Oscars 2018: The Shape of Water wins Best Picture award

'I want to dedicate this to every young filmmaker, in every country in the world'

(Getty Images)

The Shape of Water has won the award for Best Film at the 2018 Oscars.

Inspired by director Guillermo del Toro’s memories of growing up watching the Creature from the Black Lagoon and wishing to see the film end in a happy romance, his film follows a sweeping romance between a mute janitor at a secret scientific laboratory (Sally Hawkins) and the aquatic creature kept prisoner within its walls (Doug Jones).

Fellow nominees were Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Get Out, Lady Bird, Phantom Thread, The Post, and Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri.

"I want to dedicate this to every young filmmaker, in every country in the world." del Toro said in his acceptance speech. "Growing up in Mexico, I never dreamed this would happen. I want to tell you this is a door, kick it open and come in."

The Shape of Water wins the most awards of the night with four Oscars in total: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Production Design, and Best Score. Dunkirk, however, was close behind thanks to its dominance in the technical categories, walking away with three awards.

Follow all the live coverage from the ceremony here.

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