Why low-budget films win best picture

With The Shape of Water, the Academy has again given the top prize to a smaller budget, more 'art house' film. Tom Brook finds out more about what drives this trend.

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water – in many ways an unusual choice for the best picture award – does fit the bill for another reason.

It’s a more low-budget, indie or art house film, with modest takings compared to a blockbuster. Moonlight and Spotlight, best winner pictures in 2017 and 2016, also had modest box-office ambitions and were made with small budgets.

Talking Movies’ Tom Brook takes a look behind the trend – watch the video above to find out more.

Talking Movies: Oscars Special is aired on BBC World News on: Sat 10 March at 12:30, Sun 11 March at 00:30, 07:30, 19:30 (23:30 Latin and North America regions only) and on Tue 13 March at 10:00.

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