Oscars 2012: Five Academy Awards won by 'The Artist', 'Hugo'

Oscars 2012: Five Academy Awards won by 'The Artist', 'Hugo'

Much-awarded films like 'The Artist' and 'Hugo' emerged as the big winners at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

These films, which both celebrate the history of cinema, took home five Oscars apiece at the ceremony, which was hosted by Billy Crystal from the Hollywood & Highland Theatre.

However, 'The Artist' dominated the major awards, winning 'Best Picture', 'Best Director' for Michel Hazanavicius and 'Best Actor' for star Jean Dujardin. The black-and-white film, the first to win the coveted 'Best Picture' since 1928's Wings, also won for 'Original Score' and 'Costume Design'.

'The Artist'-director Hazanavicius thanked American filmmaker Billy Wilder three times in his 'Best Picture' acceptance speech, before telling his wife Berenice Bejo - who also stars in The Artist - that she was his inspiration for the film.

"I'd like to say a very, very important thing. I want to say 'Hi' to my kids - and it's 6 o'clock in the morning in Paris, so you should go to bed in 30 seconds!" he said.

"I want to say to my wife, Berenice Bejo, that I love you, but it's not just about that... you inspired the movie, and you're the soul of the movie and the positive feeling of the movie."

Popular director Martin Scorsese's Hugo dominated the technical categories, picking up wins for 'Art Direction', 'Cinematography', 'Sound Editing', 'Sound Mixing' and 'Visual Effects'.