‘Parasite’ makes Oscars history, Obama’s ‘American Factory’ takes doc prize

Parasite

South Korean film Parasite made Oscars history last night, becoming the first non-English language feature to take the best film prize, beating off hotly tipped rivals including Sir Sam Mendes’ 1917.

Parasite‘s Bong Joon-ho also took the prize for best director, best international feature, and the best original screenplay award.

American Factory, the first film from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, was named best documentary feature.

The film, about a culture clash at a Dayton, Ohio manufacturing plant, was the first project produced by the duo’s new production outfit and was released through Netflix. It was directed by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar.

Renee Zellweger won best actress for playing Judy Garland in Judy. Joaquin Phoenix was named best actor for Joker.

Brad Pitt and Laura Dern scooped the supporting acting awards for their roles in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Marriage Story respectively.

Parasite won four awards in total, while 1917 took three – for visual effects, cinematography and sound mixing.

“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.”

Jojo Rabbit triumphed for best-adapted screenplay. Toy Story 4 was named best animation and Hair Love won for best short animation.

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood won for best production design, while Little Women prevailed in the costume design category.

The Neighbor’s Widow won best live-action short film, and Learning To Skateboard In A Warzone (If You’re A Girl) won for best documentary short.

Full list of Academy Award winners.

Best picture Parasite

Best actress Renee Zellweger – Judy

Best actor Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

Best supporting actress Laura Dern – Marriage Story

Best supporting actor Brad Pitt – Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Best director Parasite – Bong Joon-ho

Best original screenplay Parasite – Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin Won

Best adapted screenplay Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi

Best animated feature Toy Story 4

Best documentary feature American Factory

Best international feature Parasite – South Korea

Best original song (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again – Rocketman (Elton John & Bernie Taupin)

Best original score Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir

Best cinematography 1917 – Roger Deakins

Best visual effects 1917 – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler & Dominic Tuohy

Best film editing Ford v Ferrari – Michael McCusker & Andrew Buckland

Best costume design Little Women – Jacqueline Durran

Best sound editing Ford v Ferrari – Donald Sylvester

Best sound mixing 1917 – Mark Taylor & Stuart Wilson

Best production design Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – Barbara Ling & Nancy Haigh

Best make-up and hairstyling Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan & Vivian Baker

Best live action short The Neighbors’ Window

Best animated short Hair Love

Best documentary short Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)