Martin Scorsese's nostalgic 3-D spectacular "Hugo" picks up five awards for cinematography, art direction, sound editing and mixing and visual effects at the 84th Annual Academy Awards Sunday night at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, California. [China.org.cn]

But the French night wasn't just for "The Artist." Director Martin Scorsese's nostalgic 3-D spectacular "Hugo," which tells of a boy lost in a train station in Paris and serves as an ode to early filmmaking and the legendary French filmmaker Georges Méliès, came into the night with a leading 11 nominations, picking up five awards for cinematography, art direction, sound editing and mixing and visual effects.

What's more for the Frech-flavored night? Woody Allen's romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris", which centers on a small group of Americans visiting the French capital for business and pleasure while exploring themes of nostalgia and modernism, won Best Original Screenplay. Woody Allen, as per usual, did not show up for the award ceremony.

Other outstanding filmmakers and actors in 2011 also received accolades. Meryl Streep won Best Actress for her role as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." It was Streep's third Academy Award out of her 17 nominations.

Actress Meryl Streep (L) accepts the Best Actress award for "The Iron Lady" from presenter Colin Firth onstage during the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. [Photo/CFP]

"When they called my name I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, 'Oh no. Come on,'" She joked that the audience was probably tired of seeing her, adding: "Whatever." But Streep couldn't hide her emotion as she choked up while thanking her husband and talking about her long career.