Shot mostly in Toronto and Hamilton, the Cold war fairy tale The Shape of Water has won best picture at the Academy Awards, and it’s director Guillermo del Toro has won the best director Oscar. Toronto producer J. Miles Dale also shared in the best picture Oscar with del Toro.

The film had a leading 13 nominations at this year’s Academy Awards, and won four of them, including best production design for three Canadians; Shane Vieau, Jeffrey Melvin, and Paul Austerberry.

“First of all, thanks to all of the Canadian crew who are partying right now at the Palais Royale in Toronto,” Austerberry began, “Thank you to the Academy, Guillermo, may you keep dreaming of your monsters and their wonderful stories so people like us can help shape their worlds.”

The Shape of Water is about an isolated and mute woman who falls in love with a merman, set in 1960s-era Baltimore.

French composer Alexandre Desplat’s music for The Shape of Water won best original score.

As for Oscars other top prizes, Gary Oldman’s transformation into Winston Churchill for Darkest Hour won him the best actor Academy Award.

Frances McDormand picked up the best actress Oscar for Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Supporting actor honours went to Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards and Allison Janney for I,Tonya.