Though the ceremony has traditionally taken place the day before the Oscars, the team behind the Film Independent Spirit Awards instead shifted forward out of the shadow of the bigger ceremony, but kept its focus on indie movies, including the likes of Zola that had been neglected by the Academy's nominations.
Janicza Bravo's film had the most nominations here going into the beachside ceremony, and emerged with Best Female Lead for Taylour Paige and Best Editing for Joi McMillon.
Maggie Gyllenhaal won three awards for The Lost Daughter, Best Feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay and Summer Of Soul was awarded Best Documentary.
CODA's Troy Kotsur won yet another award for Best Supporting Male, seemingly cementing his chances come Oscar night. Pig duo Michael Sarnoski and Vanessa Block scored Best First Screenplay. Best Male Lead went to Red Rocket's Simon Rex.
Passing went home with Best Supporting Female for Ruth Negga and Best Cinematography (Eduard Grau). Drive My Car added another award to its growing list via Best International Film, while 7 Days scored Best First Feature.
The John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for under $500,000) was won by Shiva Baby, while the Robert Altman Award, handed out to one movie's director, casting director and ensemble, went to Mass.
Lizzie Shapiro took the Producers Award, with Luzzu's Alex Camillleri winning Someone To Watch and Faya Dayi's Jessica Beshir nabbing The Truer Than Fiction Award.