And the Oscar goes to ...
The 2021 Academy Awards were in-person and had more than a few firsts, and some surprise wins, too. Here are some of the highlights.
Best film
"Nomadland" won best picture in the 2021 Oscars, telling the story of a woman who chooses to live a nomadic lifestyle. It was up for six awards and took home three of the top prizes: best film, best director and best actress.
Best director
Chloe Zhao took home the Oscar in the sought-after best director category for her film "Nomadland." The win made history, as the Chinese-born Zhao became the first Asian woman — and only the second woman — to win best director in the event's 93-year history.
Best actress
The 93rd Academy Awards marked a third best actress win for Frances McDormand, who played a middle-aged woman named Fern who chooses to live out of her van while traveling in the American West. McDormand also produced "Nomadland."
Best actor
Anthony Hopkins was the surprise winner in the best actor category. The 83-year old played an aging man with dementia who is cared for by his daughter in the film "The Father." He beat out favorite Chadwick Boseman, who passed away last August at age 43 after a long battle with colon cancer.
Best foreign film
This year's winner for best international film was Danish picture "Another Round," directed by Thomas Vinterberg. Vinterberg's daughter, Ida, died in a car accident four days into shooting the film. "Ida, this is a miracle that just happened ... this one's for you," he said when accepting the award.
Best supporting actor
British actor Daniel Kaluuya won best supporting actor for playing Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah." Hampton was assassinated by the FBI in 1969 when an informant infiltrated the party. His son, Fred Hampton Jr., worked as a consultant on the film, which had an all-Black producing team.
Best original screenplay
Best original screenplay went to Emerald Fennell's revenge film, "Promising Young Woman." It was the actress and writer's feature film debut — she worked as head writer in the popular TV series "Killing Eve."
Best supporting actress
Veteran Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung took home the best supporting actress award for "Minari." In the film she plays mother-in-law Soon-ja who joins her son's family in the US state of Arkansas to start a new life. She became the second Asian person to win an Oscar for acting and the first Korean person to ever earn an Academy Award.
Best animated film
Pixar's "Soul," a film exploring death and jazz, won best animated film and was the first Pixar film to feature an African-American protagonist. The film also took home the award for best score, which was awarded to musicians Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste. Batiste became the second Black composer to win the award.