The 94th Annual Academy Awards
The 94th Academy Awards were broadcast on Sunday night. This year marked the first time the awards had a host in four years with the duties split between Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall and Amy Schumer. “We’re going to have a great time tonight. “And for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.” Sykes said. All three hosts then began singing the word “gay” while dancing in place to enthusiastic applause from the audience.
It was a great night for queer representation not only because Sykes was at the helm of the show, but because of Ariana DeBose’s historic win for best supporting actress. She is the first and only openly queer woman of color to be recognized in the category. “Even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true… To anybody who has ever questioned your identity….I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us.” an emotional DeBose said as she accepted her award. It was sixty years ago that Rita Moreno won the same award for the same role of Anita in West Side Story; Moreno famously being the first Latina woman to ever win an Oscar.
Jane Campion took home best director for The Power of the Dog, as expected, but the film failed to capture the award for best picture which went instead to CODA. Will Smith won best actor for King Richard but got more attention for his on air physical and verbal altercation with comedian Chris Rock over a joke about his wife.
Jessica Chastain won best actress for her role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and lovingly chose to use her acceptance speech to discuss suicide, especially as it pertains to the LGBTQ+ community. She went on to denounce the “bigoted” legislation being passed around the country and expressed her love for those feeling hopeless out of place in the world.
Other highlights of the night included Oscar nominee Elliot Page being on hand to present the award for original screenplay, Laverne Cox as host of E!’s red carpet pre-show and gay icons Lady Gaga and Liza Minelli presenting the best picture award.
Below you will find a list of some of the major categories and their nominees. Winners have been bolded.
Best Motion Picture of the Year
“Belfast” (Focus Features)
“CODA” (Apple Original Films) WINNER
“Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)
“Drive My Car” (Sideshow and Janus Films)
“Dune” (Warner Bros.)
“King Richard” (Warner Bros.)
“Licorice Pizza” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing)
“Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight)
“The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
“West Side Story” (Walt Disney)
Achievement in Directing
Kenneth Branagh – “Belfast” (Focus Features)
Ryusuke Hamaguchi – “Drive My Car” (Sideshow and Janus Films)
Paul Thomas Anderson – “Licorice Pizza” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing)
Jane Campion – “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) WINNER
Steven Spielberg – “West Side Story” (Walt Disney)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem in “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios)
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Andrew Garfield in “tick, tick…BOOM!” (Netflix)
Will Smith in “King Richard” (Warner Bros.) WINNER
Denzel Washington in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple Original Films/A24)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Ciarán Hinds in “Belfast” (Focus Features)
Troy Kotsur in “CODA” (Apple Original Films) WINNER
Jesse Plemons in “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
J.K. Simmons in “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios)
Kodi Smit-McPhee in “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight) WINNER
Olivia Colman in “The Lost Daughter” (Netflix)
Penélope Cruz in “Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Nicole Kidman in “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios)
Kristen Stewart in “Spencer” (Neon/Topic Studios)
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Jessie Buckley in “The Lost Daughter” (Netflix)
Ariana DeBose in “West Side Story” (Walt Disney) WINNER
Judi Dench in “Belfast” (Focus Features)
Kirsten Dunst in “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Aunjanue Ellis in “King Richard” (Warner Bros.)
Achievement in Cinematography
Greig Fraser – “Dune” (Warner Bros.) WINNER
Dan Laustsen – “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight)
Ari Wegner – “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Bruno Delbonnel – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple Original Films/A24)
Janusz Kaminski – “West Side Story” (Walt Disney)
Achievement in Costume Design
Jenny Beavan – “Cruella” (Walt Disney) WINNER
Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran – “Cyrano” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing)
Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan – “Dune” (Warner Bros.)
Luis Sequeira – “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight)
Paul Tazewell – “West Side Story” (Walt Disney)
Best International Feature Film of the Year
“Drive My Car” A C&I Entertainment/Culture Entertainment/Bitters End Production- Japan WINNER
“Flee” A Final Cut for Real/Sun Creature/Vivement Lundi !/MostFilm/Mer Film/VICE/Left HandFilms Production- Denmark
“The Hand of God” A The Apartment Production- Italy
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” A Dangphu Dingphu: a 3 pigs Production- Bhutan
“The Worst Person in the World” An Oslo Pictures/MK Productions/Film i Väst/Snowglobe/B-Reel/Arte France Cinéma Production- Norway
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
“Encanto” (Walt Disney) WINNER
“Flee” (Neon)
“Luca” (Walt Disney)
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (Netflix)
“Raya and the Last Dragon” (Walt Disney)
Best Documentary Feature
“Ascension” (MTV Documentary Films)
“Attica” (Showtime)
“Flee” (Neon)
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” (Searchlight/Onyx Collective/Hulu) WINNER
“Writing with Fire” (Music Box Films)
Original Screenplay
“Belfast” (Focus Features) Written by Kenneth Branagh WINNER
“Don’t Look Up” (Netflix) Screenplay by Adam McKay Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota
“King Richard” (Warner Bros.) Written by Zach Baylin
“Licorice Pizza” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing) Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Worst Person in the World” (Neon) Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Adapted Screenplay
“CODA” (Apple Original Films) Screenplay by Siân Heder WINNER
“Drive My Car” (Sideshow and Janus Films) Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
“Dune” (Warner Bros.) Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
“The Lost Daughter” (Netflix) Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal
“The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) Written by Jane Campion
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
Nicholas Britell – “Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)
Hans Zimmer – “Dune” (Warner Bros.) WINNER
Germaine Franco – “Encanto” (Walt Disney)
Alberto Iglesias – “Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Jonny Greenwood – “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Warner Bros.) Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast” (Focus Features) Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing) Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell WINNER
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” (Vertical Entertainment) Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
For a complete list of nominees and winners check out the Oscar’s official website HERE.
