Kathryn Bigelow on Sunday was honored with an Oscar. She became the first woman in the 82-year history of the Academy Awards to take the prize as her gritty Iraq War movie "The Hurt Locker" outshone "Avatar" after a nail-biting campaign season.

"The Hurt Locker" also bears hope for grabbing the top prize, best picture, and four awards in other categories as well.

"Avatar," the 3D smash directed by Bigelow's ex-husband, James Cameron, grabbed three awards, all in technical categories.

Jeff Bridges fetched a prize for his lead role as a drunken country singer who gets a shot at redemption in "Crazy Heart."

And Sandra Bullock was honored with the gold for playing a suburban mom who guides a homeless black teen to football stardom in "The Blind Side."

Moreover, Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African-American to fetch a writing prize, for his work on "Precious." The prize had been already been expected to go to "Up in the Air," a six-time nominee that was snubbed.