Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks and Carol Littleton will receive honorary Oscars at this year’s Governors Awards, announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Honorary Award is “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, outstanding contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.”
Michelle Satter of the Sundance Institute will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards. The four statuettes will be presented at the 14th annual ceremony on November 18 in Los Angeles.
“Throughout her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting,” said Academy President Janet Yang. “Mel Brooks lights our hearts with his humor and his legacy has had a lasting impact on all facets of entertainment. Carol Littleton’s career in film editing serves as a model for those who follow her. A pillar of the independent film community, Michelle Satter has played a vital role in the careers of countless filmmakers around the world.”
Veteran actor Bassett has been a beloved figure in Hollywood for more than 40 years on film and television. She received her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for her stunning portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” (1993). She I recently spoke with Variety reflecting in the film that celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Most recently, for her fierce portrayal of Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022), she earned her second supporting actress nomination, making history as the first actress in a Marvel Studios film and the first woman in a Super Hero. film, to receive acting recognition. However, some followers online shared her dismay when she didn’t win the award.
Many of his notable film credits have been tied to some that have been landmarks in Academy history, such as “Boyz N the Hood” (1991), for which John Singleton became the first black filmmaker and youngest person. in history to be nominated for best picture. director, and “Black Panther,” the first superhero movie nominated for best picture. Other career highlights of his include “Malcolm X” (1992), “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (1998), “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” (2018) and “Soul” (2020).
A seven-time Emmy-nominated performer, her television work has been extensive with revered turns in “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” “The Rosa Parks Story” and “American Horror Story.” She has two appearances in this year’s race: lead actress in a drama for Fox’s “9-1-1” and narrator for the documentary “Good Night Oppy.”
Legendary director, producer, writer, composer, and actor Mel Brooks began his career writing comedy routines for Sid Caesar’s television shows and co-creating the classic series “Get Smart.” His comedic brilliance is one of the rare moments of significant recognition in Academy history, showcased by his hilarious writing-directoral debut, “The Producers” (1967), with Gene Wilder, which won him the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. original (beating out moviegoer favorites). “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Faces”). It was later adapted into the hit Broadway musical, which set the record for the most Tony Awards with 12, three of which went to Brooks. Other highlights of his Hollywood career include his 1974 double hits of “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” which earned him two nominations for original song and adapted screenplay.
Brooks, 96, is currently only one of 18 people to achieve EGOT status (earning competitive wins at Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards). This year, he’s also in the Emmy discussion as producer and narrator of his long-awaited sequel “History of the World Part II.”
Littleton’s career as a film editor spans nearly five decades. He earned his only Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing for Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi classic “ET the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982); His other notable credits include “The Big Chill” (1983), “Places in the Heart” (1984), and “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004). She has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy’s Motion Picture Editors Branch and as President and Vice President of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for American Cinema Editors.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to a person in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”
Satter is the founding Senior Director of the Sundance Institute Artist Programs, which focuses on the cultural impact of supporting independent storytellers. For more than 40 years, he has discovered and fostered the careers of hundreds of notable and award-winning filmmakers within the nonprofit, many from underrepresented communities. Satter has also led the Sundance Institute’s international initiatives in Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as being founder and overseer of Sundance Collab, a global digital storytelling community and learning platform.
Last year’s Governors Awards ceremony honored Michael J. Fox with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and honorary Oscars went to Euzhan Palcy, Diane Warren and Peter Weir.
The 96th Academy Awards will take place on March 10, 2024.
