The 3rd Academy Awards were held on November 5, 1930, in the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, with actor Conrad Nagel as host. They honored films released between August 1, 1929, and July 31, 1930. It was the second ceremony of the year, making 1930 the only year with two Academy Awards ceremonies; the Academy moved this one to November to bring the awards closer to the period they covered. For the first time, the winners were chosen by votes from the full Academy membership.

All Quiet on the Western Front, Universal's adaptation of the novel by German World War I veteran Erich Maria Remarque, won Outstanding Production, the award now called Best Picture, and Best Director for Lewis Milestone. Louis B. Mayer presented the top award to Universal's Carl Laemmle. Milestone, who had won Best Director for comedy with Two Arabian Knights at the first Academy Awards, became the first person to win two…