Oscars 2024: Christopher Nolan's First Win

Christopher Nolan's Best Director win at Sunday's (10.03.24) Academy Awards "means the world" to him.

The 53-year-old filmmaker scooped his first win in eight nominations thanks to 'Oppenheimer' and he praised all those involved in working on the atomic bomb drama before admitting he was honoured to be part of the "incredible journey" of making movies.

Accepting the award from Steven Spielberg, he told the audience at Los Angeles' Dolby Theater: "There are so many people who have dragged me up here. Universal Studios, Donna Langley, thank you for seeing the potential in this.

"Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, thank you for the 20 years you put into the book this film was based on.

"I have so many people to thank, the most incredible cast. Matt Damon, Robert, Emily, Florence, so many others at the top of their game led by the incredible Cillian Murphy.

"A crew, some of whom have been awarded tonight. I can't say enough the incredible crew we got together on this film. Thank you to Chuck Roven for putting the book in my hands, thanky ou for those who have been there and believed in me my entire career.

"Dan, Michael, my brother Jonah, my family and the incredible Emma Thomas. Producer of all our films and all our children, I love you."

Christopher - who took the Oscar ahead of Justine Triet (‘Anatomy of a Fall’), Martin Scorsese (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’), Yorgos Lanthimos ('Poor Things’) and Jonathan Glazer (‘The Zone of Interest’) - ended his speech with his heartfelt thank you for the recognition.

He said: "To the Academy, just to say, movies are a little bit over 100 years old, imagine being there 100 years into painting or theatre, we don't know where this incredible journey is going from here but to know you think I'm a meaningful part of it means the world to me."