SANTA MONICA, Calif., February 26 (Reuters) - "Moonlight" triumphed at the Film Independent Spirit Awards with six wins on Saturday, besting grief drama "Manchester by the Sea" ahead of Sunday's Oscars ceremony.
"Moonlight," about a black boy in an impoverished Miami neighborhood as he grapples with his sexuality, was named best feature, the top award. It also won for best director and best screenplay for writer-director Barry Jenkins, and an ensemble cast award.
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"Moonlight" actors Janelle Monae and Mahershala Ali, writer and director Barry Jenkins and presenter Samuel L. Jackson (L to R) watch as members of the cast accept the "Best Feature" award at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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The cast of "Moonlight" poses backstage with their Best Feature award at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok[/caption]
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Barry Jenkins poses backstage with his Best Director award for "Moonlight" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok[/caption]
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Writer and director Barry Jenkins accepts the Best Feature award for the film "Moonlight" from presenter Samuel L. Jackson (R) as young actor Jaden Piner (C) from the movie looks on at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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Jaden Piner (L) and Alex R. Hibbert pose backstage with the award for Best Feature for "Moonlight" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok[/caption]
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Best Male Lead winner Casey Affleck accepts his award for the film "Manchester by the Sea" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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Casey Affleck poses backstage with his Best Male Lead award for 'Manchester by the Sea" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok[/caption]
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Molly Shannon accepts her award for Best Supporting Female for "Other People" from presenter Viggo Mortensen during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017.[/caption]
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Comedian Andy Samberg performs a song "They're Still Alive" in honor of performers and entertainment award winners who have not died in the last year during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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German director Maren Ade accepts the award for Best International Film for the film "Toni Erdmann" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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Best Screenplay winners Tarell Alvin McCraney (L) and Barry Jenkins accept the award for the film "Moonlight" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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Director Andrew Ahn accepts the John Cassavetes Award for the film "Spa Night" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
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The cast and crew of "O.J.: Made in America" pose backstage with their award for Best Documentary at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok[/caption]
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Director Robert Eggers (2nd L) accepts the Best First Feature award for "The Witch" at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni[/caption]
"This movie exists as a beacon of inclusivity," Jenkins said.
"Moonlight" will be competing for eight Oscars, including best picture.
The Independent Spirit Awards, held on California's Santa Monica Beach on the day before Hollywood's glitzy Oscars ceremony, honor the year's best achievements in independent film made on small budgets.
The last three winners of the Spirit Awards - "Spotlight", "Birdman" and "12 Years a Slave" - all went on to win the best picture Oscar, the highest honor in the movie industry.
But this year, some of the films getting the most awards buzz, like "La La Land," "Lion" and "Hidden Figures," were not eligible for Spirit Awards.
Hosted by comedians Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Saturday's show was a light-hearted affair but that didn't stop stars from taking some jabs at the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Casey Affleck, who won for his lead role as a grieving janitor in "Manchester by the Sea," used his acceptance speech to say "the policies of this administration are abhorrent and they won't last."
French star Isabelle Huppert was named best actress for playing a woman who pursues her rapist in "Elle."
"I've made so many independent films and I think it's independence that makes art win," Huppert said.
"O.J.: Made in America," a look at the 1995 murder trial of former U.S. football star O.J. Simpson, won best documentary over Ava DuVernay's "13th" and Raoul Peck's "I Am Not Your Negro." All three are also Oscar-nominated.
Other winners included supporting actor Ben Foster for "Hell or High Water," and Molly Shannon for her supporting role in "Other People."
Coming-of-age tale "American Honey" went home empty-handed despite getting six nominations.