The
81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best
films of 2008 and took place on February 22, 2009, at the
Kodak Theatre in
Hollywood,
Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m.
PST / 8:30 p.m.
EST. During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented
Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. The ceremony, televised in the United States by
ABC, was produced by
Bill Condon and
Laurence Mark. Actor
Hugh Jackman hosted the show for the first time. Two weeks earlier in a ceremony at the
Beverly Wilshire Hotel in
Beverly Hills, California held on February 7, the
Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host
Jessica Biel.