Mexican director awarded Oscar for VR show

A rare special Oscar is being awarded to a virtual reality installation created by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

Carne y Arena - meaning flesh and sand - tells the story of migrants trekking across the Sonorian desert in the US, according to BBC News.

The Academy said they were presenting the award to recognise a "visionary and powerful experience in storytelling".

It's understood to be the first special Oscar to be awarded since one for Toy Story in 1996.

The installation - full title Carne y Arena (Virtually present, Physically invisible) - is based on the true accounts of migrants.

Viewers of Carne y Arena, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year and is currently on display in LA, Milan and Mexico City - don virtual reality headsets for the six-and-a-half minute experience.