Newsroom drama "Spotlight" is the big winner at this year's Independent Film Spirit Awards. [Photo: mtime.com]

Newsroom drama "Spotlight" has walked away the big winner at this year's Independent Film Spirit Awards.

Tom McCarthy's film about the Boston Globe investigation into sex abuse by Catholic priests has won four awards, including best picture, best director, best screenplay and the Robert Altman award for ensemble.

"Spotlight" is the only best picture nominee which was put up for the Spirits' top award.

Other Oscar favorites "The Revenant" and "The Big Short," didn't qualify.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian youngster Abraham Attah has taken the best actor prize for his portrayal of an African child soldier in "Beasts of No Nation."

The only Oscar acting favorite at the awards, Brie Larson, added did take the prize for best actress her performance in the captive drama "Room."

The foreign language film "Son of Saul" took best international film.