Oscar ceremony begins

Billy Crystal has opened the 84th Academy Awards ceremony with a comic video montage of scenes from films nominated for best picture and others from 2011.

Martin Scorsese's Hugo won the first two awards of the night - for cinematography and art direction.

Hugo is one of two odes to film-making, along with The Artist, going head-to-head for Oscars glory.

While The Artist has picked up it's first gong of the night for costume design. Iron Lady snatches the award for make-up.