AceShowbiz -

"Spotlight" and "The Big Short", two of the films that have already dominated this year's awards season, were among early winners at the 88th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 28. The two movies took home the first two trophies that were handed out that night.

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe showed up onstage to announce the winners of Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay. "Spotlight", based on a true story of Boston Globe investigation into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, won in the former category.

Writers Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer received the trophy. "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," said McCarthy. "We have to make sure this never happens again."

"The Big Short" won the Best Adapted Screenplay for the script adapted by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay from the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis. McKay thanked Lewis for writing "an amazing book" that "inspired Charles and I so much." He closed his speech with a political statement, "If you don't want big money to control government, don't vote for candidates that take money from big banks, oil or weirdo billionaires."

The 2016 Oscars is airing live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on ABC. Chris Rock is hosting.