Jamie Lee Curtis wins first Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once

The sci-fi epic, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, went into the night with 11 nominations after sweeping top prizes at other US awards ceremonies this year.

After the halfway mark of the ceremony at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, All Quiet On The Western Front led the way with four wins, while Everything Everywhere All At Once had three.

An emotional Curtis paid tribute to all the special people in her life, shouting “we just won an Oscar”, after collecting the best supporting actress gong – her first Oscar.

The US actress, 64, said on stage: “I know it looks like I am standing up here on my own but I am not. There are hundreds of people and hundreds of people. We just won an Oscar.

“To my family, my beautiful husband, Christopher Guest, my daughters, Annie and Ruby, my sister Kelly – we just won an Oscar.

“To all of the people who have supported the genre movies that I have made for hundreds and hundreds of thousands, we just won an Oscar together.”

Looking up to the sky, the actress, who was born into Hollywood royalty through parents Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, added: “And my mother and father were both nominated for Oscars in different categories, I just won an Oscar.”

Quan received a standing ovation as he took to the stage and hailed “the American dream” after claiming best supporting actor.

“My mom is 84-years-old and she is at home watching. Ma I just won an Oscar!” he said.

He continued: “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage.

“They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe this is happening to me – this is the American dream.

“Thank you so much to the academy for the honour of a lifetime.”

Quan has stormed this year’s award season, picking up best supporting accolades at almost every major ceremony.

The UK also enjoyed early success with wins in the categories for best cinematography and best short film.

James Friend picked up the cinematography award for his work on the epic First World War film All Quiet On The Western Front.

Friend’s win comes just weeks after similar success at the Bafta and on both occasions Friend pipped his fellow countryman Sir Roger Deakins, who had been nominated for the romantic drama Empire Of Light.

The co-directors of An Irish Goodbye led a chorus of Happy Birthday for the film’s star James Martin from the stage after the film won best live action short film.

After Ross White thanked the Academy and their follow nominees, Tom Berkeley added: “This award is actually the second most important thing about today because it is this man’s birthday.

“He is out here in Hollywood wearing a leopard print suit jacket. We would love to use the rest of our time up here to sing for James.”

The Oscar for best animated short film went to The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse.

Charlie Mackesy’s illustrated book was adapted for the screen by the BBC and Apple TV+, and explores the friendship between the four titular characters as they journey together in search of a home.

Elizabeth Banks tripped as she took to the stage to present the award for best visual effects – which went to Avatar: The Way Of Water – but quickly managed to steady herself.

She was joined by a person wearing a bear costume in reference to her recent film Cocaine Bear and quipped: “Oh my God. He tripped me.”

The award for best documentary feature film went to Navalny, about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the events related to his 2020 poisoning.

Director Daniel Roher dedicated the award to Navalny and political prisoners around the world, saying: “Alexei, the world has not forgotten your vital message to the world.”

Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, added: “Alexei, I am dreaming of the day you will be free and our country will be free, stay strong my love.”

The first Oscar of the night, animated feature film, went to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

Taking to the stage, the Mexican filmmaker said: “Animation is cinema, animation is not a genre and animation is ready to be taken to the next step.”

Host Jimmy Kimmel kicked off the night by entering the stage attached to a parachute, in a nod to best picture nominee Top Gun: Maverick.

“Give me a second I need to adjust my danger zone. My Banshees are caught in my Inisherin right now,” he said.

“I know that being here is a dream come true for some people, thank you for inviting me.”

He also made reference to last year’s slap while praising the Irish talent nominated at this year’s ceremony.

“Five Irish actors are nominated tonight, which meant the odds of another fight onstage just went way up,” he said.

The remark prompted laughter from the audience and cast members of The Banshees Of Inisherin.

In a departure from previous years, the Oscars swapped its usual red carpet for a champagne carpet, with stars including Bill Nighy and Cate Blanchett wearing a blue ribbon as part of an initiative from the United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR.