27 Feb 2017

'La La Land' wrongly announced as Oscars winner

10:04 pm on 27 February 2017

Moonlight has won Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards, after the hosts incorrectly announced La La Land as the winner.

Producers Jeremy Kleiner, left, and Adele Romanski, winners of the award for Best Picture for 'Moonlight', pose with filmmaker Barry Jenkins.

Producers Jeremy Kleiner, left, and Adele Romanski, pose with 'Moonlight' filmmaker Barry Jenkins after their win. Photo: AFP

The award was being presented by Hollywood icons Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

Look back at RNZ's live blog of the red carpet and ceremony

The cast and creative team for the romantic musical had started delivering acceptance speeches when one of the producers interrupted to say the award had gone to the wrong film, and Moonlight was the real victor.

He held up the envelope to the camera to prove it was true.

Beatty apologised, saying he and Dunaway announced the wrong winner because the envelope they had been handed had the name of the best actress winner, Emma Stone, and the movie title "La La Land".

Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, is a drama about a gay black youth coming to terms with his sexuality in an impoverished Miami neighbourhood.

It was produced by Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner.

Earlier, Mahershala Ali won best supporting actor for his role in the film. Alongside Viola Davis, who won best supporting actress for her role in Fences, he was the first black actor to win at the awards in three years.

Wellington film editor John Gilbert took out the award for best editing for his work on Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson.

It was his first Academy Award, and his second nomination, having worked with Peter Jackson on the first Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring.

Another New Zealander, Dan Lemmon, also won an Oscar alongside other animators for Best Visual Effects for The Jungle Book.

- RNZ / Reuters