Oscars: Jane Campion Lands Best Director for “The Power of the Dog,” “CODA” Goes Three for Three

Awards

Oscars: Jane Campion Lands Best Director for “The Power of the Dog,” “CODA” Goes Three for Three

Jane Campion became the third woman to ever take home the honor Best Director at last night’s Academy Awards. Her “Power of the Dog” win follows on the heels of Chloé Zhao’s for “Nomadland” last year. Kathryn Bigelow made history as the first woman to claim the prize in 2010 for “The Hurt Locker.” With her “Power of the Dog” nomination, Campion became the first woman to be nominated for Best Director twice — she previously scored a nom for “The Piano” in 1994. Campion discussed the significance of her win backstage. “I’m very proud to have won tonight — for my film and for my cast. But also just to be another woman who’s going to be followed by a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth,” she said, per Variety. “I’m very excited by the fact that this is moving fast now. We need it. Equality matters.”

In total, “The Power of the Dog,” a Western about a dysfunctional family living on a Montana ranch, received 12 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Kirsten Dunst), and Best Cinematography (Ari Wegner).

“CODA,” Sian Heder’s second feature, won Best Picture, as well as the two other categories it was nominated for: Best Adapted Screenplay (Heder) and Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur).

While accepting honors for her script, Heder said, “I want to thank all of my collaborators in the Deaf community and CODA community for being my teachers.” The coming-of-age film follows an aspiring singer who is the only hearing member in a Deaf family. Kotsur, who plays the teen protagonist’s father, made history as the first deaf man to win an Oscar for acting. His “CODA” co-star, Marlee Matlin, became the first deaf actor to win an Oscar for her leading role in “Children of a Lesser God.” While accepting his award, Kotsur emphasized, “This is dedicated to the Deaf community, the CODA community, and the disabled community. This is our moment!”

“CODA’s” win makes Apple TV+ the first streaming service to snag the award for Best Picture.

Other winners included “The Eyes of Tammy Faye’s” Jessica Chastain (Best Actress) and “West Side Story’s” Ariana DeBose (Best Supporting Actress). The latter made history as the first openly queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar. She described herself as “openly queer woman of color, an Afro Latina who found her strength in life through art. And that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate,” she added. “Anybody who’s ever questioned your identity ever or find yourself living in the gray spaces? I promise you this. There is indeed a place for us.” Chastain called out “discriminatory and bigoted legislation” targeting the LGBTQ community.

Head over to The Guardian to check out the complete list of winners.