LOS ANGELES: “Spotlight” and “The Big Short” won top prizes at the Writers Guild of America awards Saturday, two weeks ahead of the Oscars, the glittering climax of Hollywood’s annual awards season.

Josh Singer picked up the trophy for best original screenplay for “Spotlight,” a drama about sexual abuse in the Catholic church that he co-wrote with director Tom McCarthy.

The film, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams, has already landed the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and is nominated for six statuettes at the Oscars, to be held on Feb. 28.

Singer paid tribute to abuse survivor Phil Saviano as he picked up the trophy at the Los Angeles ceremony hosted by American stand-up comedian, writer and actor Patton Oswald.

“He’d been trying to tell his story for a very long time and I think that story is finally now being told a needs to continue to be told,” Singer said.

“Spotlight,” beat out “Bridge of Spies,” “Sicario,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Trainwreck,” written by its star Amy Schumer.

Charles Randolph and Adam McKay scooped the prize for best adapted screenplay for their work transforming the book “The Big Short” into the film of the same name.