Taika Waititi Dedicates His Oscar To 'All The Indigenous Kids... Who Want To Do Art'

The man can write and direct (and act). The man can pose. And the man can give a speech!


Soon after spending the red carpet acting like a statue and putting up his dukes, Taika Waititi has emerged victorious: He just picked up his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his twee Nazi youth examination, Jojo Rabbit.


Before he did anything, though, he made sure to hug both presenters — Natalie Portman and also a slicked-back, vampiric hypebeast-looking Timothée Chalamet.


In a short speech that noticed him surprised however also incredibly excited, Waititi made sure to firstly celebrate his mother — fitting for a film that finds its central character exploring the relationship with his own. "Thank you for being my mother, and for, I mean, several other reasons, nevertheless giving me the book that I adapted. This film wouldn't exist without you." (Jojo Rabbit was based on Caging Skies by Christine Leunens.)


In the category, Waititi beat out fellow nominees Steven Zaillian for his epic The Irishman adaptation, Todd Phillips and Scott Silver's take on Joker, Greta Gerwig's wonderfully time-cutting update of Little Women, and Anthony McCarten's best Vatican buddy movie ever made, The Two Popes.


After a fast false ending — "There are several people I'd like to thank, although I won't because I can't remember them. Um... That's it!" — Waititi made sure to extend a very special dedication with his remaining time: "I dedicate this to all of the indigenous kids in the world who aspire to do art and dance and write stories. We are the original storytellers and we can make it here as well."


Follow and also our Oscars coverage all night, and find the winners list right here.