Independent Spirit Awards 2017 winners list: What Moonlight's sweep tells us about the Oscars

A Toni Erdmann win seems all but certain

On the eve of the Oscars, the Film Independent Spirit Awards winners have been announced, Barry Jenkins’ phenomenal Moonlight sweeping six awards.

The coming of age drama is the second favourite to take home the prestigious Best Picture Oscar, going up against front-runner La La Land (which was illegible for a Spirit Award as the budget was over $20 million).

Along with Best Feature, Moonlight won Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Robert Altman Award (for best director and ensemble) and Best Director for Jenkins, who dedicated the award to “anyone who was on the call sheet for those 25 hot-ass days in Miami.”

Other notable winners include Casey Affleck, who took home Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea, further hinting at an Oscars win over Denzel Washington.

Isabelle Huppert won Best Actress, again furthering her chances of taking home the Oscars for the same nomination: tonight, however, she goes up against La La Land's Emma Stone, the hot favourite.

Best International Film was taken by the German drama-comedy and Oscar front-runner Toni Erdmann, Best First Feature went to Robert Eggers' The Witch, and O.J.: Made In America won Best Documentary.

Surprisingly, Ben Foster took home Best Supporting Actor for his role in Hell or High Water, while Molly Shannon took home the Supporting Actress award for work on Other People

The full list of winners as follows:

BEST FEATURE

Moonlight

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

Moonlight - Director: Barry Jenkins. 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

BEST SCREENPLAY

Moonlight

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

(Best feature made for under $500,000)

Spa Night

BEST DOCUMENTARY

O.J.: Made In America

BEST FIRST FEATURE

The Witch​

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Moonlight

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

The Witch

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Ben Foster - Hell or High Water

BEST EDITING

Moonlight

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD

(Honours emerging producers)

Jordana Mollick

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

(Presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features)

Nanfu Wang - Hooligan Sparrow

KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD

(Recognises a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition)

Anna Rose Holmer - The Fits

Meanwhile, the Oscars take place tonight. Here's everything you need to know about the awards.