Jane Campion wins Best Director Oscar for The Power of the Dog
Movie director Jane Campion of New Zealand photographed by Mickael Chavet (RX/TheInvisibleSilence)
Jane Campion has won the Oscar for best director at the 94th Academy Awards, at the Dolby theatre in Los Angeles. Campion becomes the third woman to win the award, after Chloé Zhao in 2021 and Kathryn Bigelow in 2010.
Campion won the award for the Western ‘The Power of the Dog’ which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Kirsten Dunst; it is adapted from the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage about two brothers whose relationship deteriorates when one of them gets married.
Taking to the stage amid a standing ovation, Campion paid tribute to her fellow nominees, her cast and crew and the “whole awesome team” at Netflix. She also thanked her daughter and partner, and the author Thomas Savage, who wrote the 1967 novel on which her film is based.
Will Smith wins Best Actor Oscar for King Richard
Will Smith of United States photographed by Mickael Chavet (RX/TheInvisibleSilence)
Will Smith has won the Oscar for best actor at the 94th Academy Awards, currently under way at the Dolby theatre in Los Angeles.
Smith won the prize for his role as Richard Williams, father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, in ‘King Richard’, a biopic that outlined Williams’ role in the sisters’ stellar success. The film was directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and stars Smith in the title role, alongside Aunjanue Ellis as his wife Brandy, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena, and Jon Bernthal as tennis coach Rick Macci. Venus and Serena Williams acted as executive producers on the project.
“I wanna be a vessel for love, I wanna say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. I wanna be an ambassador for that kind of love and care and concern.” Smith declared
Jessica Chastain wins Best Actress Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Jessica Chastain of United States photographed by Mickael Chavet (RX/TheInvisibleSilence)
hastain won the prize for her role as Tammy Faye Bakker, wife of controversial televangelist Jim Bakker, in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’, a biopic that outlined the Bakkers’ troubled marriage and Tammy Faye’s support for LGBTQ+ rights. The film was directed by Michael Showalter and features Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker, and Cherry Jones as Tammy Faye’s mother, Rachel.
Chastain alluded to Bakker’s activism for LGBTQ+ rights in her speech, as she touched on the topic of LGBTQ+ youth suicide, which has “touched many families, and it’s touched mine”.
“We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us,” she continued, referring to legislation such as Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay2 bill and anti-trans legislation in several states. “In times like this, I think of Tammy, and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love. For any of you out there who do in fact feel hopeless or alone, you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.” she concluded.