Following on the critical acclaim for “Spotlight,” the Boston Globe is launching a $100,000 investigative journalism fellowship to encourage in-depth reporting that could be published in the Boston newspaper that helped inspire the film.

The Spotlight Investigative Journalism Fellowship, named for both the film and the Globe team that inspired it, will be awarded to an individual or team of journalists. It will be funded by the film’s Hollywood backers, Participant Media and Open Road Films, along with First Look Media.

Director Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” has received numerous accolades — including ensemble and best supporting actress (for Rachel McAdams) nominations Wednesday from the SAG Awards — for telling the story of the Globe team that revealed sexual abuse by priests and a cover-up by the Catholic church.

“The Boston Globe has an unwavering commitment to produce high-impact investigative stories that pierce secrecy and shine a light on issues, individuals, and institutions to expose the truth,” Brian McGrory, Boston Globe editor, said in a statement. “Whether it is the Spotlight Team’s investigation of the Catholic Church in 2002; its relentless reporting of the criminal dealings of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger and his ties to federal law enforcement; or its most recent report on hospitals where doctors are running two surgeries at once, accountability reporting is an integral part of The Boston Globe’s daily coverage.”

The companies behind the picture also praised the Globe’s Spotlight team and suggested why they stepped up to fund the fellowship. “Pursuing a story to its end takes time and resources not often available to journalists; the fellowship will enable another important story and critical issue to reach citizens,” said Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. Jonathan King, exec VP of narrative films at Participant, praised the film for showing “the critical role that journalists play in helping society hold institutions accountable for their actions.”

First Look Media publishes the Intercept investigative report online. Its president, Michael Bloom, touted the power of storytelling and added that “real power is ignited when a unique perspective on an issue inspires people to create change.

The fellowship program will be open to journalists with a substantive body of work published in major media outlets. It will support stories from the U.S. that focus on subjects in the public interest. In its announcement, the Globe said it would be looking for “proposals that investigate serious wrongdoing and abuse of power in the public or private sectors,” with fellows chosen by a committee composed of current and former Boston Globe reporters, editors and others, including editor in chief of the Intercept.

Besides the financial award, the chosen reporter or reporters will collaborate with an investigative journalist from the Globe’s Spotlight team and receive additional guidance from the newspaper and First Look Media. Submissions are open immediately and will be accepted through February 29, 2016 here.