The 68th Academy Awards took place on March 25, 1996, honoring outstanding achievements in film for the year 1995. The ceremony was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, and was broadcast live on television. Braveheart, directed by Mel Gibson, won the award for Best Picture, while Gibson also took home the Best Director award. Susan Sarandon won Best Actress for her role in Dead Man Walking, and Nicolas Cage received Best Actor for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas.