'Carol' leads Independent Spirit nods

Los Angeles (AP) — The 1950s romance "Carol" starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara has topped the Independent Spirit Awards nominations.

The Todd Haynes-directed film picked up six nods Tuesday in categories including best feature, director and actress for both Mara and Blanchett.

"Beasts of No Nation," a fictional account of a child soldier, followed with five nominations, including best feature.

"Spotlight," about The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into sex abuse by Catholic priests, received four nominations and the Robert Altman Award.

Other best picture contenders are Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson's animated "Anomalisa" and Sean Baker's "Tangerine," about transgender prostitutes in Los Angeles. That film's transgender stars, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, also scored acting nominations.

Winners will be revealed at a ceremony Feb. 27, a day before the Academy Awards.

By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – November 24, 2015 @ 2:35 p.m.