“A Night of Triumph and Surprises: Highlights from the 96th Academy Awards”
The 96th Annual Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 10, 2024, celebrated a night of triumphs and surprises, with “Oppenheimer” emerging as the biggest winner, securing a total of seven awards. The accolades included Best Director for Christopher Nolan, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. The film also clinched victories in technical categories, earning recognition for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing.
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Annual Academy Awards
In an unexpected turn, Emma Stone took home the Best Actress award for her performance in “Poor Things.” The film also achieved success in three crafts categories, winning for Best Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling. Stone’s win came as a surprise, outshining the perceived frontrunner, Lily Gladstone, renowned for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph was honored with the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in “The Holdovers.” The animated feature category saw Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki’s “The Boy and the Heron” claiming the title of Best Animated Feature, while Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” earned the Oscar for Best International Feature. The documentary category witnessed “20 Days in Mariupol” securing the award for Best Documentary.
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell took home the Oscar for Best Original Song with “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.” The ceremony also recognized outstanding screenwriting, with Justine Triet and Arthur Harari winning Best Original Screenplay for “Anatomy of a Fall,” and Cord Jefferson receiving Best Adapted Screenplay for “American Fiction.”
Before the ceremony, “Oppenheimer” led the pack with 13 nominations, followed by “Poor Things” with 11, “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 10, and “Barbie” with eight. The awards highlighted the diverse and exceptional talent across various genres and storytelling formats.
The event, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time, featured a star-studded gathering at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show was broadcasted live on ABC and reached audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide. The ceremony began earlier than usual this year, adding to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the prestigious awards.
Amid the glitz and glamour, the evening also saw a Free Palestine march in Los Angeles, advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. The demonstration disrupted traffic ahead of the Oscars, emphasizing the intersection of entertainment and social issues on the global stage.
As the 96th Academy Awards concluded, the winners and nominees showcased the richness and depth of storytelling in the film industry. The recognition of diverse voices, outstanding performances, and technical achievements highlighted the continued evolution and impact of cinema on a global scale.
