Asia Pacific Daily News - Focus on Asia-Pacific Development, Daily News Express, Scholar Creation Center

The long wait is over. In a tight competition that is not seen in years, "The Shape of Water" took home the Best Picture award at the 90th Academy Awards in Hollywood's Dolby Theater, California, Sunday night local time.

The 90th Academy Awards, Hollywood's highest honor, was hosted by late night funnyman Jimmy Kimmel for the second consecutive year.

"The Shape of Water" led the nominations with 13 nods, followed by "Dunkirk" (8) and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (7).

Guillermo del Toro, winner of the award for best director for “The Shape of Water” celebrates in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

Guillermo del Toro won the Best Director award, beating Christopher Nolan, Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig, and Paul Thomas Anderson.

"I am an immigrant, like many of you... and I think the greatest thing our industry does is to erase the lines in the sand, we should continue doing that when the world tells us to make them deeper," the Mexican director said in his acceptance speech.

Frances McDormand accepts the Best Actress Oscar at the 90th Annual Academy Awards show on March 4, 2018.

No surprise, the Best Actress Oscar went to Frances McDormand for playing a revenging mother in "Three Billboards" while Gary Oldman was crowned the Best Actor for portraying Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour".

Allison Janney was named the Best Supporting Actress for her role as an abusive mother in "I, Tonya" while Sam Rockwell snatched the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in "Three Billboards".

Jordan Peele won the Best Original Screenplay for "Get Out". It marks the first time ever that a black man won in the category in the Oscars history.

"Dunkirk", however, only got three technical awards, including best film editing, sound editing and sound mixing.

A general view shows comedian Jimmy Kimmel delivering a speech during the opening of the 90th Annual Academy Awards show on March 4, 2018.

End of awards season

"I'm hopeful that things will go smoothly tonight. This is a big one, this is the 90th Academy Awards," Kimmel said in his opening monologue.

The ceremony officially put a cap on the industry's awards season in months that was plagued by sexual misconduct scandals triggered by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

This year's awards ceremonies also witnessed the uprising of the "Time's Up" and #MeToo campaigns which eventually evolved into a social movement.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel delivers a speech during the opening of the 90th Annual Academy Awards show on March 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

Kimmel spared no time to address the issue, pointing out that only 11 percent of movies are made by women.

"We can't let bad behavior slide anymore. The world is watching us, we need to set an example."

Salutes to #MeToo and diversity

The 90th Oscars has begun to see the advancement.

Women filmmakers and artists of color celebrated a year of diversity at the ceremony.

Greta Gerwig is only the fifth woman ever in Oscars history to be nominated for best director – for comedy/drama "Lady Bird".

There was also the first nod in history for a female cinematographer, Rachel Morrison, who shot Dee Rees's racial drama "Mudbound".

L-R, Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek. /Reuters Photo

A segment dedicated to the issues was narrated by Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, three of the dozens of women who have accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, helping touch off the #MeToo movement.

The women described 2017 as a move toward a more inclusive industry. From female-led action movie "Wonder Woman" to racial satire "Get Out", white men were no longer the only centerpiece.

"The changes we are witnessing are being driven by the powerful sound of new voices, of different voices, of our voices, joining together in a mighty chorus that is finally saying:'Time's up',"Judd said.

Oscar winners in other categories: