"Selma", which depicts the US civil rights struggle, won the best original song for "Glory". John Legend and Common took to the stage to perform the number during the ceremony. While accepting the award, Legend said voting-right restrictions and incarceration rates for black men showed that there was continuing need for action.
"The struggle for justice is right now," he said.
Among the documentary features, it was Laura Poitras's "Citizenfour", on Edward Snowden, which received the golden statuette.
Poland's "Ida" walked away with the accolades in the foreign language film category, to which Indian movie "Liar's Dice" failed to make a cut even as a nomination.