'CODA' triumphs at Oscars
Deaf family drama "CODA" won best picture honours at the Oscars Sunday, the first ever triumph for a streamer, in a ceremony that was overshadowed by best actor-winner Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife.
Tinseltown's biggest night began with a performance by pop megastar Beyonce, and touched on politics with a moment of silence over the Ukraine crisis.
But before the final awards were handed out, the shocking Smith-Rock altercation went viral, and changed the mood of the night.
"CODA", a feel-good indie drama starring deaf actors in lead roles, had been presumed a longshot for Hollywood's biggest prize until very recently, but pulled off a remarkable late surge to emerge triumphant.
The film bagged the historic prize for Apple TV+, a relative newcomer in a streaming market dominated by rivals like Netflix.
"Thank you to the Academy for letting our 'CODA' make history tonight," said producer Philippe Rousselet.
Taking its title from the acronym for child of deaf adult, the movie also won for best adapted screenplay, and best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who plays the father of a teenage girl who can hear and wants to pursue a career in music.
Kotsur dedicated his golden statuette to the deaf and disabled communities.
"This is our moment," he said.
Jessica Chastain won best actress for "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," in which she played a real-life televangelist.
But Hollywood's biggest night was dominated by a shocking moment in which Smith -- who won best actor for his work on "King Richard" -- slapped Rock on stage, before returning to his seat alongside his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and shouting profanities.
Until recently it had appeared that dark, psychological Western "The Power of the Dog" was fated to earn Netflix its much-coveted first best picture statuette.
As it turned out, the film won only best director for Jane Campion.
She is only the third woman to do so in Oscars history, just a year after Chloe Zhao became the second ("Nomadland"). Kathryn Bigelow was the first for "The Hurt Locker."
