Frances McDormand won best actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and persuaded every female nominee to stand with her in a night full of statements about inclusion.
Gary Oldman was named best actor for playing Winston Churchill in World War Two epic Darkest Hour.
In her acceptance speech, Frances McDormand put her Oscar on the floor in front of her and addressed executives as the female nominees got to their feet.
Her request came amid a push for greater equality in film – especially in the wake of the Hollywood harassment scandal.
Frances McDormand finished her speech with the words: “I have two words to leave you with tonight – inclusion rider.”
She received a rousing reception for her best actress win, which came for playing a vengeance-seeking mother who is let down by the authorities after her daughter is raped and murdered.
It’s Frances McDormand’s second Oscar, 21 years after her first for Fargo.
The ceremony also marked the Me Too and Time’s Up campaigns with a segment presented by Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, who have all accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment or assault.
Host Jimmy Kimmel addressed the issue head-on in his opening monologue, saying the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, and the reforms that had begun since, had not come soon enough.
He said: “What happened with Harvey and what’s happening all over was long overdue.
“We can’t let bad behavior slide any more. The world is watching us.”
Accepting his first ever Oscar, Gary Oldman mentioned his 98-year-old mother, among other people, telling her: “Thank you for your love and support. Put the kettle on. I’m bringing Oscar home.”
Guillermo del Toro won best director for The Shape of Water, which stars Sally Hawkins as a mute cleaning lady who has a relationship with a mysterious river-dwelling creature. It led the Oscar race with 13 nominations.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who announced the wrong best picture winner in 2017, returned to present the same award this time.
Get Out won best original screenplay for its writer-director Jordan Peele.
Jordan Peele is the first black winner of the award and hailed a “renaissance” moment in Hollywood.
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk won three awards in the technical categories.
Lady Bird and The Post were among the films that were left empty-handed.
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