The 31st Independent Film Spirit Awards provided a clear rebuke to the Oscars, bestowing awards on “Beasts of No Nation” costars Idris Elba and Abraham Attah and “Tangerine” star Mya Taylor, making her the first transgender actress to win at the annual awards.

The newsroom drama “Spotlight” was the big winner at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, the day before it will compete at the Academy Awards. It won a leading four awards, including best picture, best director for Tom McCarthy, best screenplay and the Robert Altman award for ensemble.

But this year’s Spirit Awards, an annual dressed-down oceanside indie antidote to the Oscars was most remarkable for its wider diversity of winners. In a much applauded speech, Taylor urged attending filmmakers to put transgender talent in their films. (AP)