The Incredible History Of The Oscars

The Oscars has a very interesting history since its start in 1929. Many of the biggest names in Hollywood have attended the Oscars to be congratulated and awarded for their works of art. The ceremony gave the world a look into Hollywood and its amazing stars, giving them a platform to branch out their success.
From controversial mishaps to funny jokes made on stage, the Oscars were home to some of the biggest events in Hollywood. The gathering at this event would go on to spark headlines in the journalism industry. This was a place for Hollywood stars to congratulate and mingle with one another, as well as give actors and filmmakers the recognition they deserved.
What Is The Oscar Award
The Oscar was formerly known as the Academy Award of Merit before it received its nickname from the Academy librarian Margaret Herrick. A famous story tells that when the statue was first presented Margaret thought it looked a lot like her uncle Oscar. The name eventually caught on and was officially recognized by 1939.

The statues are made out of solid bronze and plated with 24-karat gold. This award was given to those recognized for their outstanding moviemaking achievements. Cedric Gibbons designed the statue of a knight standing on top of a movie reel and it was given to a sculptor named George Stanley to have it made.
The Start Of The Oscars
The first Academy Awards presentation was held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It was a private function that had about 270 guests attending, and it cost $5 to get in. The first actual awards ceremony was held in 1930 and its winners were announced three months before the event.

It wasn't until 1940 that they started revealing winners from envelopes on stage. In the beginning, there were many changes to the rules, including changing the number of categories and the eligibility period for the movies coming out.
Influence On Hollywood
The Oscars have made a large impact on Hollywood and how it influences and dominates the market. It brings a competitive aspect to Hollywood making directors and actors step up their game to win an award. Many movies have been released with the intention of winning an Oscar every year.

The publicity that the Oscars bring to movies is also a positive aspect. When an Oscar is won, it provides the winner with many new opportunities in the business and can generate more money and bring more roles to them. Many people who win the Oscar tend to get better movie roles and more sources of income.
The Rules
The Oscars have many categories and rules that are followed in order to distinguish a winner. There are 24 total categories, with some being Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and many others.

In order for a film to be eligible it must be publicly released at a commercial theatre within Los Angeles county for at least one week in that year. The only people who can vote are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and within the Academy, they are divided into different branches and nominees.
1920s-1930s
The Oscars' first decade was in the 1930s and it helped establish the beginning of the classic Hollywood era. Many new stars came to fame during this time due to the changes within the film industry. The films had recently gone from being short silent films to what they called at that time "talkies."

The 1930s remain one of the greatest decades for filmmaking and the Oscars were the perfect place to reward the actors and filmmakers. The Oscars were officially on the radio until 1934 and they did not air again until the 1940s. It is unknown why they were never broadcasted to the public during those times but many say it could be due to the newspapers having a monopoly on the announcements.
Gone With The Wind Was Nominated For Best Picture
Gone With The Wind was an American epic historical romance film that was adapted from a novel released in 1936. When released, the film was very popular and became the highest-earning film, and is still considered the highest-grossing film in history if you adjust for monetary inflation.

This film was released multiple times throughout the 20th century because of its popularity. The film draws many points of criticism due to the glorification of slavery and the confederacy. It was the first colored film to win the award for Best Picture and beat the famous movie The Wizard Of Oz in 1939.
Venues Of The Oscars
The Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars, had many venues that held the ceremony since its inception. The first awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929 and from 1930 to 1943 it alternated between the famous Biltmore Hotel and the Ambassador Hotel. In the 1940s, Grauman's Chinese Theatre held the ceremony, and in 1947 it was held at the Shrine Auditorium for two years.

The Pantages Theatre held the Oscars for 10 years during the 1950s. From the 1960s through the 1980s two locations were venues for the Oscars, the Civic Auditorium and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was used periodically during the 1990s until the ceremony changed locations to the Dolby Theatre. The Dolby Theatre is where it is still held today having only one year at the Union Station in 2021.
The 1940s
During the 1940s there were many conflicts happening in the world which gave the Academy Awards a time to relieve the world of its sorrows. During this time there were shortages of materials so the Oscar statuettes were made out of plaster. After World War II was over, many of the recipients who had won were invited back to trade the statues in for the solid bronze and 24-karat gold ones.

Many of the films that came out in the 1940s were influenced by the war including Casablanca, a movie that won Best Picture at the Oscars in 1944. After the war, many veterans returned home with difficulties coming back to society and there was a popular film depicting these stories that won Best Picture at the Oscars. This movie was called The Best Years Of Our Lives and it told the story of three men who struggled to pick up where they left off in society.
Television
During the 1950s television was becoming a prevalent thing in society and naturally, the Oscars were aired on TV in 1953 for the first time. The comedian by the name of Bob Hope was the host of the first televised broadcast.

Television impacted the Oscars in many ways, allowing millions of viewers to get a look at Hollywood's famed event. It is said that around 34 million viewers watched the first broadcast of the Oscars. Many of Hollywood's famed people looked down on television but the next year it had around 40 million televised viewers. In 1953, the Oscars officially added a new category for Greatest Show, proving television had taken a spot in Hollywood's history.
Voting For Candidates
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has 9,427 eligible voters as of 2020. Each voter within the Academy is placed in one of 17 different branches that nominate for its own category. For the final vote of the winner of the Best Picture award, all branches get a vote.

There are over 13 different branches ranging from costume designers to actors. All of the voting takes place using online ballots and are counted by PricewaterhouseCoopers before they are announced onstage.
Award Categories
There are 24 categories that candidates can be nominated for with some of the bigger categories being Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Throughout the history of the Oscars, there have been many changes to categories even with some being removed.

There are many aspects that go into creating a movie and the different categories help represent all the different roles. Even things such as the Best Original Score for a movie and the Best Sound Editing are given credit. Winning in each of these categories helps the winner with their career, giving them more opportunities and higher pay.
Performances
The live performances are a big part of the Oscars giving the latest uprising stars a chance to perform in front of Hollywood's biggest names. Some of the biggest artists have played onstage during the Oscars, giving the ceremony an even more entertaining aspect to it.

In 1973, the famous Michael Jackson performed at the Oscars when he was just 13 years old, giving an outstanding performance for the night. Aerosmith also performed their famous song "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" in 1999 but didn't win an Oscar for Best Original Song. Many other artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Elton John, and even Mariah Carey have performed at the awards show.
The Red Carpet
In 1961, the first red carpet was introduced to the Oscars, and in 1964, broadcasters decided to film the guest's arrival outside the venue arriving on the red carpet. The red carpet has always symbolized the arrival of important members of society and celebrities alike throughout history.

The arrival on the red carpet gives many celebrities a chance to arrive with the biggest fashion statements and be the talk of the night. The red carpet takes around two days to set up and is 16,500 square feet. It is the spot where most of the pictures are taken and even some interviews are conducted.
Fashion
Fashion has always been a staple within Hollywood and fashion at the Oscars is a wonderful presentation. The Oscars is a place for many celebrities to show off their designer dresses and suits on the red carpet.

Ever since the beginning of the Oscars celebrities would rush to wear their most prized outfits to show off in front of the crowds. It is a place where many fashion designers like to show off their work. Some of the most outrageous fashion designs are prevalent at this event today compared to the formal designs from before.
All Quiet On The Western Front Wins Academy Awards
The movie All Quiet On The Western Front was a film based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque that went by the same name as the movie. It was released in 1930 depicting a young German man who was eager to fight in the war but soon realizes how horrid of a choice that was soon after joining.

This 1930s film was nominated for four categories and won two of them. It was awarded for Outstanding Production as well as Best Director. This movie was praised in the United States when it was released and had amazing critic reviews. In Germany however, it was criticized for its anti-German message and was banned during the 1930s.
Hamlet Wins An Oscar
The award-winning play by William Shakespeare was revisioned into a film that was released in 1948. Laurence Olivier directed and starred in this film and it was the first British film to win an award for Best Picture at the Oscars.

This film was also the first to have the leading actor direct the movie and win an Oscar. Laurence Olivier is also the only actor to win an Oscar for a Shakespearean role. The film also won an award for Best Costume Design.
Parties After The Event
Many celebrities and Oscar winners are invited to parties after the event, hosting the world's best talent. These parties are some of the biggest and richest, even having celebrity chefs make food for the events.

The Vanity Fair Oscar Party is one of the most prestigious after parties for the Oscars today. This is one of the most exclusive annual private events in the world. The event grounds are decorated with flashy designs and red carpets for the celebrities to arrive on. This party gives guests the opportunity to congratulate their co-stars and unwind.
Marlon Brando Declines Oscar Award
Marlon Brando was an American actor that was considered to be one of the most influential actors of his time. He is best known for his role in the movie The Godfather, playing the fictional character Vito Corleone. Marlon was an activist in the civil rights movement as well as the Native American movement.

In 1972, Marlon refused his Oscar sending the actress Littlefeather up on stage to refuse it on his behalf. She was a Native American actress and an activist in the community as well. The letter that Marlon wrote was given to her to read in front of the Oscars and said that he couldn't accept the award because his portrayal of Native Americans in his movies was degrading to the culture. This was a remarkable event in the history of the Oscars.
A Streaker Interrupts the Oscars
In 1974, David Niven, a famous British actor and novelist, was announcing Elizabeth Taylor's name for an Oscar when he was interrupted by a streaker who came up on stage. The man who streaked was none other than Robert Opel, a known photographer and art gallery owner.

It was said that Robert snuck backstage at the Oscars disguised as a journalist and waited for his moment. This was a very unusual but funny moment in the Oscars' history. Shortly after everyone stopped laughing, Niven turned to the audience saying "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen... But isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?"
Barbra Streisand And Katharine Hepburn Tie
The 41st annual Oscars took place in 1969 and it was the first time it was broadcasted worldwide. It was also the first time the ceremony was held in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which made the night even more special. On that night Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn tied for the Best Actress award.

Katharine was nominated for her part in The Lion In Winter and Barbra was nominated for Funny Girl. Even though both tied that night, Katharine didn't show up to the show that night, but Streisand did and she went on stage to accept her Oscar and steal the fame of the night. Each of them had received exactly 3,030 votes and it was the first tie in a principal Oscar category.
Disastrous Musical Opening
In 1989 a very cringe opening to the Oscars was performed by Rob Lowe and actress Eileen Bowman who portrayed Snow White. They performed a parody version of the song "Proud Mary" which was considered one of the most embarrassing moments that happened during the Oscars.

Rob Lowe had a pretty good sense of humor to the reaction that the audience had given some years later and now pokes fun at it. At the time he was 25 years old, a young and naive star that was willing to take on the performance. He realized it wasn't going so well when he looked into the crowd and saw their reactions.
Angelina Jolie At The Oscars
A very unusual moment in the Oscars' history was when Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the year 2000. When she got up on stage she was very nervous because it was her first Oscar award and during her speech, she said “I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now.”

Before she was on stage she was seen in the crowd acting "flirty" with her brother during the show. Her brother, James Haven, was seen with her during the afterparty on the red carpet. During the moment when she was posing with him for the paparazzi, Angelina kissed her brother on the lips and that picture made headline news for weeks to come.
Wrong Film Announced
During the 2017 Oscars, the wrong film was announced for the Best Picture award. When the host of the night, Warren Beatty, opened the envelope he announced the film La La Land had won the award. The movie team was halfway through making their thank-you speech only to be interrupted by officials saying that it was wrong and Moonlight had won best picture.

The La La Land team accepted the situation with grace, congratulating the Moonlight team on the award. They were really respectful and proud to hand it off to the actual winners of the night. Warren Beatty said during the night that he opened the envelope saying that La La Land had won but no one knows if he was telling the truth or not.
Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock
During the 2022 Oscars, famous comedian Chris Rock was onstage to present the award for Best Documentary. During his time on stage, he was making jokes, as a comedian does, and poking fun at some of the celebrities. Chris made a joke about Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying that he "couldn't wait for the next GI Jane movie" because she was bald like the actress portrayed in that movie.

Jada suffers from alopecia, which is a hair loss condition, so she didn't take the joke so well. Soon after Will Smith walked onto the stage to confront Chris Rock and slapped him right across the face. Everyone was stunned thinking it was staged until Will sat back down and yelled at Chris telling him to "keep his wife's F'n name out of his mouth." This sparked major headlines for weeks to come after the Oscars and even gave Will Smith defamation.
South Park Creators Attend Oscars Dressed Like J. Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow
The creators of the show South Park arrived at the Oscars in the year 2000 wearing dresses. They set it up as a joke because they are known to have a big sense of humor. The dresses they wore were those of Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow and they never acknowledged the interviewers about it and just played it off.

Before they arrived they said they took LSD, which made it more hysterical. That night they were nominated for the Best Song award for the song "Blame Canada." It was an unusual site for many attendees and turned an eye for all of Hollywood to see.
Michael Moore's Message To President Bush
In 2003, Michael Moore, an American filmmaker, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for his documentary, Bowling For Columbine. This was his first Oscar nominee and he had something to say about President Bush at that time.

He invited his documentary nominees on the stage with him to deliver the message saying that "they stand in solidarity with him." He continued to talk about President Bush saying that he was falsely elected and is sending us into a "fictitious war." The audience was drawn back by the speech he was making and many booed him until he left the stage. He continued to rant about the president until the music started playing, queuing him to get off the stage.
The Adrian Brody Kiss
In 2003, Adrian Brody was nominated and won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Pianist. He was the youngest to win the Best Actor award at just 29 years old. He was overjoyed with enthusiasm when he heard his name get called out by Halle Berry.

A bold move by the young actor was made when he accepted his Oscar. Most people give a hug and thank the award presenters, but Adrian got up there and gave Halle a kiss right on the lips in front of everyone. She, later on, came out saying that she had no idea that would happen and that she was surprised by the whole thing.
Heath Ledger Wins An Oscar After Passing
Heath Ledger was a fantastic actor who passed away on January 22, 2008. He was in many great films such as The Dark Knight, Lords Of Dogtown, and The Patriot. Heath performed a fantastic role as the Joker in The Dark Knight which landed him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

The nomination for his Oscar came the following year after he had passed away, and he is only one of two actors who had won after passing. Ledger's family graciously accepted the Oscar on his behalf that night. This was the first and only Oscar he would win.
Walt Disney Has The Most Oscar Wins
Walt Disney is most famously known for creating Disney and its many characters. He was a big influence in the animation industry as well as the film-producing industry. He is known today as a pioneer of American film animation and is a symbol of creation within the arts.

Walt Disney accumulated the most Oscar wins in history, with a number of 22 Oscars and nearly 60 nominations, Disney's work would go down in history. He played an important part in Hollywood and would later have several of his films included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
The "Big Five"
If a film wins the five major categories which are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay, then that is considered winning the "Big Five." It Happened One Night was the first ever film to win the "Big Five" in 1934.

The film had a major influence in the United States when it was released, being praised as one of the greatest films to be released. The only other films that managed to sweep up the "Big Five" were One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Silence Of The Lambs.
Jennifer Lawrence Falls
The famous actress Jennifer Lawrence is well known for her roles in The Hunger Games, X-Men, and many others. In 2013 she won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Silver Linings Playbook, and when she went up to accept the award she fell while walking up the stairs.

The dress she was wearing that night was worth $4 million dollars, and she must have stepped on the hem which caused her to trip. Many laughed off the fall including Jennifer who said, “You’re all only standing because I fell and you feel bad.” when she made her acceptance speech.
Winners of All Ages
Many talents from all ages get a chance at winning an Oscar and even get the opportunity to be nominated. The youngest nominee for an Oscar was Justin Henry, he was eight years old and starred in the 1979 movie Kramer vs. Kramer.

The youngest actual winner of an Oscar went to 10-year-old Tatum O'Neal who won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Paper Moon. She made a short nervous speech commending her director and father before she exited the stage with her Oscar. The oldest person to have won an Oscar was Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor in the movie Beginners.
Dudley Nichols Denies Oscar
The famous screenwriter Dudley Nichols denied his Oscar at the eighth Academy Awards in 1936. He was awarded an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film The Informer.

During that time, the film studios were trying to prevent active unionization within Hollywood and called for both the Writers and Screen Actors Guilds to boycott the Oscars. Dudley was against unionization as well and boycotted the event and didn't even show up. A few years later he was elected the Head of the Guild.
Harold Russell Sells His Oscar
There is only one person to ever knowingly sell their Oscar and his name was Harold Russell. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1946 for his role in The Best Years Of Our Lives. In 1946 there was no rule or agreement that held a winner from selling their Oscar like there is today.

Since he never made an agreement, he claimed he needed to sell the Oscar to cover his wife's medical expenses. He had sold the Oscar for $60,500 to a private collector in 1992. He later went on to defend his actions by saying, “I don’t know why anybody would be critical. My wife’s health is much more important than sentimental reasons. The movie will be here, even if Oscar isn’t.”
Roman Polanski
The French-Polish film director Roman Polanski was notorious for his films, but he had a dark side to his story. Polanski was a convicted rapist who fled his sentencing and went to live abroad.

He fled the United States and mostly resides in France and Poland. He was convicted in 1977 and has been abroad ever since as he is not allowed to come back to the US. In 2003 he won the Best Director award for the film The Pianist but couldn't attend due to his situation.
Marlee Matlin Wins Best Actress
Marlee Matlin is an American actress who is deaf and has played in numerous movies and TV shows. In 1986, she was presented with the Best Actress award for her role in Children Of A Lesser God.

The film was an adaptation of a Broadway play that told the story of two employees at a school for the deaf. She is the only deaf actress to ever be awarded an Oscar and was also the youngest Best Actress award winner as she was only 20 years old at the time.
Charlie Chaplin
During the 1950s there was a lot of controversy surrounding communism and who followed it. Accusations were being thrown around and Charlie Chaplin was caught in the middle of it all. In 1952, Senator Joseph McCarthy labeled Chaplin as being part of the communist regime and he was not allowed back into the United States.

During that time he resided in Switzerland and was later allowed back into the United States in 1972. He was awarded an Honorary Oscar that year which he graciously accepted, receiving a lengthy 12-minute standing ovation.
Donald Duck Co-Hosts
Donald Duck is a well-known Disney character that has starred in countless movies and shows. In 1958, Donald Duck became the first non-human co-host at the Oscars. He was projected on the screen on stage appearing to interact with the hosts.

It was something that had never been done during that time with the technology constraints. Many people said that it was a bit controversial that Donald Duck didn't wear formal clothes as he went pantless in his usual shirt and hat.
George C. Scott Against The Oscars
Most people jump at the opportunity to get presented an award at the Oscars, but George C. Scott wasn't into the popular ceremony. He was famously quoted saying, “The ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.”

He had a dislike for the gathering and claimed that he would have no part in the ceremony. In 1970, he was awarded Best Actor for a role in the film Patton. George however, didn't bother to show up, but it was accepted by Frank McCarthy, the producer of the movie, on his behalf.
Bob Hope and His Long Hosting Run
Bob Hope was a famous comedian who hosted the Oscars numerous amount of times. His first time hosting was at the 12th Academy Awards which took place in 1940. He has hosted the most Oscars in history with others such as Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal who hosted multiple times as well.

None had hosted as many times as Bob Hope, having hosted 19 times. He was always known for his great one-liners and wonderful sense of humor. He was known as the most popular Oscar host of his time and also earned five honorary Oscars.
Oscar Revoked
There have been some films that have been disqualified for nominations prior to the Oscars, but there is one film that actually had its Oscar revoked after its win. The film is none other than Young Americans which won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1969.

The one thing that made the film get its Oscar revoked was that it was released in 1967 and the rules required the movie to be released the year before to be eligible. This was an oversight and a month after they realized it the Oscar was revoked and given to the runner-up, Journey Into Self.
Brie Larson Controversy
Brie Larson is most famous for her role in Captain Marvel and she is also a known activist for women's rights. In 2016 she won the award for Best Actress for her role in the film Room, and the next year she was at the Oscars to present an award.

She was presenting the Best Actor award and had a noticeable reaction when she read the name from the envelope. Casey Affleck had won Best Actor that year and Brie Larson refused to congratulate or clap for him after handing off the award. In the same year, stories came out that Affleck was sued for alleged sexual harassment of two women. Brie reacted later saying that “…whatever I did onstage kind of spoke for itself.”
Roberto Benigni's Interesting Oscar Acceptance Speech
Roberto Benigni is a famous Italian screenwriter, actor, and director that won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1999. The film was called Life Is Beautiful and it was about making the small moments in life magical, even in the worst of situations. It depicts a father using strength and humor to protect his son during the Holocaust.

When he was announced onto the stage, he got up and walked on the backs of the auditorium seats making his way to the front. As excited as he was, the speech he made that night was memorable for everyone. On stage, he said, “This is the moment of joy, and I want to kiss everybody because you are the major of the joy, and he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sunrise, says the poet.”
Diversity
Diversity has always been a controversial thing, especially in the 20th century. It was an amazing moment in history when the first African American won an Oscar for Best Supporting actress. Her name was Hattie McDaniel and she got the Oscar for her role in the film Gone With The Wind in 1939.

It wasn't all glamour for the star that day, because the Academy Awards had to convince the hotel venue to let her in. She was made to sit at a segregated table away from her white co-stars. Another film by the name of Slumdog Millionaire was the first non-white cast to ever win an Oscar in 2008.
Joaquin Phoenix's Acceptance Speech
Joaquin Phoenix is a famous actor known for his many roles in popular Hollywood films such as Walk The Line, The Joker, and The Gladiator. In 2020, Phoenix won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in The Joker but when he went up to make his speech he discussed a controversial subject.

He went on to talk about the world's views on resources and how we take for granted all of what we reap. He continued by going into the dairy industry saying, “We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.”
Patricia Arquette's Interesting Speech
The actress Patricia Arquette debuted in her first film A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in 1987. In 2015, she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Boyhood.

On that night after she thanked the cast and crew she used her speech as a platform to talk about the female wage gap. In her speech, she said “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation: We have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America!” Many clapped for her rousing speech including the famous Meryl Streep who rose to her feet clapping away.
Ellen DeGeneres Selfie
The famous Ellen DeGeneres, known for her own show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, hosted the 2014 Oscars. That year she was keen on setting the record for the most retweeted picture in history.

While in the audience she snapped a selfie with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, and plenty of others. This picture of the world's most famous stars earned 255,000 retweets per minute. It was retweeted a total of 3.3 million times that year becoming the most retweeted post on Twitter.
Sean Penn's Controversy
In 2015, actor Sean Penn was announcing the winner of an Oscar award but made a controversial joke when he announced the winner. He announced that the film Birdman won an Oscar for Best Picture. Just before he called up Alejandro Inarritu's name to accept his Oscar, he made a joke saying, "who gave this son of a bitch his green card?"

Although many did laugh at the joke, Sean was judged by the controversial announcement that he made that night. He later came out saying that “I have absolutely no apologies” and continued on to say, “In fact, I have a big f— you for … anybody who is so stupid not to have gotten the irony when you’ve got a country that is so xenophobic.”
First Female To Win Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow went on to become the first female director to win the Best Director Oscar award in 2010 for her film, The Hurt Locker. The film was an Iraqi War thriller that followed an EOD squad who were being targeted by insurgents.

Kathryn's ex-husband, James Cameron, was nominated for the same Oscar that year for his epic animated film Avatar, but she ended up beating him. She is only one of four female directors to ever be nominated for an Oscar and the only one to actually win it. The three other women were Sofia Coppola, Jane Campion, and Lina Wertmüller.