Hollywood bosses Harvey Weinstein and Graham King have branded Martin Scorcese's Oscar snub "ridiculous" and "disgusting".
Scorsese has never won the Best Director statuette despite being nominated on five occasions.
Miramax boss Weinstein and British producer King insist the Aviator film-maker is a legend with or without endorsement from t he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Weinstein says: "I've won Best Picture and Best Director with lesser movies. It was ridiculous."
King adds that Sunday's ceremony was a "bittersweet" night for everyone involved with Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic and thinks it's "disgusting" the 62-year-old has never been named Best Director.