The 93rd Academy Awards were held amid a slew of social distancing rules. The ceremony was opened by Regina King as the awards went hostless this year. Presenters took to stage to announce the winners and the evening concluded with Joaquin Phoenix announcing the award for Best actor. The big winner of the night was 'Nomadland', winning in the Best Picture, Best Actress (Frances McDormand) , and Best Director (Chloe Zhao) categories. Zhao is the second woman to win the category in Oscar history.
The ceremony had its moments this year. Changing tradition, the ceremony which always ended with the Best Picture award, closed with the Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins) category presented by Joaquin Phoenix. This was seen as a build-up to honour Boseman posthumously, who was nominated for his role in 'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom'. Fans of deceased actor Chadwick Boseman did not take the win well as many felt he was snubbed. His family was also invited to the ceremony and this further got the fans’ expectations up. Boseman passed away in August 2020 due to cancer at the age of 43.
Complete list of winners of the 93rd Academy Awards:
Best picture: Nomadland, Best actress: Frances McDormand, Best actor: Anthony Hopkins, Best supporting actress: Yuh-Jung Youn, Best supporting actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Best director: Chloe Zhao, Best original screenplay: Promising Young Woman, Best adapted screenplay: The Father, Best animated feature: Soul, Best documentary feature: My Octopus Teacher, Best international feature: Another Round
Best original song: “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah, Best original score: Soul,
Best cinematography: Mank, Best visual effects: Tenet, Best film editing: Sound of Metal, Best costume design: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Best sound: Sound of Metal, Best production design: Mank, Best make-up and hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Best live action short: Two Distant Strangers, Best animated short: If Anything Happens I Love You, Best documentary short: Colette, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Tyler Perry.
Tributes to Irrfan Khan, Bhanu Athaiya
The Academy Awards' In Memoriam section paid tributes to filmmakers and artists who departed the world in 2020. This year's list featured several notable deceased personalities including India's Irrfan Khan and Bhanu Athaiya. Others on the list included Ian Holm, Sean Connery, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, and Chadwick Boseman. The segment was introduced by Angela Bassett.
Irrfan Khan was one of Bollywood's beloved, who died after a long battle with cancer on April 29. Bhanu Athaiya was the first Oscar winner from India, taking home the trophy for Best Costume Design for the 1982 film 'Gandhi'. The segment however, failed to mention Rishi Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput, a fact that was noticed by fans on social media. Both the actors were however, remembered on the website of the Academy Awards in a special In Memoriam section.
Riz Ahmed wins hearts on the red carpet
Nominated for his performance in the film 'Sound of Metal', Riz Ahmed's presence on the red carpet left a lasting impression on the internet. Dressed to the T in an all-black Prada suit, the actor was accompanied by his stunning wife Fatima who picked a flowing turquoise gown herself.
Before posing for the camera, Riz took a moment to style his wife's hair on the red carpet. He jokes, “I'm the official groomer.” The clip has gone viral on Twitter with people calling them #CoupleGoals. Riz is the first Muslim to be nominated for Best Actor in the Academy Awards. He is also the first Pakistan-origin person to be nominated in an acting category.
