Oscars 2016 Predictions: What Indie Spirit Awards Say About Oscars

By Francisco Salazar First Posted: Nov 24, 2015 04:09 PM EST

Film Independent has announced the nominees for the 31st annual Independent Spirit Awards, giving some hint of what is to come at the Oscars later this year.

Latin America was represented in three different categories, showing the strength of Latin cinema this year.

Colombia had two films represented in two different categories. In the Best International Film category, "Embrace of the Serpent" was nominated, alongside "Son of Saul," "Mustang," "Girlhood" and "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence." Four of the five nominees are all official submissions for the Academy Awards, and this lineup looks like it could repeat at the Oscars.

In the Best First Feature category, Colombia had "Manos Sucias." The film, which made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, competes against a strong lineup that includes "The Diary of a Teenage Girl," "James White," "Mediterranea" and "Songs My Brothers Taught Me."

The last Latino with a film in the running is Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, who is up for Best Actress for her work on "Tangerine." She will compete against Oscar contenders Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara for "Carol," Bel Powley for "The Diary of A Teenage Girl," and Brie Larson for "Room."

Rodriguez's film is also up for Best Feature with "Carol," "Anamolisa," "Beasts of No Nation," and "Spotlight."

"Tangerine" is also nominated for Best Director for Sean Baker, as well as Mia Taylor.

"Carol" led the nominees with six. In addition to Best Feature and the two actress nominees, the film scored nominations for director Todd Haynes, cinematography and screenplay.

While "Spotlight" was nominated for Best Feature, Director, Screenplay and Editing, no stars obtained nominations for the film. That was one of the most interesting omissions, given the fact that Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo both obtained buzz out of Toronto.

"Room" was also a disappointment, especially since it did not get a Best Feature category nomination and only obtained three nominations for Screenplay, Actress and Editing.

Among the films that were not nominated were "Grandma," "I'll see you in My Dreams," "Experimenter" and "Mistress America."

The Indie Spirit Awards are important precursors to the Academy Awards. The past two Oscar winners have taken home both the Indie Spirit and the Academy Award for Best Film. Those films were "12 Years a Slave' and "Birdman." Based on this year's nominees, "Carol" and "Spotlight" look to be the front-runners.

The Indie Spirit Awards will be handed out on Feb. 27, the day before the Academy Awards.

Best Feature

"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
"Spotlight"
"Tangerine"

Best Director

Sean Baker, "Tangerine"
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Todd Haynes, "Carol"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
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"
S. Craig Zahler, "Bone Tomahawk"

Best First Feature

"The Diary of a Teenage Girl"
"James White"
"Manos Sucias"
"Mediterranea"
"Songs My Brothers Taught Me"

Best First Screenplay

Jesse Andrews, "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"
Joseph Carpignano, "Mediterranea"
Emma Donoghue, "Room"
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"
Ben Mendelsohn, "Mississippi Grind"
Jason Segel, "The End of the Tour"
Koudous Seihon, "Mediterranea"

Best Female Lead

Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Brie Larson, "Room"
Rooney Mara, "Carol"
Bel Powley, "The Diary of A Teenage Girl"
Kitana Kiki Rodriquez, "Tangerine"

Best Supporting Male

Kevin Corrigan, "Results"
Paul Dano, "Love & Mercy"
Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
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"

Best Documentary

"(T)error"
"Best of Enemies"
"Heart of Dog"
"The Look of Silence"
"Meru"
"The Russian Woodpecker"

Best International Film

"Embrace the Serpent"
"Girlhood"
"Mustang"
"Son of Saul"

"A Pigeon Sat on A Branch Reflecting Existence"

Best Cinematography