Make Art!

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova won best original song for "Falling Slowly" from "Once"... at the 80th Academy Awards last night in Los Angeles (Feb. 24).

"This is amazing! What are we doing here? This is mad!" said an exuberant Hansard in his acceptance speech, recounting how the film was made in three weeks with two Handi-Cams and $100,000. He exhorted the audience to "Make art! Make art!"

Irglova, who was hastily played off by the orchestra at the end of Hansard's speech, was brought back out by host Jon Stewart after a commercial break with an apology, giving her the chance to finish her remarks.

"This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all independent musicians and artists who spend so much of their time struggling," said Irglova, who plays with Hansard in the Swell Season when the latter isn't on tour with his main band, the Frames.