March 11th 2024.
On Sunday night, the 96th annual Academy Awards were held, and it was a memorable evening for Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Cord Jefferson, and Kris Bowers, who all walked away as winners. Randolph was honored with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her outstanding performance in The Holdovers, beating out strong contenders like Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple musical. Bowers took home the award for Documentary Short Film for his thought-provoking piece, The Last Repair Shop, while Jefferson was recognized for his exceptional writing in American Fiction.
For many black viewers, Randolph's victory was especially meaningful as she competed in a major category against talented actresses like Emily Blunt and Jodie Foster. Emotional and grateful, Randolph used her acceptance speech to acknowledge the women who have supported her throughout her career and express her gratitude for the opportunity to continue pursuing her passion. "I always wanted to be different, but now I realize I just need to be myself," she said, before acknowledging the power of prayer and her hopes for future success.
In The Holdovers, Randolph played the role of Mary Lamb, a New England boarding school cafeteria manager dealing with grief and loss. Her Oscar win marked the end of an impressive awards season, with additional wins at the Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Golden Globes. Similarly, Bowers' documentary shed light on the hardworking craftspeople in Los Angeles who maintain over 80,000 musical instruments for the city's public school students. In his heartfelt speech, Bowers thanked these unsung heroes and emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating their efforts.
According to Deadline, Bowers' personal experience attending L.A. Unified School District schools and developing his musical talent on pianos gave him a unique perspective on the subject of his documentary. As a successful composer in Hollywood, Bowers' work has been featured in popular projects like Ava DuVernay's Origin, Green Book, and The Color Purple.
Jefferson, who made his directorial debut with American Fiction, used his time on the Oscars stage to speak boldly about the lack of diversity in the film industry and the need for more opportunities for diverse screenplays and directors. He acknowledged the many rejections he faced while trying to bring his movie to life and urged film executives to take risks and invest in underrepresented voices. "Instead of making one $200 million movie, try making 20 $10 million movies or 50 $4 million movies," he suggested.
Although nominees like Sterling K. Brown, Jeffrey Wright, and Colman Domingo also delivered impressive performances, they were no match for Oppenheimer, which dominated the night and took home a total of 13 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. The full list of winners can be found here.
In the midst of the excitement and celebration, actress Angela Bassett reflected on her own experience at the Oscars and shared her disappointment with not winning in 2023. Bassett, who was nominated for her role in Oppenheimer, described the feeling as "supreme disappointment," but also emphasized the honor of being recognized among such talented individuals.
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