The prize for best film at this year's Oscars, has been a won by a film about American troops in Iraq, The Hurt Locker. Its main rival, the multi-billion dollar blockbuster, Avatar, didn't pick up any of the major awards.
A low-budget war film that's failed to find large audiences beat off a ground-breaking fantasy epic that's the biggest money earner in cinema history. The Hurt Locker about bomb disposal teams in Iraq won six awards including best picture, and Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for best director. She paid tribute to members of the armed services in her acceptance speech.
Meanwhile her ex-husband, the film-maker James Cameron, had to be content with three awards out of nine nominations, for his sci-fi blockbuster Avatar.
Acting prizes went as predicted. Jeff Bridges won for Crazy Heart, Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side.
In supporting roles Christoph Waltz won for Inglorious Bastards and Mo'Nique for Precious. British nominees, Helen Mirren, Colin Firth and Kerry Mulligan went home empty-handed.