Now that we’ve caught our breath, we can all agree that the 2017 Oscars are going to go down in history. Wow. And yikes. We’re thrilled with “Moonlight’s” well-deserved win, but are disappointed that the team behind the project had to accept the award under such unfortunate circumstances. Kudos to “La La Land’s” producers for graciously acknowledging the epic error that led to the musical being wrongly announced as the winner of Best Picture. As wonderful — and encouraging — as it is to see a low-budget film centered on a gay black man (and directed by a black man) win the night’s top honor, let’s not forget that the Academy Awards still has a long way to go on the road to inclusivity.
Zero women directors were recognized with awards for their work at last night’s ceremony. All of the screenwriting honors also went to men. There were few female winners besides actresses (they include Colleen Atwood, who won the award for Best Costume Design for “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” and producer Caroline Waterlow, who accepted the prize for Best Documentary Feature for “O.J.: Made in America.”)
When this year’s Oscar nominees were first announced, we wrote that #OscarsSoWhite got a slight makeover. We stand by this assessment. “Moonlight’s” Best Picture win is huge, and we’re heartened by the fact that the acting nominees were more inclusive than in the past — likely thanks to the recent shakeup of Academy members — but the Oscars remain overwhelmingly white and male.
The Academy Awards weren’t the only major honors handed out over the weekend. The Film Independent Spirit Awards also took place, and happily this ceremony recognized the excellence of female filmmakers.
Here are some of the highlights from Oscar weekend 2017:
Viola Davis Wins Best Supporting Actress
Davis was the heavy favorite to win Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Fences,” and with good reason. She followed up her powerhouse performance with an emotional, inspiring speech. In it, she gave thanks to late playwright and screenwriter August Wilson for telling stories about “ordinary people,” and her sisters, one of whom she used to role play with. “I became an artist, and thank God I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life,” Davis, who made history as the first black actress to receive three Oscar nominations, said.
Emma Stone Gives Major Props to Her Fellow Nominees
It’s always great to see winners recognize the work of their fellow nominees. When Emma Stone took the stage to accept the award for Best Actress, she immediately paid tribute to the other nominees. “To the women in this category — Natalie, Isabelle, Meryl, Ruth — you are all so extraordinary, and I look up to you, and I admire you more than I can put into words,” she gushed. “It has been the greatest honor just to stand alongside you: that is the greatest honor of all.” As much as the media loves to pit women against each other, it’s clear that the women of Hollywood have one another’s backs.
Ava DuVernay Makes a Statement with Her Red Carpet Look
“Selma” director Ava DuVernay was nominated for Best Documentary Feature for “13th,” and she used the red carpet as an opportunity to make an important gesture. “I chose to wear a gown by a designer from a majority Muslim country,” the filmmaker tweeted, calling her decision “a small sign of solidarity.” This is one helluva classy way to protest the current administration’s bigoted attitudes towards Muslim-majority countries.
A small sign of solidarity. I chose to wear a gown by a designer from a majority Muslim country. Thanks to @AshiStudio of Lebanon. #Oscars
— @ava
Katherine Johnson Appears Onstage
After being described as a “true NASA and American hero,” Katherine Johnson took the stage. She was welcomed by Taraji P. Henson, who played her in “Hidden Figures.” As happy as we were to see Henson and her “Hidden Figures” co-stars Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe in the spotlight, the moment became that much more powerful and inspiring when the trio were joined by Johnson, who played a pivotal — and until very recently, horribly underappreciated — role in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
Maren Ade Speaks Up for Women Directors
An American remake of “Toni Erdmann” is in the works, but we’re hopeful U.S. audiences will check out the source material for the project: Maren’s Ade’s masterful, award-winning German film. The Cannes hit was recognized with Best International Film at the Indie Spirit Awards. “I’m really happy and also proud to stand here as a female director because it’s still not normal enough,” Ade said at the podium, receiving a great deal of applause. “Really, it’s still not normal enough that women are directing films. Here you have a very good quota among all categories. It’s nine films [with female directors that were nominated], and that’s what makes this award very special for me.”
Indie Spirit Awards Show Love for Women-Helmed Films
Ade wasn’t the only female filmmaker to get love at the Indie Spirit Awards. Nanfu Wang took home the $25,000 Truer Than Fiction Award — presented to an emerging director — for “Hooligan Sparrow,” her portrait of human rights advocate Ye Haiyan, better known as Hooligan Sparrow, as she rallies a group of activists around a legal case in China. Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award, which recognizes a filmmaker of singular vision — and also includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant — went to Anna Rose Holmer for “The Fits.” The drama centers on an 11-year-old who joins a dance team that’s plagued by unusual fainting spells.
Now that we’ve done some celebrating, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge the more skin-crawling Oscar moments.
Hollywood Loves Mel Gibson Again
“Hacksaw Ridge” won two Oscars. Here are some of the horrifying things its director, Mel Gibson, has said on the record.
Walmart Ignores Women Directors
Walmart is a sponsor of Bentonville Film Festival, whose mission is “to champion women and diverse voices in media.” Co-founded by Geena Davis — a known advocate for women in Hollywood and beyond — Bentonville strives to “bring together decision makers and content creators with the goal of ensuring media represents the world we live in which is 51% women and very diverse.” And yet Walmart hired zero women directors for special 60-second TV spots it aired during the Oscars, an event often described as “The Superbowl for Women.” The campaign, known as “The Receipt,” was helmed exclusively by men.
When Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday called out the corporation on Twitter, Walmart claimed they had attempted to get women involved with the project.
So disappointed in @Walmart and @TheAcademy for not commissioning any women to make a 'Receipt' film tonight. Bummer. #Oscars2017
@AnnHornaday We did reach out to women directors and it didn't work out, mainly due to scheduling.
— @Walmart
Receipts, Walmart! Show us the receipts. That’s basically what Women and Hollywood founder and publisher Melissa Silverstein asked the retail giant for.
I find this unbelievably unacceptable @walmart. Please don't tell me you could not find a single female director. I don't believe you. https://t.co/yDxkTD0WCk
— @melsil
Apparently they didn’t deign female filmmakers who have directed Oscar-nominated films worthy. Mira Nair, who helmed Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film “Salaam Bombay!” didn’t get an offer.
No one called me 🙏🏿 https://t.co/Khw0Au1pbk
We’re calling bullshit, Walmart. Nair is one of the most well-known women directors and even she didn’t receive a call. Just how much of an effort did you make to be inclusive?
