‘Spotlight’ wins big at the Film Independent Spirit Awards

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Times

Steven Zeitchik and Mark Olsen

“Spotlight” was the big winner at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, as Hollywood’s debate over diversity also took center stage.

Tom McCarthy’sa tale of the Catholic Church sex-abuse scandal and the newspaper investigation that uncovered it scored best feature, director, screenplay and editing ‎prizes at the annual indie-movie ceremony in Santa Monica, as well as the previously announced ensemble-oriented Robert Altman Award‎.

“It is very rare to make a film that has impacted the world as significantly as this one has,” said “Spotlight” producer Michael Sugar upon accepting the feature prize. “By honoring it,” he added, “more lives can be spared from abuse‎.”

Co-screenwriter Josh Singer, accepting the writing prize with McCarthy, paid tribute to abuse survivor Phil Saviano, who was given a huge standing ovation. Many of the real-life‎ Boston Globe journalists portrayed in the film also were at the show and took the stage for the final prize.

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