First Muslim actor to win, youngest best director… Notable records at Oscars 2017

The 2017 Oscar awards had what was perhaps the biggest gaffe in the history of the Academy.

While still basking in the euphoria of winning best picture, the cast of La La Land was forced to end its celebrations and made to leave the stage.

The category, everyone later realised, was won by Moonlight, a movie centered around sexuality and drug use.

Although the incident will be ceaselessly talked about in the days to come, there were several other significant firsts and records at the 89th Academy Awards.

First Muslim to win an Oscar

Mahershala Ali made history as the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar for his supporting role in Moonlight.

First multiple wins for black actors in 10 years

Ali’s victory and Viola Davis’ best supporting actress win for Fences marked the first time since 2007 that more than one black actor has won a competitive Academy Award on the same night.

Denzel Washington and Halle Berry became the first black performers to win both of the Academy’s lead acting awards on the same evening in 2002. In 2005, Jamie Foxx won best actor while Morgan Freeman won best supporting actor.

Forest Whitaker won best actor in 2007 while Jennifer Hudson was awarded best supporting actress.

Youngest winner of best director category

At 32-years-old, Damien Chazelle, director of La La Land, made history as the youngest person to ever win best director.

Highest number of black nominees

After the heavy criticism that trailed the 2016 awards, this year’s nominee list was undeniably diverse. Six black actors received nominations, which represents an Oscar record.

Meryl Streep’s personal record

Hollywood legend, Meryl Streep, was nominated for a record 20th Academy Award. Although she has lost 17 times, no one alive has that much nomination.

Viola Davis joins elite club

Davis is the 23rd person to win the triple crown of acting awards – Emmy, Oscar and Tony.

She joins the exclusive ranks of Maggie Smith, Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand, and Jeremy Irons.

Davis is also the first black person to have won all three awards for acting.

21st time lucky for Kevin O’Connell

Kevin O’Connell who won the sound mixing award for his work on Hacksaw Ridge had been nominated 20 times before without a single win.