The austere and graceful drama Nomadland was the biggest winner at the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday, capturing Best Picture, Best Director for Chloé Zhao and Best Actress for Frances McDormand.
The victories capped an Oscars ceremony modified for the Covid-19 pandemic, with the ceremony held in front of a pared-down live audience after a year in which the film industry was devastated by cinema closures and delayed movie releases.
Zhao was the first woman of colour and the second woman to win the top directing prize. The awards for Nomadland also marked a triumph for Walt Disney and the Hollywood establishment, as streaming company Netflix missed out on any of the biggest prizes.