Spotlight, starring Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, took home five wins at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, Feb. 27, including Best Feature Film.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards are a ceremony held annually the day before the Oscars that honor independent projects (aka movies made for $20 million or less).
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Aside from winning the night’s biggest honor, Spotlight also received the awards for Best Screenplay, Best Editing, the Robert Altman Award and Best Director for Tom McCarthy.
Backstage, McCarthy, Ruffalo and McAdams introduced the real Boston Globe reporters who inspired their roles in Spotlight, saying, “We stand on the shoulders of these journalists.”
Spotlight is also nominated for Best Picture at the 2016 Oscars, alongside The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant and Room.
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Other major wins at the Spirit Awards included Brie Larson taking home Best Female Lead for her role in Room, Abraham Attah winning Best Male Lead for Beasts of No Nation and Edris Elba winning Best Supporting Male for Beasts of No Nation.
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,” Taylor said on stage. “There is transgender talent. There’s very beautiful transgender talent. You better get out there and put them in your next movie!”
Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani hosted the event on the beach in a big white tent. McKinnon and Nanjiani made their fair share of jokes and even poked fun at the Oscars.
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“The Spirit Awards honor the year’s best movies you’ve been meaning to see,” joked Nanjiani.
“We’re going to cuss. We’re going to flash some nip. We’re going to nominate some people who aren’t white,” said McKinnon.
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