85th Academy Award Winners - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

Argo was named the "Best Motion Picture of the Year" of 2012 at the 85th Annual Academy Awards.  Director Ben Affleck gave an emotional speech while receiving his Oscar with fellow Argo producers, Grant Heslov (who also spoke) and George Clooney (who did not speak).  Jack Nicholson and, in a big surprise, First Lady Michelle Obama were the presenters of the best picture Oscar.

Life of Pi won the most awards, four.  That included Ang Lee's surprise win for "Best Director" which seemed destined to Steven Spielberg for Lincoln.  Daniel Day-Lewis set a record for "Best Actor" Oscar wins, 3, by winning for his performance in Lincoln.  Jennifer Lawrence won "Best Actress" for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.

For the first time since 1994 (and only the sixth time overall), there was a tie, as both Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty won the "Best Sound Editing" Oscar.  Django Unchained won 2 trophies - "Best Original Screenplay" for writer/director Quentin Tarantino and "Best Supporting Actor" for Christoph Waltz, who won the same award three years ago for appearing in another Tarantino film, Inglourious Basterds.

The 85th Annual Academy Awards’ ceremony was held on Sunday, February 24, 2013.

2013 Academy Award Winners:

Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Argo: Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney

Best Achievement in Directing:
Ang Lee for Life of Pi

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:
Django Unchained: Quentin Tarantino

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:
Argo: Chris Terrio

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year:
Brave: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Amour (Austria)

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Life of Pi: Claudio Miranda

Best Achievement in Editing:
Argo: William Goldenberg

Best Achievement in Production Design
Lincoln: Rick Carter, Jim Erickson

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Anna Karenina: Jacqueline Durran

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Les Misérables: Lisa Westcott, Julie Dartnell

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score:
Life of Pi: Mychael Danna

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:
Skyfall: Adele, Paul Epworth ("Skyfall")

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Les Misérables: Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Simon Hayes

Best Achievement in Sound Editing: TIE
Skyfall: Per Hallberg, Karen M. Baker
Zero Dark Thirty: Paul N.J. Ottosson

Best Achievement in Visual Effects:
Life of Pi: Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott

Best Documentary, Features
Searching for Sugar Man: Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn

Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Inocente: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix

Best Short Film, Animated
Paperman: John Kahrs

Best Short Film, Live Action
Curfew): Shawn Christensen