President Zelensky is happy about Ukraine winning its first Oscar for a documentary about Russia’s attack on Mariupol. Mr Zelensky said the movie tells the truth about terrorism in Russia.
The movie shows how the people of Mariupol are suffering while their city is being destroyed. It’s something we don’t see often.
Director Mstyslav Chernov said he felt happy and proud to be the first person from Ukraine to win an Oscar for the best documentary.
“I might be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I never made this film,” he said at the event in Los Angeles.
“I hope that Russia will never attack Ukraine or take over our cities,” he said. He also mentioned that Russia has killed many people from Ukraine.
Mr Chernov wants everyone to make sure that the true history is remembered and that the people of Mariupol and those who have died there are never forgotten.
Movies create memories, and those memories make up our history.
The director ended his speech by shouting “Glory to Ukraine. “, a phrase that many Ukrainians are now using to show support for their country, both at home and abroad.
The movie is getting a lot of attention on social media in Ukraine. A news channel even called it a “historic victory”. This information comes from James Waterhouse, a reporter for the BBC in Kyiv.
Mr Chernov’s group of three reporters recorded the slow surrounding of Mariupol by Russian soldiers in the early months of Russia’s complete attack in February 2022. Their movie shows the harsh reality of what happened to the people who lived there.
The team took a big risk filming there, and somehow they were able to leave the city by passing through many Russian checkpoints with the filmed material hidden under a car seat.
Mariupol, a city in southern Ukraine near the Sea of Azov, was almost completely destroyed by Russian soldiers after a lot of intense fighting.
Russia says it took over something in May 2022 and calls it “liberation”.
Tag: Oscar
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Zelensky celebrates Ukraine’s historic Oscar win
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VIDEO: John Cena appears nude on stage to present Oscar award
Actor and professional wrestler John Cena added a touch of humor to the prestigious Oscar event by humorously pretending to bare it all while presenting the award for best costume design.
The WWE wrestler-turned-actor embraced the playful stunt, carrying an oversized winner’s envelope strategically covering his private parts.The comedic bit was set up by host Jimmy Kimmel, who referenced a streaker at the 1974 Academy Awards.
Cena, however, expressed reservations about the “streaker bit,” emphasising the event’s elegance.
Despite the audience reaction, Cena highlighted the importance of costumes before announcing Holly Waddington as the best costume design winner for “Poor Things.”To ensure there were no FCC violations, a source revealed that Cena was covered in the groin and butt crack areas, with the envelope securely attached to him.
Kimmel, playing along, later wrapped Cena in a curtain to provide a bit more modesty.While the cheeky act delighted the audience, it was all in good fun, adding a memorable and unexpected twist to the Oscars telecast.
From the corner of the stage, Cena peeked his head out and told Kimmel he didn’t want to “do the streaker bit anymore.”“It’s an elegant event. Honestly, you should feel ashamed right now for suggesting such a tasteless idea,” Cena complained. “The male body is not a joke!”
Kimmel argued that Cena, who is also a famed WWE wrestler, wrestles in the nude. “Dude, I don’t wrestle naked,” Cena said. “I wrestle in jorts!”
“Jorts are worse than naked!” Kimmel said as the audience laughed.
At this point, Cena – carrying an oversized winner’s envelope over his private parts – walked to the center of the stage as the audience’s jaws dropped to the floor.
“Costumes, they are so important. Maybe the most important thing there is,” he said while presenting the award.
The Academy Awards, commonly and now officially known as the Oscars are awards for artistic and technical merit for the film industry.
They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States, in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership.Watch video below:
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Angela Bassett to receive honorary Oscar
Renowned actress Angela Bassett is finally set to claim her well-deserved Oscar as she receives an honorary statuette at the prestigious 2023 Governors Awards, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Monday.
Bassett made history in 2023 when she was nominated for best supporting actress for her powerful performance as Queen Ramonda in the 2022 “Black Panther” sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
The nod made her the first person of colour, the first woman and the first Marvel Studios actor to be nominated for a performance in a comic book adaptation.
Her first nomination came in the mid-90s when she earned a best actress nod for her portrayal of the late rock and soul icon Tina Turner in the 1993 Turner biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It?
“Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting,” Academy president Janet Yang said in Monday’s news release.
Bassett has starred in many other iconic movies such as “Boyz n the Hood,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Malcolm X,” “Mission Impossible: Fallout,” and has portrayed Queen Ramonda in three Marvel films.
Her television career has equally spanned decades as she’s appeared in “American Horror Story,” “ER” and “9-1-1,” among others.
Honorary Oscar statuettes are awarded to a select few recipients, as voted on by the Academy’s Board of Governors, for the annual Governors Awards to honour those with extraordinary distinction and exceptional contributions to the film industry.
Mel Brooks and Carol Littleton are also 2023 Governors Award honorees, while Sundance Institute exec Michelle Statter is set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
The 2023 Governors Awards will be held in Los Angeles on November 18.
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Oscar-winning actress, Glenda Jackson, dies at age 87
Glenda Jackson, the celebrated actress who won Oscars for her performances in “Women in Love” and “A Touch of Class,” has passed away at the age of 87, according to her agent.
In a statement, her agent Lionel Larner said: “Glenda Jackson, two-time Academy Award-winning actress and politician, died peacefully at her home in Blackheath, London this morning after a brief illness with her family at her side.
“She recently completed filming The Great Escaper in which she co-starred with Michael Caine.”
During the 1970s, Jackson achieved international acclaim for her acting talent, securing two Academy Awards and receiving two additional nominations.
Her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC drama series “Elizabeth R” also garnered critical acclaim.
In addition to her successful acting career, Jackson demonstrated a deep commitment to politics. Temporarily leaving the entertainment industry behind, she became a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, representing a constituency in north London from 1992 to 2015.
RIP Glenda Jackson
— Tides of History (@labour_history) June 15, 2023
Here she spoke about the impact of Thatcherism in the 1980spic.twitter.com/kK1L8UswRGAfter her tenure in politics, Jackson made a remarkable return to the screen and earned a BAFTA award for her performance in the television drama “Elizabeth Is Missing” in 2020.
Her contributions to both the entertainment industry and public service leave a lasting legacy.
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Oscar Pistorius of South Africa denies parole for killing his partner
A paralympic gold medalist from South Africa, Oscar Pistorius, was denied parole after asking for an early release from jail ten years after killing his girlfriend in a gunshot.
“We were … advised at this point in time that it has been denied and it will be considered again in one year’s time,” Tania Koen, a lawyer for the victim’s family, said on Friday.
The Department of Correctional Services said Pistorius had not completed the minimum detention period required for parole.
Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp, a model, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, firing four times through the bathroom door of the house where the duo lived in Pretoria.
Known worldwide as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, he was jailed in 2016, initially for a six-year term. The sentence was increased to 13 years after prosecutors appealed, arguing that the initial sentence was too lenient.
He had pleaded not guilty and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.
Friday’s parole hearing was held at a correctional facility on the outskirts of the capital where the 36-year-old is being held.
Prisoners in South Africa are automatically eligible for parole consideration after serving half of their sentence. Pistorius has served more than half, having started his term in 2014.
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Tems criticized for wearing blocking outfit at Oscars
Oscar nominee Tems has been slammed on social media after her elaborate outfit blocked the view of fellow attendees at Sunday night’s Academy Awards.
The songstress — who is nominated for Best Original Song for the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” track “Lift Me Up” — wore a puffy white gown that wrapped around the back of her head.
And while she stunned on the red carpet, the incredible outfit was probably less loved by those sitting inside the Dolby Theater.
Photos of the “Crazy Tings” hitmaker standing out in the crowd quickly went viral on Twitter, clocking up hundreds of thousands of views.
“Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud,” one sniped, comparing the garment to a mass of condensed water vapor.
The critic accompanied their snarky tweet with a screenshot that showed a guest craning his neck around Tems’ puffy garment in order to see the stage.
Others also accused the star of being “rude” by blocking the view of other attendees.
“I guess the people behind the white veil don’t get to see the show,” one declared.
“Who has to sit behind that woman with the white veil,” another asked. “Rude.”
Several dragged the designer of the dress, with a detractor declaring: “She looks stunning but perhaps they could have made the top bit detachable.”
“Her designers should have thought this through,” another agreed.
However, many defended Tems’ eye-catching ensemble, saying they were fans of the fashion-forward frock.
“If you’re sitting BEHIND greatness that is known as Tems, then perhaps you’re just not that important,” one stated.
A second supporter said those sitting behind the beauty wouldn’t be missing much at all.
“I would think the Oscars would have large screens to view the stage from,” they declared.
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Viola Davis becomes the 18th person to achieve the EGOT
Viola Davis made history as the 18th Person to Achieve the EGOT – winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award at the just concluded 65th Grammy Award held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. She capped her collection with the award of the ‘Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording’ for her autobiography ‘Finding Me.’
The 56-year-old superstar was among the eight Black entertainers that clinched the most prestigious entertainment award at the Los Angeles ceremony. The award-winning actress got nominated in only one category, which she went on to win that night.
The Grammy is a premier ceremony that mainly recognizes technical and genre categories. The Grammy event was hosted by comedian and YouTube star – Randy Rainbow. The four-hour show saw many Black entertainers picking up awards in different categories, including Nigeria’s sensational singer Tems, who won her first-ever Grammy Award in the category ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance,’ for her contribution to Future’s song ‘Wait For U’ which also featured Drake.
In 2016, Davis won ‘Best Supporting Actress for ‘Fences.’ She also won two Tony Awards for her theatre work – Featured Actress in a Play for ‘King Hedley II (2001),’ and ‘Lead Actress in a Play’ for ‘Fences (2010).’ Her Emmy Award recognized the TV Drama ‘How to Get Away with Murder.’
Some of the previous winners of the EGOT include Sir John Gielgud, Rita Moreno, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson. Earlier, the EGOT star faced criticisms for her portrayal of the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama in the new U.S. TV drama series ‘The First Lady.’ Some viewers complained that her overly pursing lips and facial expressions were ‘distracting and insulting.’ In a BBC interview, Davis responded, “It is incredibly hurtful when people say negative things against your work’.
The audience at the ceremony was thrilled with scintillating performances from Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith & Kim Petras, and Steve Lacy. Davis is an American actress and producer, who was born on August 11, 1965. She is the only Black American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting and the third person to earn two interesting statuses (EGOT winner and Triple Crown of Acting).
Davis started her acting career in 1988 with appearances in small stage productions. She has won two Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Award, an Obie Award, Theatre World Award, and other awards. She has appeared in numerous films, including Doubt (2008), The Help (2011), Prisoners (2013), Get On Up (2014), Lila and Eve (2015), Suicide Squad (2016), Widow (2018), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), The Suicide Squad (2021), and The Woman King (2022).
“I just EGOT,” the visibly elated and emotional star announced on stage at the Grammy, thanking her family for being “the best chapter in my book.”
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Oscars deeply impacted by racism, actress claims
US actress Danielle Deadwyler has claimed the film industry is “deeply impacted by systemic racism”, after no black women were nominated for best actress at this year’s Oscars.
Deadwyler was expected to be recognised for her performance in the drama Till.
But she missed out on a nomination, as did Viola Davis, who was also widely tipped to be in the running.
Deadwyler said there is a “trickle-down effect” of racism in society on many institutions in American life.
In Till, the actress plays the mother of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Deadwyler said: “Cinematic history is 100+ years old. I would dare say the system is deeply, deeply impacted by systemic racism that has shaped our country.
“And if we’re still dealing with systemic racism in this country that is leading us to the loss of a Tyre Nichols, that carries us from the loss of Emmett, there is a trickle-down effect of how racism impacts our lives – from the educational system to the film industry to everything, any part of quotidian American life.”
Deadwyler (right) plays Mamie Till-Mobley in the film, the mother of Emmett Till, played by Jalyn Hall (ORION PICTURES) Deadwyler was widely praised for her performance in Till, and was considered one of the favourites to be nominated in the leading actress category at this year’s Academy Awards.
After she was snubbed when the nominations were announced in January, Till writer and director Chinonye Chukwu accused Hollywood of “unabashed misogyny towards Black women”.
Referring to those comments, Deadwyler told Radio 4: “Yes there is value to what [Chukwu] said, and it’s imperative that every quality of our life begin to truly, deeply interrogate and shift and rupture and radically shift the way they seek to actually be an equitable institution.”
Asked whether the Oscars or wider society needs to change, Deadwyler replied: “It’s from both ends… It’s got to come from every angle.”
The Academy has increased the number of female and black and ethnic minority voters since the #OscarsSoWhite controversy in 2015.
‘Critical questions’
Deadwyler noted that very few black women had been recognised at the Oscars, and there were often “numerous decades in between” those who had.
She referred to Hattie McDaniel’s supporting actress win in 1940 and Halle Berry’s leading actress win in 2002, which remains the only victory in that category for a black woman.
“You have to begin to question why there are these gaps,” Deadwyler said. “Before I was even in consideration for anything, these are the things that I witnessed.
“So these are critical questions of, how do you begin to actually bring equity to spaces which have long been led or deeply impacted by white supremacy, ideologies, thoughts and practises?”
Halle Berry, pictured with Denzel Washington in 2002, is the only black woman to have won best leading actress at the Oscars (GETTY IMAGES) This year’s best actress nominees are Michelle Yeoh, Cate Blanchett, Ana De Armas, Michelle Williams and Andrea Riseborough.
British actress Riseborough scored a shock nomination following a campaign driven by a number of Hollywood A-listers.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences conducted a review into the campaign and said some tactics “caused concern”, but her nomination was not revoked.
Williams was recognised despite a debate in Hollywood over whether she should have been nominated in the supporting actress category.
No black men are nominated for best lead actor this year. Two black performers – Angela Bassett and Brian Tyree Henry – are in the running in the supporting categories. The winners will be announced on 12 March.
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Owen Roizman dies at age 86
The 86-year-old Owen Roizman, an Oscar-nominated cinematographer who worked with Sidney Lumet and William Friedkin to create films in the 1970s, has passed away.
The American Society of Cinematographers shared the information on its official social media platforms.
Roizman, who was born in Brooklyn in 1936, developed an early interest in photography. Roizman started working in a camera rental shop as a teenager before making his feature film debut as a cinematographer on Bill Gunn’s “Stop!” in 1970. His father was a camera operator for news broadcasts.
His filmography from the 1970s featured some of the most important pieces across several genres. The second feature film Roizman directed, “The French Connection,” by William Friedkin, is regarded as one of the all-time great car chase flicks.
Filmmakers continue to be influenced by Roizman and Friedkin’s ability to blend spectacle and realism in the film’s famous chase scenes through the streets of New York City.
When they reunited two years later for “The Exorcist,” a movie that still has some of the most recognized scenes in horror movie history, the two men saw comparable success in the horror genre.
Roizman continued to work steadily on some of the most popular films of the 1970s, including “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” and “Three Days of the Condor.” His career reached another artistic high point when he shot Sidney Lumet’s newsroom satire “Network” in 1976, famously juxtaposing the synthetic brightness of TV news studios with dark colors in a way that created a disorienting effect.
Roizman was an active member of the cinematography community throughout his life, serving on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and as president of the American Society of Cinematographers.
While Roizman did his most famous work in the 1970s, he continued to be a prominent cinematographer until his retirement in 1995. Some memorable credits in his later years included Sydney Pollack’s “Tootsie,” Barry Sonnenfeld’s “The Addams Family,” and Lawrence Kasdan’s “Wyatt Earp,” which earned him his fifth and final Oscar nomination. He received an honorary Academy Award in 2017.
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Hollywood actor Sean Penn gives his Oscar to Zelensky
American actor Sean Penn has given his Oscar to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he visited the capital Kyiv.
A video posted on Mr Zelensky’s Telegram channel also showed the president awarding Penn Ukraine’s Order of Merit.
Penn, who is known for his political activism as much as he is for his films, fled Ukraine in March while filming a documentary about the conflict.
He later said he considered joining Ukrainian forces to fight against Russia.
Kremlin officials previously added Penn, and fellow actor Ben Stiller, to Russia’s “stop list”, meaning they are now banned from entering the country.
Sean Penn has given his Oscar to Ukraine – @ZelenskyyUa
Thank you, sir!
It is an honor for us. pic.twitter.com/vx2UfEVTds— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 8, 2022
Source: BBC