Academy Award Oscar trophy

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The 1st Academy Awards

May 16, 1929  •  Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles  •  Hosted by Douglas Fairbanks

12
Categories
1
Ceremony
Wings won Best Picture at the inaugural ceremony
Janet Gaynor was recognized for three films in one acting award
The only year with separate Director categories for Drama and Comedy
Best Picture & Directing
Best Picture
Winner
Wings
Lucien Hubbard, producer
The Racket
Seventh Heaven
Best Director
Winner
Frank Borzage
7th Heaven — 7th Heaven
Lewis Milestone— Two Arabian Knights (Comedy)
King Vidor— The Crowd
Acting
Best Actor
Winner
Emil Jannings
The Last Command / The Way of All Flesh
Best Actress
Winner
Janet Gaynor
7th Heaven / Street Angel / Sunrise
Louise Dresser— A Ship Comes In
Gloria Swanson— Sadie Thompson
Writing
Best Writing (Adaptation)
Winner
Benjamin Glazer
7th Heaven
Best Writing (Original Story)
Winner
Ben Hecht
Underworld
Technical
Technical
Best Cinematography
Winner
Charles Rosher & Karl Struss
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Art Direction & Costume
Best Art Direction
Winner
William Cameron Menzies
The Dove / Tempest