Published on April 11, 2026
The 89th Academy Awards ceremony was marked controversy, showcasing both accolades for artists of color and critical moments involving political criticisms directed towards President Trump.
This year, six Oscars were awarded to African American artists—absent from the previous ceremony—while the frontrunner, “La La Land,” boasting 14 nominations, left with only six. The film secured the awards for Best Director (Daniel Chazelle, 31 years old), Best Actress (Emma Stone), as well as wins for Best Cinematography, Production Design, Original Score, and Original Song (“City of Stars”), with John Legend performing solo at the piano. “La La Land” is a conventional musical that was favored for its tribute to the genre.
However, the Oscar for Best Picture went to the alternative film “Moonlight,” which tells the poignant story of a gay African American drug dealer. The awarding was overshadowed by a monumental mix-up involving veterans Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who mistakenly announced “La La Land” as the winner. Mahershala Ali, who portrayed the film’s lead character, won the award for Best Supporting Actor, while Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her powerful performance in “Fences,” delivering one of the night’s most emotional speeches.
Another intense drama, “Manchester ,” earned Casey Affleck the Oscar for Best Actor, along with Best Original Screenplay, written Lonergan. Mel Gibson walked away with two technical Oscars for his film “Hacksaw Ridge,” while Martin Scorsese left empty-handed for his masterpiece “Silence.” Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve took home an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for “Arrival.” Meanwhile, the Spanish film “Timecode,” directed énez, was also snubbed for Best Short Film, which went to the Hungarian production “Mindenski” (Singing).
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who boycotted the event in protest of the travel ban affecting citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for “The Salesman.” Interestingly, Farhadi won the same award five years ago for “A Separation.” The Best Documentary award went to “O.J.: Made in America,” a seven-hour exploration of the life of O.J. Simpson, the American football star accused of murdering his ex-wife.
Host Jimmy Kimmel celebrated acclaimed actress Meryl Streep—whom Trump has labeled “overrated”—as she was nominated for the twentieth time for her role in “Florence Foster Jenkins.” The audience at the Kodak Theatre gave her a warm ovation, but she did not walk away with her fourth Oscar. Natalie Portman, a favorite for her portrayal in “Jackie,” also missed out on an award.
Reflecting on this year’s event, opinions have emerged suggesting that it was not a particularly stellar year for cinematic achievement, with critiques on the professionalism of the award presentations. Many feel that Hollywood, the historic epicenter of cinema, needs to aim higher regarding artistic and human values.
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