The Artist, a film that pays tribute to the era of silent cinemas through the story of a silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and a young dancer Peppy Miller (Benerice Bejo), swept the Oscars this year taking away five awards, including the best film, director and actor accolades.

The other film that competed with The Artist in the Academy Awards is Martin Scorsese's 3D film Hugo winning five awards as well.

The Artist won for direction (Michel Hazanivicius) and actor (Jean Dujardin).

The Artist is a compelling saga of two people through the various ups and downs of life, infused with a spritely touch and supported by some stunning performances sets this motion picture from director Michel Hazanavicius.

In an age of technical innovations and over the top story telling this austere offering in black and white is a striking contrast to its contemporaries, and brings back the nostalgia of the bicolor days.

Hugo, the other big winner, is 3D adventure drama film based on Brian Selznick's novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret about a boy who lives alone in a Paris railway station and the enigmatic owner of a toy shop there.

Predictably Meryl Streep won the best actress award for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Some other winners of the night were The Descendants, The Help, A Separation, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Undefeated, Beginners, The Muppets, Midnight in Paris and the short films The Shore, Saving Face and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

The List of winners:
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Director: Michel Hazanivicius, The Artist
Short Film (Animated): The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Documentary Short Subject: Saving Face
Short Film (Live Action) : The Shore *WINNER
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
Music (Original Song): "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets, Bret McKenzie
Music (Original Score): Ludovic Bource, The Artist

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Visual Effects: Hugo
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Documentary Feature: Undefeated
Sound Mixing: Hugo
Sound Editing: Hugo
Film Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Foreign Feature: A Separation
Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, The Iron Lady
Costume Design: The Artist
Art Direction: Hugo
Cinematography: Hugo