This year, five filmmakers competed for the honor of Best Director at the 2015 Oscars: Wes Anderson for "The Grand Budapest Hotel," Richard Linklater for "Boyhood," Morten Tyldum for "The Imitation Game," Bennett Miller for "Foxcatcher," and Alejandro González Iñárritu for "Birdman."

Pundits have narrowed the race down to "Birdman" and "Boyhood," with the possibility of the two films splitting the top awards for Best Picture and Best Director. The dust has settled and the winner of the Oscar for Best Director is... Alejandro González Iñárritu for "Birdman."

The Mexico-born Iñárritu broke out onto the international scene with the heavy "21 Grams" (2003), before filming "Babel" (2006) and the Javier Bardem-starring "Biutiful" (2010). "Birdman" has been praised for its standout performances all around, earning both Michael Keaton and Edward Norton acting nominations, but the film's most impressive feat is its technically innovative directing. Iñárritu combines a collection of beautiful, tight long takes that give the film the effect that it was shot in one seamless take.

The hard work paid off with a much deserved Oscar win for Alejandro González Iñárritu for "Birdman."