LOS ANGELES, March 5 (Xinhuanet)-- George Clooney received the first Oscar Sunday night in Hollywood, as best supporting actor for thriller "Syriana."

    "King Kong," director Peter Jackson's highly touted tale that didn't capture any nominations in the major categories, won the Oscar for visual effects.

    The Oscar for best animated feature, meanwhile, went to " Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

    The first Oscar marked a winning year for Clooney, who previously won a Golden Globe and made Oscar history by becoming the first person nominated for acting in one movie and directing another.

    "Good Night, and Good Luck," directed by Clooney, also also nominated for best directing and writing, and as the best-picture.

    "All right, so I'm not winning director," Clooney joked as he accepted the award at the Kodak Theatre.

    He praised his fellow nominees for their "stellar performances and wonderful work, and I'm honored, truly honored, to be up here."

    He also had high praise for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that organizes the annual Oscar ceremony.

    "And finally, I would say that... we are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood every once in a while, I think," he said.

    "It's probably a good thing. We're the ones who talked about AIDS when it was just being whispered, and we talked about civil rights when it wasn't really popular, and we bring up subjects."

    "This Academy, this group of people, gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the backs of theaters. I'm proud to be a part of this Academy, proud to be partof this community and proud to be out of touch. And I thank you somuch for this." Enditem