For the 31st year, Film Independent’s Spirit Awards commenced, as tradition dictates, the day before the Oscar ceremony. Celebrating the years’ finest achievements in American independent cinema, the Indie Spirits have an eclectic roster of nominated films. Sure, Oscar favorites like Spotlight and Room are in the running, but so are under-acknowledged works like James White, Tangerine and Bone Tomahawk. While it was Spotlight that won bragging rights, taking home the top prize as well as three others (plus the Robert Altman Award). the main talking points to come out of the 31st Spirit Award will likely be the acting winners.

Brie Larson won Best Actress- as she will likely do tomorrow evening at the Oscars- for her performance in Room. As from Larson, surprises and each of the remaining three acting winners comprised of people of color and included a historic bid for further progression as transgender actress Mya Taylor (Tangerine) won a historic Supporting Female trophy. Beasts of No Nation duo Abraham Attah (in his film debut) and Idris Elba won the two other acting trophies. Check out the full list of winners below:

• BEST FEATURE: Spotlight
• BEST DIRECTOR: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
• BEST MALE LEAD: Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation
• BEST FEMALE LEAD: Brie Larson, Room
• BEST SUPPORTING MALE: Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
• BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE: Mya Taylor, Tangerine
• BEST SCREENPLAY: Spotlight – Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy
• BEST FIRST FEATURE: The Diary of a Teenage Girl
• JOHN CASSAVETTES AWARD (Best Feature Under $500,000): Krisha
• BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY: Room – Emma Donoghue
• BEST DOCUMENTARY: The Look of Silence
• BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM: Son of Saul
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Carol – Ed Lachman
• BEST FILM EDITING: Spotlight – Tom McArdle
• KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD: King Jack – Felix Thompson
• TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD: Incorruptible – Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
• PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD: Mel Eslyn
• ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD: Spotlight (presented to ensemble cast, director and casting director)