It definitely feels like Oscar season has started! On Sunday night, November 17, top Oscar contenders like Angelina Jolie,Gladiator II lead actor Paul Mescal, The Substance star Demi Moore and Emilia Pérez supporting actress Selena Gomez turned up at Ovation Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards ceremony.
Quincy Jones receives posthumous honour
The 15th Governors Awards’ highest profile honoree Quincy Jones was celebrated posthumously. He passed away on November 3 at the age of 91. It was an emotional moment when Jones’ honourary Oscar statuette was accepted by his daughter, actress/writer Rashida Jones as she paid a tearful tribute to her father and read the speech that he had planned to give at the ceremony.
An honourary Oscar was also presented to the casting director Juliet Taylor, who is best known for casting controversial director Woody Allen’s movies. Nicole Kidman introduced her, praising 'the instinct of this woman' who began her career at 22 in 1968 as a receptionist for great casting director Marion Dougherty. A video montage showed that Taylor helped launch the film careers of Kidman, Diane Keaton, Linda Blair, Jodie Foster, Kirsten Dunst, Meryl Streep, June Squibb, Holly Hunter, Wallace Shawn and Nathan Lane.
ALSO READ: Quincy Jones Dies At 91, Music Legend’s Family Issues Statement: We Celebrate The Great Life That He Lived
Producers and siblings Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the guardians of the Bond film franchise, were feted with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Filmmaker Richard Curtis, best known for making rom-coms, was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Jennifer Lawrence attended the gala in a body-hugging gown that showed off her baby bump. There was another viral moment when the super-tall actress Nicole Kidman had to open her shoes to present an award.
Who chooses the winners?
The honorees are chosen by the Academy’s board of governors, which includes 55 representatives from across the branches of the organisation, and three governors-at-large. Current governors include Marlee Matlin, Ava DuVernay, Jason Reitman, Chris Hegedus, Pam Abdy, Hannah Minghella, Ruth E. Carter, Jason Blum and Eric Roth.