Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has become the first repeat winner in 65 years at the Academy Awards by taking home the best director Oscar for "The Revenant", his brutal period piece starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
With this win, Inarritu has entered the history books, becoming the first director since 1950 to bag the best director trophy two years in a row.
John Ford won in 1940 and 1941, for "The Grapes of Wrath" and "How Green Was My Valley", respectively; Joseph L Mankiewicz won in 1949 with "A Letter to Three Wives" and in 1950 with "All About Eve".
"I can't believe this is happening. It is amazing to receive this award. I would like to share this with my cast, collegues and crew members who made this film possible. Leo (Leonardo DiCaprio), you are the revenant," Inarritu said in his acceptance speech.
George Miller for his exhilarating action film "Mad Max: Fury Road" was probably Inarritu's biggest competition for the Oscars. But Inarritu became a clear frontrunner to win best director for "The Revenant" after pulling off a victory at the Directors Guild of America awards. He also won a Golden Globe.
Last year, Inarritu took home the best director Oscar for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" and his film also won the best picture award.
The movie is an astonishing visual achievement that involved a painstaking shoot and great physical sacrifices from its star, cast, and crew.
Just by getting nominated, Inarritu entered into the rare company of people, becoming the first filmmaker in over 30 years to pull off a nomination the year after winning.
Inarritu's road to victory was not all that easy as he saw off a very tough competition from Tom McCarthy ("Spotlight"), Adam McKay ("The Big Short") and Lenny Abrahamson ("Room").
