By Bel Hernandez 

The biggest winner at the 2022 Academy Awards was inclusion.

Setting aside “The Slap” that was seen around the world, it was a historic evening for Latinos and other disenfranchised groups, whose presence was felt from the red carpet arrivals to the last Oscar given to the Best Picture winner Coda, whose cast included two deaf actors and a Latino who played a doctor.

All around this year’s Oscars looked as diverse as none other in past history. It was a beautiful thing to see the whole spectrum of nationalities and races — on the red carpet, on the nominee list, in the performances, and ultimately on the Oscar winners list.

During the pre-show to the Oscars Global Indigene, Bird Runningwater set the tone for the evening by address the global audience on the red carpet:

Movie lovers come together for this celebration on the ancestral lands of the Tongva people. The Academy pays respect to the Tongva people as well as the Tataviam and the Chumash people, the original caretakers of the water and land where many of us in the film community live and work. As we honor this year’s best stories and films, let’s also celebrate the original storytellers, the indegeons peoples of this region.”

Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall the hosts for the evening, kicked off the 94th Academy Awards ceremony as the first time three women hosted the star-studded event. Except except for the bit about Covid, they were funny and on point.

Serna and Venus Williams made the introduction to “Queen Bey” Beyonce as she kicked off the awards with a showstopping performance that took place the roof of a structure in the City of Compton transformed into a luscious lime green fantasy oasis housing an orchestra, dancers and Beyonce singing “Be Alive”, the nominated song from the movie King Richard. 

Then the Oscars were in full swing. Up first was the Best Supporting Actress category, which as pundits, critics and filmgoers predicted, went to first-time Oscar nominee Ariana DeBose for her performance as Anita in West Side Story.  With this much-anticipated win Debose made history for winning the Oscar in the same category, and role of Anita, that Rita Moreno, who was in the audience to cheer her on, won 50 years ago.

On accepting her Oscar DeBose said:

“Now you see why Anita says ‘I want to be in America’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true…[looking at Rita Moreno] I am so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me…Lastly, imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes and you see a queer, 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.”

The sentimental win the Latino community was rooting for, became a reality and now it was on with the show to see what was ahead.

AN OSCAR 1st:

Ariana DeBose became the first Queer-AfroLatina to win an Oscar in the acting category.

Director Alberto Mielgo and Producer Leo Sanchez took home the Best Animated Short Film Oscar for The Windshield Wiper.  Director Hugo Covarrubias was also a nominee for Bestias, The other nominees included directors Dan Ojari and Michael Please for Robin Robin; Joanna Quinn and for Affairs of the Art; and director Anton Dyakov for Box Ballet.

In the Live Action Short Film Category, writer/director Kristen Davila was the indie filmmaker the Latino/a community was rooting for. And the Oscar went to The Long Goodbye directed by Aneil Karia, from a script by Karia and Riz Ahmen.

The Best Animated Feature film Oscar went to Encanto and with that Producer Yvett Merino accepted her very first Oscar, along with the other producers Jared Bush, Clark Spencer, and Byron Howard responsible for this amazing film that has touched hearts around the world, introducing the Madrigal family and their magical powers.

First time nominee, and Encanto composer Germaine Franco was nominated for Best Original Score and althought she lost out to Hans Zimmer who took home his second Oscar for Dune, (his first  was for The Lion King in 1994), she is forever more an Oscar nominee, which in itself is quite extraordinary.  

Also “winning” were the musical performances by Colombian singer Sebastian Yatra who sang “Dos Oruguitas” (Two Caterpillars), the song written by Lin Manuel Miranda and nominated for best song. The Oscar went to No Time to Die from the film by the same name, which was performed by Billie Eillish and her brother Finneas.

The biggest number of the evening was the spectacular musical performance of Encanto’s runaway hit song “We Don’t Talk about Bruno”. It was introduced by John Leguizamo who was the voice of Bruno.

The performance immediately lit up the room as dozens of dancers and original film cast members Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero, all dressed in a flurry of brightness took the stage. Leading the vocals were internationally known and lauded singers Luis Fonsi and Becky G who were joined by Megan Thee Stallion who added the hip hop flavor to the performance. And just like that audiences across the world witnessed the first-ever live on-stage performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.  

The multi-talent and one of Hollywood’s favorite directors Guillermo del Toro’s film Nightmare Alley was up for what was his sixth Oscar nomination. He is a two-time winning Oscar winner, both Oscars for The Shape of Water (2018) for which he took home the Best Picture and Best Directing prize. This year he lost out to CODA, a favorite to win and that did win.

As the cast of CODA took to the stage to pick up the award, actor/producer Eugenio Derbez who played Dr. Bernardo Villalobos in the film, took his rightful place on stage as part of the amazing cast.  

AN OSCAR 1st: 

Apple’s ‘CODA’ is the first movie from a streaming service to win Best Picture Oscar, and Troy Kotsur who played the dad won Best Supporting Actor was the first deaf actor to win

Javier Bardem who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor lost out to Troy Kotsur who won his Oscar for playing the role of Frank Rossi, the deaf father of the lead played by Emilia Jones 

The Best Actress Oscar went to the lovely and very talented Jessica Chastain for her performance of Tammy Faye in the bio-pic The Eyes of Tammy Faye.  Penelope Cruz’s nominated for her standout performance in Parallel Mothers, which has already garnered her eight awards including the National Society of Film Critics awards, went home with her husband Javier instead of “Oscar.”  However, both Cruz and Bardem already have an Oscar each. Cruz, a three-time nominee won the Oscar in 2008 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, her other nominations were in 2006 for Volver and 2009 for Nine. While Bardem won his Oscar for the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men.

PRESENTING

The 2022 Latinos Oscar presenters included Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless 1994) who presented along with her White Men Can’t Jump castmates Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes), the award for Best Cinematography which went to Greig Fraser.  Then John Leguizamo, who had earlier last week done a secretive social media post saing that he would be at the Oscars, but didn’t say in what capacity, introduced the live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” another song written by Miranda for Encanto, which has become the highest-charting song from a Disney movie since 1995

Rachel Zeigler, who prior to the Oscars had also posted on social media to say she had not been invited to the Oscars, in spite of having played the lead role in the Oscar-nominated film West Side Story. Fast forward to Oscar night and she presented the Best Visual Effects category alongside Jacob Elordi (Euphoria). During the mile banter Elordi said that while growing up in Australia he would have never imagined being invited to the ceremony, to which Zegler jokingly said “I never thought I’d be here… six days ago [sic].” One of the funniest off-the-cuff remarks of the evening.

Oscar-winning actress Lupita nyong’o (for 12 Years a Slave 2013) was looking regal in her golden Prada gown. Mexican claim her as their own as she was born and lived in Mexico as a child. In 2014 she finally set the record straight about her nationality when she told media outlet El Mañana a few years back, “I’ve seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I’m Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. I am Mexican-Kenyan and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos.” We are all fascinated with this lovely and powerful actress!

Then there was “The Slap” with Will Smith playing the “Slapper” and Chris Rock the “Slapee.” The drama happened just prior to Smith winning the Best Actor Award for King Richard. And that is all I want to say on this matter.

The evening ended with the fluttering of hands in the theater, which in the deaf world is the way to show applause. Both Kotsur and Marlee Matlin who starred as the parents in the drama CODA are deaf and when the film won, the “applause” came in visual waves as the audience, which truly was “NOT so White”, was captured on camera.

All in all, this was the best Oscar night in a very long time. Represented on stage was amazing talent from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, Africa, and so many other countries and regions. Inclusion played a big part and the hope is that it continues. Because when the Oscars are truly representative of creative talents the world over, it creates a better understanding of our cultures.

One of the most poignant moments in the evening came when actress Mila Kunis (Family Guy, That ’70s Show) whose family is from Ukraine, introduced singer Reba Mackentire who sang “Somehow You Do”, the song from the nominated film Four Good Days. 

Before the introduction Kunis, without having to mention the country’s name, but every audience member and viewer knew, said:

“Recent global events have left many of us feeling gutted.  Yet when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it’s impossible not to be moved by their resilience.  One cannot help but be in awe of those who find strength to keep fighting through unimaginable darkness..”

This was followed by an on-camera chyron that directed people to donate. A powerful moment seen by millions, appealing to their generosity to the human spirit in all of us and at the same time, this gesture did not take anything away from the purpose of the evening.

Let’s not let the actions of one person pull focus on what a historic evening in Hollywood it was at the 94th Academy Awards.

The world is made up of many ethnicities and nationalities that for one evening come together to share the world’s love of film.  We are a world of film magic, let’s use that to make it a better place.

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