Los Angeles: 'Spotlight' took home top honors at the 2016 Spirit Awards, winning best feature, best director, best screenplay, best editing and best ensemble.
Idris Elba won the trophy for supporting actor for 'Beasts of No Nation.'"
The award is a partial redemption for Elba, who was snubbed by the Academy of of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Jan. 14 for his role as a commandant of an African army of child soldiers, a major reason for the #OscarsSoWhite protest about the exclusion of non-white actors from the nominations.
Elba brought on his Ghanian co-star Attah on stage in his acceptance speech.
The "Spotlight" announcements evoked a strong response from the audience at the 31st Spirit Award ceremonies at a tent on Santa Monica beach on Saturday afternoon. Singer paid tribute to abuse survivor Phil Saviano, who was in the audience and given a standing ovation.
McCarthy had introduced both the cast and the Globe journalists during the presentation of the previously announced Robert Altman cast award.
"We stand on the shoulders of these journalists," McCarthy said back stage.
Mark Ruffalo echoed that sentiment, saying that the journalists had been integral to making the movie: "We would not have been here had they not been so generous."
In one of the most popular announcements, transgender actress Mya Taylor won for best supporting actress for the transgender drama "Tangerine" for her role as sex worker Alexandra. The film was shot on an iPhone by director Sean Baker.
"I came from almost nothing," a beaming Taylor said from the stage following a standing ovation. "My life did a total 360."
Film Independent's 31st Spirit Awards were held on Saturday afternoon, in a tent on Santa Monica Beach.
"Saturday Night Live" star Kate McKinnon and "Silicon Valley's" Kumail Nanjiani co-hosted the awards.
"The Spirit Awards honor the films you've been meaning to see," Nanjiani said.
He and McKinnon also noted that the Spirit nominations were considerably more diverse than the Oscars, with Nanjiani asserting that the ceremonies would be "more diverse than the brochure of a liberal arts college."
The Spirit Awards are voted on by members of Film Independent and require that the films be produced in the U.S. for less than $20 million. "Birdman" and "12 Years a Slave" won both the Spirit Award and the Oscar best picture trophies during the past two years, as did "The Artist" four years ago.
McKinnon also quipped, "'Carol' is the most compelling story about someone leaving gloves behind since 'The People Vs. OJ Simpson."
See the winners below:
Best Feature: Spotlight
Best Director: Spotlight- David Robert Mitchell
Best Screenplay: Spotlight- Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer
Best First Feature: The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Best First Screenplay: Room- Emma Donoghue
Best Male Lead: Beasts of No Nation- Abraham Attah
Best Female Lead: Room- Brie Larson
Best Supporting Male: Beasts of No Nation- Idris Elba
Best Supporting Female: Tangerine- Mya Taylor
Best Documentary: The Look of Silence
Best International Film: Son of Saul
Best Cinematography: Carol
Best Editing: Spotlight
John Cassavetes Award (Best Feature Under $500,000): Krisha
Robert Altman Award (Best Ensemble): Spotlight
Kiehl's Someone to Watch Award: Chloe Zhao Felix Thompson Robert Machoian & Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck
Piaget Producers Award: Darren Dean Mel Eslyn Rebecca Green and Laura D. Smith
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