"Moonlight" walked away with best picture honors at the end of Sunday night's Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, but not before a huge mistake that had everyone believing "La Land" had won the big prize.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway misread the card, and the "La La Land" cast took the stage.
Beatty came back on stage and explained his long pause before reading the name was because the envelope read Emma Stone, "La La Land." Actress Faye Dunaway read the name "La La Land" after chiding Beatty for taking so long to read the winner.
Host Jimmy Kimmel joked that he blamed Steve Harvey, host of the 2016 Miss Universe contest who misread his card and also announced the wrong winner.
The film tells the story of a boy's journey to adulthood through his rough upbringing in Miami. The film stars Naomi Harris as the boy's drug-addicted mother, and Mahershala Ali as a drug dealer-turned mentor for the boy.
"Moonlight" has provided some of the stiffest competition during Hollywood's awards season for the musical "La La Land," which was nominated for a history-tying 14 Academy Awards.
Emma Stone's portrayal of a struggling actress in "La La Land" won her the best actress Academy Award.
Stone won for her portrayal of Mia, an aspiring actress forced to suffer the indignities of failed auditions and working as a barista at a studio cafe. Her character's career gets a nudge from a struggling jazz pianist played by Ryan Gosling.
It is the actress' first Oscar, and comes during a year in which "La La Land" and its catchy song-and-dance numbers have charmed Hollywood. The film tied history with its 14 Oscar nominations.
It was the sixth Oscar "La La Land" won..
Casey Affleck's portrayal of a grieving father in "Manchester by the Sea" won him the best actor Academy Award.
It was Affleck's first Oscar. He is the younger brother of Ben Affleck and took the "Manchester" part after Matt Damon had to drop the role.
Affleck appeared to get emotional after his win. He thanked Denzel Washington, who he said taught him how to act but who he had never met before Sunday's ceremony.
Affleck plays a janitor who's still reeling from the loss of three children when he is forced to confront another death in his family.
Damien Chazelle won the best director Academy Award for "La La Land."
Chazelle also wrote the screenplay for "La La Land." His film is an homage to past musicals, and stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
He is the youngest best director winner.
"Manchester by the Sea" won the best original screenplay Academy Award , while "Moonlight" has won the adapted screenplay Oscar.
"Manchester" was written by Kenneth Lonergan, who also directed the best picture contender that stars Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams.
"Moonlight" was written by Barry Jenkins, working from a story by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
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