They took place on Sunday February 26, 2012. They were held in Hollywood, at the Hollywood and Highland Center, a live theater on Hollywood Boulevard. This Center opened in 2001 and has hosted the Academy Award ceremonies ever since.

This was the 84th Academy Awards celebration. As always it was a very glamorous occasion - the clothes seem to get more remarkable every year - and this year was unusual in that the biggest winner of all was the movie The Artist, which is not only French (which would normally mean it could only get a Best Non-English speaking award) but silent. No silent film has won an Oscar since 1927, in fact the silent film era ended decades ago, so this was a real departure.

Other winners included George Clooney for Best Actor in The Descendants and Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.