'Spotlight' wins best picture Oscar

Journalism drama "Spotlight", about a group of Boston Globe reporters who exposed the child sex abuse cases in Catholic church, triumphed at the 88th Academy awards by winning the best picture trophy.

Directed by Tom McCarthy, the widely acclaimed movie is set in 2001, when the journalists of Spotlight team began digging into the scandal and eventually exposed how Boston archdiocese covered up the sexual abuse of children by priests.

The work of the team earned newspaper Boston Globe the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

"Thank you. This film gave a voice to the survivors and the Oscar amplifies that voice which we hope will resonate all the way to the Vatican..," McCarthy said in his acceptance speech.

The film faced off competitors like "The Revenant", "Mad Max: Fury Road", "The Big Short", "Carol", "Brooklyn", "Bridge of Spies", "The Martian" and "Room".

The movie's co-producer Blye Pagon Faust dedicated the award to investigative reporters across the world.

"We would not have been here today without the heroic efforts of our reporters. Not only they affect a global change but thay also show us a necessity of investigative journalism...," she said.

The film had a brilliant ensemble cast boasting of Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and Billy Crudup.

"Spotlight" also won the best original screenplay Oscar for Josh Singer and McCarthy.

The director, in his acceptance speech for best original screenplay, acknowledged the role of journalists in bringing out stories that matter.

"We made this film for all the journalists who have and continue to hold the powerful accountable and for the survivors whose courage and will to overcome is really an inspiration to all. We have to do, make sure this never happens again," McCarthy said.