The Academy Awards 2016

This year was a record year for the Irish at the 2016 Oscars, securing a total of nine nominations.

The Academy Awards this year were a momentous occasion for the Irish film industry. Two Irish films were nominated for Best Picture, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room secured four nominations altogether, while John Crowley’s Brooklyn received three.

Lead actresses from both films, Brie Larson and Wicklow native Saoirse Ronan, were nominated for Best Actress for their role in the films. Brie Larson was the winner on the night.

Dublin man Benjamin Cleary won Best Live-Action Short Film for Stutterer. In his acceptance speech he said he is proud to be Irish, “Every day is a proud day to be Irish but today more so than usual so everyone for all the support back home thank you so much… Sláinte!”

Leonardo DiCaprio, finally won his first Oscar for lead actor in The Revenant, after his sixth Academy Award nomination. He was up against Bryan Cranston, Eddie Redmayne, Matt Damon and Kerry born Michael Fassbender for his work in Steve Jobs.

DiCaprio took his opportunity on stage to remind the world of the dangers of climate change and the work that is yet to be done to tackle the issue.

“Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this. For our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed … Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”

Alejandro Iñárritu won Best Director for the second year in a row for The Revenant, he won last year for Birdman.

Performances from this year included Lady Gaga singing her Oscar nominated original song, “Til It Happens to You,” a song about sexual assault. Joining her on stage were young men and women, all sexual assault survivors. The performance received a standing ovation, after the survivors revealed words such as “Survivor,” “Unbreakable,” and “Not Your Fault,” on their forearms.

Sam Smith also performed his “Writing’s on the wall.” He dedicated his Oscar to the LGBT community, which he won for Best Original Song.