Hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien with his usual charmingly chaotic zeal, last night’s 98th Academy Awards included some historic firsts, striking red-carpet moments, and Pacific Northwest recognition.
In case you missed the show on March 15, the awards honored 2025 films spanning 24 categories. Eric Saindon, a Washington State University alumnus, was part of the team that won for Best Visual Effects for “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” (Another Pacific Northwest connection came in the form of the Washington-shot “Train Dreams,” though that, unfortunately, didn’t take home any of the four trophies for which it was nominated.)
“Golden,” the hit song from “KPop Demon Hunters” that has been playing on repeat in most people’s heads since last year, won Best Original Song — a first-ever Oscar for a K-pop track. Another historical first arrived with the Best Cinematography category: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the DP on “Sinners,” was the first woman to have ever gotten the honor.
Best Picture went to “One Battle After Another,” a film that overall netted six Oscars. “Sinners” took home four awards out of the 16 it was nominated for — the most for a single film. It also included 10 Black nominees.
Variously decorated with feathers, fringe, and bling, some of the red-carpet looks that have thus far been especially well-received by fashion editors belonged to Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Teyana Taylor, and Kate Hudson, the latter of whom wore Giorgio Armani Privé and rare green diamonds reportedly worth millions.