Oscars 2018: Style and wisdom at the 90th Academy Awards

Sam Rockwell, Frances McDormand, Allison Janney and Gary Oldman pose with their Oscars

The Shape Of Water emerged as the big winner with four honours at the 90th Academy Awards ceremony at Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, where celebration of cinema was laced with political jibes as well as powerful statements on debates like sexual harassment, immigration and gender balance that are plaguing Hollywood. The film won gongs for Best Picture, Best Director for Guillermo del Toro, Best Original Score for Alexandre Desplat and Best Production Design. In a tight best picture race, the inter-species romance triumphed over award season favourites Get Out and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

Nicole Kidman in cobalt Armani Prive

Dressed in a Louis Vuitton pantsuit, Emma Stone presents the award for best director

The activism of the post-Harvey Weinstein era, which led to celebrities making a statement through wearing black or #Time'sUp pins at award shows this season, shifted to the Oscar stage on Sunday. Host Jimmy Kimmel, returning for the second time, as well as winners and presenters addressed the seismic shift in Hollywood's race and gender politics.

Meryl Streep in a red Dior gown

Saoirse Ronan in a Calvin Klein outfit

Gal Gadot in Givenchy Couture

Best Actress winner Frances McDormand, who bagged the award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, emphasised the need for good roles for women and asked "all the female nominees in every category" to stand with her in the room with a special shout-out to fellow nominee Meryl Streep.

In a break from tradition, the Best Actress Award was given not by last year's Best Actor winner Casey Affleck (he has been accused of sexual misconduct in the past) but Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster. Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren teamed up to present the Best Actor gong to Gary Oldman for transforming himself to play Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.

Greta Gerwig in a mustard yellow Rodarte gown

Lupita Nyong'o in Atelier Versace

Sandra Bullock in Louis Vuitton

Kimmel kept his hosting light and fun-filled except for the opening monologue where he targeted Weinstein, while lauding the #Time'sUp and #MeToo movements.

Jane Fonda in Balmain 44 François Premier

Helen Mirren in Reem Acra

Actresses Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, who accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, walked on the stage at Oscars 2018 to stress on the need to change the culture in Hollywood with focus on diversity and equality. Apart from handing over the golden statuette to the winners, diversity was celebrated at the Oscars with a special segment at the ceremony. They got on the stage not to talk about their bad experiences, but how they have led to several movements which are orchestrating a change. Late Indian actors Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi were remembered during the In Memoriam montage along with late Hollywood icons.

Jordan Peele became the first black screenwriter ever to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Get Out.