Oscar-winner and Alabama native Daniel Scheinert celebrated teachers who made a difference in his acceptance speech Sunday evening.

Scheinert was born in Birmingham and co-wrote and directed “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” along with Daniel Kwan.

Born in Alabama, Scheinert made the film with his creative collaborator Daniel Kwan — together they form the “Daniels.”

“I had a fantasy as a kid of winning an award and going up and telling off all the teachers that gave my brother and I detention so here goes,” Scheinert said.

“I’m just kidding, these are teachers that changed my life, mostly public school teachers,” Scheinert said, before reading from a list (forgive our spelling, and send us a line if you know full names of these educators!). “Ms. Dummier, Mr. Toole, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Chambers, Madame George …”

“You guys educated me, you inspired me, you taught me to be less of a butthead,” Scheinert said.

He attended Oak Mountain Elementary and Middle School and was a student in the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate program at Shades Valley High School.

Scheinert on Sunday thanked his parents “for not squashing my creativity when I was making disturbing horror films or perverted comedy films, or dressing in drag as a kid — which is a threat to nobody.”

Kwan added: “There is greatness in every person — doesn’t matter who they are. You have a genius that is waiting to erupt. You just need to find the right people to unlock that. Thank you so much to everyone who has unlocked my genius.”

Scheinert’s parents, Ken and Becky, now live in Guntersville. His dad said Scheinert got into filmmaking through local competitions and musical theater during high school.

Becky Scheinert attended the awards show and accompanied her son on the red carpet Sunday.

The Scheinert parents credit Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival for their son’s early interest in film; in a recent interview with AL.com, they said he interned at the festival in high school and participate in Sidewalk Scrambles and other high school competitions. One of the prizes was Avid editing software, which Ken said helped him learn “how to put a movie together.” Becky credited Sidewalk as “a huge influence” on Daniel, so much so that he gave the festival a shout-out during an acceptance speech.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” follows an aging Chinese immigrant (Michelle Yeoh) swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.

More on Daniel Scheinert:

One of the Daniels on his Alabama roots, fitting his state into ‘Everything Everywhere’

Mom’s going to the Oscars! ‘Everything Everywhere’ director’s parents talk son’s success

Stephen Colbert calls on Alabama filmmaker to save ‘Late Show’ opening

What Steven Spielberg learned from Oscar-nominated Alabama filmmaker