“Moonlight” was the big winner at last night’s Independent Spirit Awards. And for my money, that’s where this splendid film belonged in the accolades arena all along.
Indie in origin, indie in casting (save for Naomie Harris), indie in feel. Very good-not-quite-great film, but only an Oscar front-runner if you’re grading on the curve.
It won best ensemble, best picture honors.
Casey Affleck won best actor for “Manchester by the Sea,” another intimate small-scale picture that is this award’s bread and butter.
Isabelle Huppert (“Elle”) won best actress, Molly Shannon (“Other People”) was a surprise winner for beset supporting actress.
Great to see Ben Foster get some recognition for “Hell or High Water,” a top drawer late summer thriller that got a nice awards season bounce.
All docs are “indie” in nature, so giving one to “O.J.” seems a waste. “I Am Not Your Negro” is better. And “Toni Erdmann” isn’t the best foreign language film of last year, not by a long shot. But there you are.
BEST FEATURE
Moonlight
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski
BEST MALE LEAD
Casey Affleck
Manchester by the Sea
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Isabelle Huppert
Elle
BEST DIRECTOR
Barry Jenkins
Moonlight
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Molly Shannon
Other People
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, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Toni Erdmann (Germany and Romania)
Director: Maren Ade
BEST SCREENPLAY
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins
Story By Tarell Alvin McCraney
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
Spa Night
Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn
Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas
BEST DOCUMENTARY
O.J.: Made In America
Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman
Producers: Nina Krstic, Tamara Rosenberg, Caroline Waterlow
BEST FIRST FEATURE
The Witch
Director: Robert Eggers
Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Moonlight
James Laxton
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
The Witch
Robert Eggers
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Ben Foster
Hell or High Water
BEST EDITING
Moonlight
Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders
PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
(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
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
(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
KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
(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