Abraham Attah’s rising career trajectory took another upward dive when he picked up the ‘best male’ lead award at the 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Attah picked up the award for his critically acclaimed performance as Agu in the Netflix film ‘Beasts of No Nation’- a performance made all the more fascinating because that was his maiden foray into acting.
So whilst Attah might not get any recognition from #Oscarssowhite, he is doing all right for his groundbreaking role.
Co-star Idris Elba also picked up an award, for best supporting male actor. His award was announced before Attah’s, and the veteran Brit actor called the young Ghanaian to the stage to share in the glory.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he told the teenager.
Other award winners on the night included ‘Spotlight’, the documentary on the Boston Globe’s coverage of the Catholic Church child abuse scandal; and Mya Taylor, the first ever transgender actress to win a major acting award, for her breakout performance in Tangerine.
Check out the full winners list below…
Best Feature
Anomalisa
Beasts of No Nation
Carol
Spotlight WINNER
Tangerine
Best Director
Sean Baker, Tangerine
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation
Todd Haynes, Carol
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, Anomalisa
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight  WINNER
David Robert Mitchell, It Follows
Best Screenplay
Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa
Donald Margulies, The End of the Tour
Phyllis Nagy, Carol
Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer, Spotlight  WINNER
S. Craig Zahler, Bone Tomahawk
Best First Feature
The Diary of a Teenage Girl  WINNER
James White
Manos Sucias
Mediterranea
Songs My Brothers Taught Me
Best First Screenplay
Jesse Andrews, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea
Emma Donoghue, Room  WINNER
Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
John Magary, Russell Harbaugh & Myna Joseph, The Mend
Best Male Lead
Christopher Abbott, James White
Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation WINNER
Ben Mendelsohn, Mississippi Grind
Jason Segel, The End of the Tour
Koudous Seihon, Mediterranea
Best Female Lead
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room WINNER
Rooney Mara, Carol
Bel Powley, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine
Best Supporting Male
Kevin Corrigan, Results
Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation  WINNER
Richard Jenkins, Bone Tomahawk
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Best Supporting Female
Robin Bartlett, H.
Marin Ireland, Glass Chin
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anomalisa
Cynthia Nixon, James White
Mya Taylor, Tangerine  WINNER
Best Documentary
(T)error
Best of Enemies
Heart of a Dog
The Look of Silence WINNER
Meru
The Russian Woodpecker
Best International Film
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Embrace of the Serpent
Girlhood
Mustang
Son of Saul WINNER
Best Cinematography
Beasts of No Nation
Carol WINNER
It Follows
Meadlowland
Songs My Brothers Taught Me
Best Editing
Heaven Knows What
It Follows
Manos Sucias
Room
Spotlight  WINNER
John Cassavetes Award (Best Feature Under $500,000)
Advantageous
Christmas, Again
Heaven Knows What
Krisha  WINNER
Out of My Hand
Robert Altman Award (Best Ensemble)
Spotlight  WINNER