HOLLYWOOD, United States, March 28, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Deaf family drama
"CODA" won best picture honors at the Oscars Sunday, the first ever triumph
for a streamer, in a ceremony that was overshadowed by best actor-winner Will
Smith striking comedian Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife.

  Tinseltown's biggest night began with a performance by pop megastar
Beyonce, and touched on politics with a moment of silence over the Ukraine
crisis.

  But before the final awards were handed out, the shocking Smith-Rock
altercation went viral, and changed the mood of the night.

  "CODA", a feel-good indie drama starring deaf actors in lead roles, had
been presumed a longshot for Hollywood's biggest prize until very recently,
but pulled off a remarkable late surge to emerge triumphant.

  The film bagged the historic prize for Apple TV+, a relative newcomer in a
streaming market dominated by rivals like Netflix.

  "Thank you to the Academy for letting our 'CODA' make history tonight,"
said producer Philippe Rousselet.

  Taking its title from the acronym for child of deaf adult, the movie also
won for best adapted screenplay, and best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur,
who plays the father of a teenage girl who can hear and wants to pursue a
career in music.

  Kotsur dedicated his golden statuette to the deaf and disabled communities.

  "This is our moment," he said.

  Jessica Chastain won best actress for "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," in which
she played a real-life televangelist who became an unlikely champion for the
LGBTQ community.

  "We're faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping
our country... in times like this, I think of Tammy and I'm inspired by her
radical acts of love," she said.

  - 'Art imitates life' -

  But Hollywood's biggest night was dominated by a shocking moment in which
Smith -- who won best actor for his work on "King Richard" -- slapped Rock on
stage, before returning to his seat alongside his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and
shouting profanities.

  "Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth," yelled Smith, forcing the
producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast
in the United States.

  Rock, presenting the best documentary prize, had compared Jada's tightly
cropped hair to Demi Moore's appearance in the film "G.I. Jane." Jada suffers
from alopecia, a condition causing hair loss.

  The moment left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or
genuine.

  But when he returned to the stage to accept his award, a tearful Smith
lamented "people disrespecting you" in Hollywood, and apologized to the
Academy "and all my fellow nominees."

  Smith, who plays the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams in
"King Richard," added: "Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just
like they said about Richard Williams."

  - 'Diverse characters' -

  Until recently it had appeared that dark, psychological Western "The Power
of the Dog" was fated to earn Netflix its much-coveted first best picture
statuette.

  As it turned out, the film won only best director for Jane Campion.

  She is only the third woman to do so in Oscars history, just a year after
Chloe Zhao became the second ("Nomadland"). Kathryn Bigelow was the first for
"The Hurt Locker."

  Kenneth Branagh's childhood-inspired "Belfast" -- another presumed best
picture frontrunner -- triumphed for best original screenplay.

  Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for playing Anita in "West Side
Story," and Disney's "Encanto" was named best animated feature.

  DeBose, who first made her name on Broadway, celebrated her historic win

for "an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina."

  Yvett Merino, producer of Colombia-set "Encanto," said she was "so proud to
be a part of a film that put beautiful, diverse characters in front and
center."

  "Summer of Soul" won best documentary for musician Questlove's first movie
about the huge "Black Woodstock" festival that took place in 1969 Harlem.

  Japan's "Drive My Car," a Japanese arthouse film based on a short story of
the same name by Haruki Murakami, was named best international film.

  - Powerhouse music -

  Beyonce began the televised broadcast with her nominated tune from "King
Richard," from the Compton courts where Serena and Venus trained as girls.

  But the award for best original song went to Billie Eilish for her James
Bond theme song "No Time to Die."

  In another musical highlight, viral sensation "We Don't Talk About Bruno"
was performed live, with Megan Thee Stallion adding an Oscars-themed verse to
the "Encanto" hit song.

  Hosts Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall kicked off proceedings
inside the Dolby Theatre -- where the Oscars returned after a year away due
to the pandemic -- with an opening skit that poked fun at everything from
sexism in Hollywood to Florida's "Don't say gay" bill.

  "This year, the Academy hired three women to host because it's cheaper than
hiring one man," said Schumer.

  Sykes added: "We're going to have a great night tonight. And for you people
in Florida, we're going to have a gay night."

  Sci-fi epic "Dune" ended the night with the most wins, earning six in craft
and technical categories -- best sound, score, editing, production design,
visual effects and cinematography.

  - 'Devastation -

  The annual "in memoriam" paid tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins,
who was shot dead by Alec Baldwin in a tragic accident on the set of Western
"Rust" last year.

  Recently deceased Hollywood greats also honored in the segment included
Sidney Poitier -- the first, and for many decades, the only Black man to win
best actor.

  The gala held a moment's silence for Ukraine, while presenter Mila Kunis --
who was born in the country -- said it was "impossible not to be moved" by
the resilience of "those facing such devastation."