Netflix dominated and Parasite made history at the 92nd Oscars, the former with 24 nominations which were the most by any studio in the history of the academy awards.
South Korean film Parasite has been named best picture at this year's Oscars, becoming the first non-English language film to take the top prize. The South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho also took home the award for best director and best original screenplay award.
The film is a vicious social satire about two families from different classes in Seoul - one who lives in poverty in a semi-basement, and another rich family residing in a large home.
It has now managed what no other subtitled film has done in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards and won best picture.
"I feel like I'll wake up to find it's all a dream. It all feels very surreal," Bong said.
Producer Kwak Sin-ae, who collected the trophy, said: "I'm speechless. We never imagined this to happen. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now."
Joker, which earned the most nominations for any individual movie, only secured two awards — Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Netflix with 24 nominations made out with just two awards: Best Documentary for American Factory (produced by President Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company) and Best Supporting Actress for Laura Dern.
Only just a week prior, Netflix’s studio chief Ted Sarandos rebuked claims that its lack of awards are previous award shows is part of a “backlash to a tech giant that is upending entertainment-industry business practices and threatening Hollywood power hierarchies,” as the New York Times wrote.
“A pushback? Nobody can say that with a straight face,” Sarandos said. “We got 24 nominations, the most of any studio. Our films have been honoured across the board."
Netflix’s Oscar push has been aggressive. Some industry competitors have estimated that Netflix spent approximately $70 million on its Oscars campaign — much higher than what most studios spend. Netflix hasn’t shied away from its Oscar ambitions, but the company is trying to increase its film output and become a full-fledged studio in 2020.
Brad Pitt, Taika Waititi, Renee Zellweger, and Dern continued their season of award winnings, taking home respective prizes for Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. 1917 and Ford v Ferrari both took home multiple awards for achieving excellence in technical categories like Best Editing and Best Sound Mixing. Elton John won the prize for Best Original Song for his work on Rocketman.
The full list of Oscar winners can be read below.
Best Picture:
Parasite
Lead Actor:
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Lead Actress:
Renee Zellweger, Judy
Supporting Actor:
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Supporting Actress:
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Director:
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Toy Story 4
Animated Short:
Hair Love, Matthew A. Cherry
Adapted Screenplay:
Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi
Original Screenplay:
Parasite, Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han
Cinematography:
1917, Roger Deakins
Best Documentary Feature:
American Factory, Julia Reichert, Steven Bognar
Best Documentary Short Subject:
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone
Best Live Action Short Film:
The Neighbors’ Window, Marshall Curry
Best Foreign Language Film:
Parasite, Bong Joon Ho
Film Editing:
Ford v Ferrari, Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland
Sound Editing:
Ford v Ferrari, Don Sylvester
Sound Mixing:
1917
Production Design:
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh
Original Score:
Joker, Hildur Guðnadóttir
Original Song:
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” Rocketman
Makeup and Hair:
Bombshell
Costume Design:
Little Women, Jacqueline Durran
Visual Effects:
1917
