As most of the the world is talking about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock (for an inappropriate joke about his wife) this morning, Apple made history last night after “CODA” landed three Academy Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with wins for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Siân Heder.
CODA is the first motion picture starring a predominantly Deaf cast in leading roles to win Best Picture; Troy Kotsur is the first Deaf male actor to win Best Supporting Actor; and writer-director Siân Heder earned her first-ever Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
“On behalf of everyone at Apple, we are so grateful to the Academy for the honours bestowed on ‘CODA’ this evening,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video.
“We join our teams all over the world in celebrating Siân, Troy, the producers, and the entire cast and crew for bringing such a powerful representation of the Deaf community to audiences, and breaking so many barriers in the process. It has been so rewarding to share this life-affirming, vibrant story, which reminds us of the power of film to bring the world together.”
Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video said:
“What an incredible journey it has been since the moment we first saw ‘CODA’ to today’s historic recognition from the Academy,”
“It has been a true joy to witness the positive impact on humanity that this story and its performances have had worldwide. We send our warmest congratulations to Siân; Troy; the cast; the creative team; producers Patrick, Philippe, and Fabrice; and everyone who helped bring inclusion and accessibility to the forefront through this remarkable film.”
Apple received three total awards at the 94th Academy Awards:
- Best Picture: “CODA”
- Best Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur in “CODA”
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Siân Heder for “CODA”
CODA has won other notable awards as well recently, to go with this Best Picture win at the Oscars:
- SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
- PGA Award: Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
- Sundance Film Festival in 2021: Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast; Directing Award; Audience Award; Grand Jury Prize
- AFI Award
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
- Four Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards: Best Picture; Best Adapted Screenplay for Siân Heder; Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur; HCA Spotlight Award
“CODA”
Seventeen-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the sole hearing member of a Deaf family — a CODA, or “child of Deaf adults.” Her life revolves around acting as an interpreter for her parents (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur) and working on the family’s struggling fishing boat every day before school with her father and older brother (Daniel Durant).
But when Ruby joins her high school’s choir club, she discovers a gift for singing and soon finds herself drawn to her duet partner, Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). Encouraged by her enthusiastic, tough-love choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez) to apply to a prestigious music school, Ruby finds herself torn between the obligations she feels to her family and the pursuit of her own dreams.
CODA” is written and directed by Siân Heder, produced by Vendôme Pictures and Pathé, with Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger, and Jérôme Seydoux serving as producers, and Ardavan Safaee and Sarah Borch-Jacobsen as executive producers.
“CODA” is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Will Smith Slap
The ceremony was derailed when Will Smith walked onstage and slapped Chris Rock across the face for making an inappropriate joke about his wife, actor Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock referenced Pinkett Smith’s baldness (she has alopecia) and made a reference to 1997 movie G.I. Jane (which features a bald Demi Moore).
