It was Mexico’s night once again on Oscar night as for the second consecutive year a Mexican-born filmmaker was awarded with the Academy Award for Best Director.

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu won his first Academy Award for direction in a motion picture for his work on Birdman (or the unexpected virtue of ignorance). He also took home the award for Original Screenplay (along with Argentinians Armando Bo and Nicolas Giacobone) and Best Picture.

In his final acceptance speech, Iñárritu left a powerful message regarding his countrymen living in Mexico and in the United States:

“I just pray they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones that came before and built this incredible, immigrant nation.”

Fellow Mexican Emmanuel Lebuezki also took home an award for Cinematography for his work on Birdman.