“Moonlight,” which follows a boy’s emergence from a dysfunctional home in a drug-plagued Miami neighborhood, won six awards — including best feature — at Saturday’s 32nd annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, held on a Santa Monica beach.
“Moonlight” also won best director (Barry Jenkins); best screenplay (Jenkins); best cinematography (James Laxton); and best editing (Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders).
The film additionally received the Robert Altman Award, given to a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast, gathering six trophies in all.
Best male lead and female lead honors went to Casey Affleck of “Manchester by the Sea” and Isabelle Huppert of “Elle.”
Best supporting female and male actor prizes were given to Molly Shannon of “Other People” and Ben Foster of “Hell or High Water.”
The ceremony was hosted by comics Nick Kroll and John Mulaney.
Here is a complete list of winners:
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
- “Moonlight,” Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
- “The Witch,” Director: Robert Eggers; Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
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.)
- “Spa Night,” Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn; Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas
BEST DIRECTOR
- Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
BEST SCREENPLAY
- Barry Jenkins, Story By Tarell Alvin McCraney, “Moonlight”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
- Robert Eggers, “The Witch”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- James Laxton, “Moonlight”
BEST EDITING
- Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, “Moonlight”
BEST FEMALE LEAD
- Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
BEST MALE LEAD
- Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
- Molly Shannon, “Other People”
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
- Ben Foster, “Hell or High Water”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
- “Moonlight,” Director: Barry Jenkins; Casting Director: Yesi Ramirez; Ensemble Cast: Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, Andre Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monae, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
- “O.J.: Made in America,” Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman; Producers: Nina Krstic, Tamara Rosenberg, Caroline Waterlow
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
- “Toni Erdmann” (Germany and Romania); Director: Maren Ade 20th
ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 20th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.
- Jordana Mollick
23rd ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 23rd annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.
- Anna Rose Holmer, director of “The Fits” 22nd
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 22nd annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
- Nanfu Wang, director of “Hooligan Sparrow”
— City News Service