The 81st Annual Academy Awards wrapped up just a few hours ago with few surprises. Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s little film about a young Indian boy rising from Mumbai’s notorious slums to win a world-famous game show swept the awards winning eight of its ten nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Heath Ledger, the seventh actor to earn a posthumous nomination became only the second to win, joining Peter Finch, who won for 1976′s “Network.”
Sean Penn and Kate Winslet won top honors in their respective acting categories–Penn adding a second statuette to his collection, and Winslet earning her first in six nominations.
Complete List of Winners:
Best Motion Picture of the Year
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Sean Penn, MILK
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Kate Winslet, THE READER
Achievement in Directing
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Departures
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Achievement in Film Editing
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Achievement in Sound Mixing
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Achievement in Sound Editing
THE DARK KNIGHT
Achievement in Visual Effects
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Documentary Short Subject
SMILE PINKI
Best Documentary Feature
MAN ON WIRE
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Heath Ledger, THE DARK KNIGHT
Best Live Action Short Film
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)
Achievement in Cinematography
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Achievement in Makeup
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Achievement in Costume Design
THE DUCHESS
Achievement in Art Direction
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Animated Short Film
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
WALL-E
Adapted Screenplay
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Original Screenplay
MILK
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
