Oscar goes to Boston Globe film that exposed paedophile priest scandal
The film Spotlight based on the Boston Globe's expose of sexual misbehaviour by scores of local priests won the Oscar for Best Picture in Los Angeles last night.
Celebrating the Boston Globe Oscar win
The film has been widely credited with setting off investigations into priestly wrongdoing worldwide.
The film detailing The Boston Globe’s coverage of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church actually won two awards: it was named Best Original Screenplay opening the telecast and and at the end it it collected the the Best Picture Oscar .
“This film gave a voice to survivors and this Oscar amplifies that voice, which we hope will become a choir that resonate all the way to the Vatican,” said Spotlight producer Michael Sugar while accepting the award.
“We would not be here today without the heroic efforts of our reporters,” added producer Blye Pagon Faust. “Not only do they effect global change, but they absolutely show us the necessity for investigative journalism.”
The Academy Awards host Chris Rock turned everyone’s attention to some of the reporters behind the original expose. One of those people was The Boston Globe journalist Michael Rezendes, who is portrayed by Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight.
“It’s always fascinating to meet the real people that the movies are based on,” Rock said. “And some of them are here tonight. From Joy, the real Joy Mangano is here. Give it up for Joy. From Spotlight, The Boston Globereporter the real Mike Rezendes is here. Give it up for Mike.”
Leonardo DiCaprio won the Oscar for best actor for his work in “The Revenant” which had been expected to win the best picture award.