On Saturday, Feb. 28, the 2016 Spirit Awards went down in Santa Monica, California, just one day ahead of the 88th annual Academy Awards. And while the big wins don’t mean much for a film’s Oscar chances, the IFC broadcast ceremony was a breath of fresh air in the moment of #OscarsSoWhite. Three of the four acting prizes went to non-white performers including Abraham Attah and Idris Elba for Beasts of No Nation, and Mya Taylor for Tangerine.
In case you missed it, Elba was rewarded for his memorable performance with a Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Actor. The British invasion took to the stage with his co-star Abraham Attah (Best Male Lead) to receive the gong from Patricia Arquette, before giving his acceptance speech. The honor was a partial redemption for the 43-year-old actor, who was snubbed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 14 for his role as a commandant of an African army of child soldiers.
Meanwhile, Taylor made history as the first trans actress to win a major film award. “Maybe it’s not the old classic Hollywood, but it is damn straight the Hollywood of today,” said Taylor of her L.A.-set film Tangerine. For a complete list of winners, including Best Feature Film and more, keep scrolling.
Best Feature: Spotlight
Best Director: Tom McCarthy, 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
Best Cinematography: Ed Lachman, Carol
Best International Film: Son of Saul
Best Screenplay: Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight
Best Documentary: The Look of Silence
Best Editing: Tom McArdle, Spotlight
Best First Feature: Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Best First Screenplay: Emma Donoghue, Room
John Cassavetes Award: Krisha
Robert Altman Award: Spotlight
