The Academy Awards didn’t disappoint with its glamour and praise. Plus, the shift to social issues (which we’ve all seen in the latest string of award events) was still a focus in many acceptance speeches. The comedy was definitely there too, with Neil Patrick Harris as the host this year. The biggest acting awards went to both first-time winners with Julianne Moore taking Best Actress for Still Alice and Best Actor going to Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

A big winner for the evening was the film Birdman walking away with the coveted Best Picture. The film also walked away with Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

The Grand Budapest Hotel proved to be Birdman‘s competition matching its wins with four Oscars of its own: Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design.

Best Adapted Screenplay went to The Imitation Game. Screenwriter Graham Moore accepted his award by focusing on suicide awareness drawing on his own attempt. Another life lost to suicide was Alan Turing who the film centres around. Alan was a mathematician pivotal in deciphering codes during World War 2, which saw the creation of the first computer.

Patricia Arquette won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as the mom in Boyhood, a movie filmed over 12 years to show a boy’s progression. The actress made a plea for women’s rights during her acceptance speech, which you can watch below:

Best Original Song went to ‘Glory’ from the movie Selma which was written and performed by both Common and John Legend. John Legend used his acceptance speech to bring attention to the growing incarceration rate in the US.

If you want to see the night’s events for yourself, be sure to catch it on South African screens tonight.

Words: Cassidy Emmanuel
Image: Website