Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences Page 2

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologised to the casts and producers of La La Land and Moonlight following the high-profile blunder during the presentation of the Best Picture Oscar at the weekend, as accountancy firm PwC has identified the partner responsible for the envelope mix-up.

In its first official statement since the farce at the climax of the 89th Academy Awards stunned the attendees at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and the watching world, the Academy issued an acknowledgment of the fiasco in the early hours of Tuesday (February 28th). 

The statement acknowledged the “tremendous grace” that everybody involved displayed as the mistaken was announced.

Continue reading: Tweeting PwC Accountant Blamed For Oscars Best Picture Mix-Up

Creed director Ryan Coogler has helped organise a star-studded benefit for the residents of Flint, Michigan which will take place on February 28th, the same night as the Academy Awards. Dubbed #JUSTICEFORFLINT, the event will be hosted by comedian Hannibal Buress and is presented by ‘Blackout for Human Rights’, Coogler’s activist collective which is devoted to addressing human rights violations in the U.S.

Ryan Coolger will hold a fundraiser for Flint, Michigan on Oscar night.

According to Buzzfeed, singer Janelle Monae, 'Grey’s Anatomy' actor Jesse Williams and Selma director Ava DuVernay will all be in attendance. The event will be held at the Whiting Auditorium in Flint and will be free to attend.

Continue reading: 'Creed' Director Ryan Coogler To Hold Flint Fundraiser On Oscars Night

Director Spike Lee has spoken about his decision to boycott this year’s Oscars at the Berlin International Film Festival while premiering his latest movie Chi-Raq. Lee announced in January that he would not be attending this year’s ceremony, due to the lack of diversity among the nominees.

Spike Lee has spoken about his decision to boycott this year’s Academy Awards.

When asked about the Oscars diversity debate, Lee said he and his wife “never called a boycott. We just said we’re not going.” “Every year if you add up all the actor categories, there are 20 spots open and in the last two years not a single person of colour has been nominated,” Lee continued.

Continue reading: Spike Lee: 'Academy Changes Would Not Have Happened Without Oscars Ruckus'

The world might be in uproar about the lack of diversity in this year's Academy Award nominations, and they're certainly right to be. Not one actor of colour has been nominated for an award this year, prompting the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. But it's not just diverse films that have missed out this year.

Some of 2015's favourites have surprisingly not found themselves on the list for this year's Oscar nods, prompting no doubt some very reluctant fans out there. We were sad to see a distinct lack of certain flicks, and so have come up with some other awesome movies and actors that have got the snub:

'Trainwreck' definitely deserved some recognition

Continue reading: Excellent Films That Missed Out In The 2016 Academy Award Nominations

Chris Rock has been unveiled as the host of next year’s Academy Awards ceremony, the second time that the star has fronted the live telecast of the biggest night in Hollywood.

The 50 year old comedian and actor, whose career was dramatized in a recent movie Top Five, confirmed the news himself on Wednesday morning (October 21st) by tweeting a picture of himself holding one of the golden statuettes.

“I'm so glad to be hosting the Oscars,” said Rock in a statement. “It's great to be back.” Of course, he previously hosted the Oscars back in 2005, when Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby bagged the Best Picture. This makes him one of the select list of celebs who’ve hosted the big night twice in their careers in the recent past, alongside the likes of Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres and Billy Crystal.

Continue reading: Chris Rock To Return As Oscars Host For 2016 Ceremony

Winning an Oscar would normally be the highlight of any professional actor’s career, but not for Johnny Depp! The Black Mass actor, who has won plaudits for his portrayal of the Boston-based mobster ‘Whitey’ Bulger, has said that he never wants to win at the Oscars.

Depp has been nominated three times for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Academy Awards – in 2003 for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2004 for Finding Neverland, and in 2007 for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – but has never won. In conversation with BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat, he said: “I don't want to win one of those things ever, you know.”

Johnny Depp with his wife Amber Heard at the 'Black Mass' premiere

Continue reading: Why Doesn't Johnny Depp Want To Win An Oscar?

Though his first attempt at hosting The Oscars proved to be rather divisive, Neil Patrick Harris has admitted that he’d really love a second opportunity.

Harris, 42, was speaking to Us Weekly on Friday (September 4th) when he said that he’d be up for the task, one of the most prestigious and scrutinised roles in showbiz, if the Oscars organisers approached him for a second time. “I knew what I was getting into. It's a beast, but I'd love to do it again if I was asked!” he said.

Neil Patrick Harris has admitted that he'd like to host the Oscars again

Continue reading: Neil Patrick Harris Admits He'd Like Another Go At Hosting The Oscars

For those who complained about this year's Academy Awards Ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris on 22nd February 2015, there's some good news: the producers will not be returning for next year's show. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron made the announcement on Thursday (26th March).

Neil Patrick Harris hosted the 87th Academy Awards in February 2015.

Read More: Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars Dress Potentially Recovered After Anonymous Tip Off.

Continue reading: Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Will Not Produce The Oscars Next Year

Lupita Nyong'o's stolen dress may have been found. The dress, worn by the 12 Years A Slave actress to The Oscars on Sunday (22nd February), was reportedly stolen a few days after the ceremony. The pearl embroidered dress, designed by Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, is worth an estimated $150,000. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department released a statement earlier today (28th February) stating a dress resembling Nyong'o's had been uncovered in a bathroom at the same hotel.

Lupita Nyong'o with J.K. Simmons at the 87th Annual Oscars ceremony.

Read More: Lupita Nyong'o's REALLY EXPENSIVE Oscars Dress Is Still Missing.

Continue reading: Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars Dress Potentially Recovered After Anonymous Tip Off

After a week of mystery and intrigue, the dress worn by actress Lupita Nyong’o to The Oscars has been found – in the hotel room where it was first reported stolen.

The pearl-covered gown, reported to be an eye-watering $150,000, was taken from a hotel room at the London West Hollywood on Wednesday. However, a man believed to be the thief returned it to the same place and tipped off TMZ where it could be found and, weirdly, why he had given it back.

Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars dress [pictured] was returned on Friday

Continue reading: Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars Dress Returned To Hotel Room Where It Disappeared

Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras, the whistleblower and journalists behind the NSA revelations, conducted a Reddit AMA on Monday to coincide with the release of HBO's Citizenfour, which won the Oscar for best documentary feature on Sunday night.

Edward Snowden's Citizenfour won the Oscar for best documentary

Things started with a bang when one user asked the whistleblower, "Don't you fear that at some point you will be used as leverage in a negotiation? eg; "if you drop the sanctions we give you Snowden."

Continue reading: The Highlights From Edward Snowden's Reddit AMA

Since 1992, EJAF (Elton John AIDS Foundation) has raised over 321 million USD to help combat AIDS/HIV. One of the biggest events on EJAF's calendar is that of the Academy Awards Ceremony - for the last 23 years, Sir Elton John has hosted a special Academy Awards viewing party, in which celebrities from all areas of the entertainment industry come together to watch the Oscars, whilst raising money for the foundation. This year was no exception.

Sir Elton John poses with Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne (Credit Jamie McCarthy - Getty Images)

Of course, as with any Oscar party, members of the Hollywood elite were in attendance, like Alec and Hilaria Baldwin. But also, tremendous musical talent flocked to West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. In addition to Sir Elton John, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne were there to pose for pictures, as were Miley Cyrus, LIL' KIM and Kylie Minogue. Moby and Beck also stopped by to help raise awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Continue reading: Elton John's Oscars Party Saw As Many Stars As The Academy Awards Itself [Photos]

In 2008, Daya Fernandez thought of a fun little variation on the traditional game of dominos. Said game involves players using the pieces to make 'movie reels' - an idea that has certainly found a home with Hollywood's elite. Over the past eight years, a Hollywood Domino Gala has taken place in London, New York, the Cannes Film Festival, Puerto Rico, but the most important an prestigious event on the calendar takes place in in Los Angeles, on the Thursday before each year's Oscar ceremony.

Patricia Arquette at the 8th Annual Hollywood Domino Gala, in Los Angeles (Credit Michael Kovac - Getty Images)

With the help of Swiss watchmaker Bovet 1822, the 8th Hollywood Domino Gala & Tournament at the Sunset Tower Hotel on 19th February 2015. Every year, the Gala raises money for various charities, with this year the charity of choice was Artists for Peace and Justice - an organisation intent on supporting communities in poverty-stricken areas in Haiti. 

Continue reading: From Adrien Brody To Patricia Arquette, The 8th Hollywood Domino Gala Brings Stars Together [Photos]

A bomb scare near the venue for The Oscars ceremony on Sunday (February 22) proved to be a false alarm though a man was detained by police. Bomb squad investigators cordoned off several storefronts and the front entrance of a hotel after a man who was driving recklessly emerged from his car with a propane canister.

Neil Patrick Harris will host the Oscars on Sunday night

According to Reuters, the man also had two canisters of nitrous oxide - more commonly known as laughing gas. He was taken into custody while police performed further investigations. Disposal technicians detonated the items as a precaution though no explosives were found.

Continue reading: Bomb Scare Near Oscars Venue Proves To Be False Alarm

Just three days to go before The Oscars, and Neil Patrick Harris has been spending Thursday talking about what kind of host he’ll be and what kind of jokes he’ll be cracking. In separate telephone interviews with USA Today and BuzzFeed, he indicated that he’ll be much gentler than some previous hosts. *Cough* Seth McFarlane *ahem*.

“I skew kinder. I want to keep it a classy show,” said Harris to USA Today. “It's a night of celebration. All of these people worked so hard all year long, all career long to attend this night. To make jokes at them, that's just not my style.”

Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Oscars on Sunday

Continue reading: Neil Patrick Harris Drops More Hints About Oscars

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the Oscar winning team behind Frozen’s megahit ‘Let it Go’, will be bringing their talents to this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, by penning an original musical number for host Neil Patrick Harris.

This year's Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris

The announcement was made by the ceremony’s producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who said that the two are currently constructing "an original multimedia musical sequence" called "Moving Pictures.”

Continue reading: Frozen's 'Let It Go' Songwriters To Pen Oscar's Number For Neil Patrick Harris

When this year’s Academy Award nominations were announced on Thursday morning one thing which stuck out for many observers was the lack of diversity amongt the nominees. All 20 of this year's acting contenders are white, while there are no women nominated in the directing or writing categories.

The Academy's president Cheryl Boone Isaacs

But speaking to the Associated Press, Cheryl Boone Isaacs’, the Academy’s first black president, said The Oscars were "committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion" and that outreaching to more diverse artists is a major focus.

Continue reading: Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs Addresses The Lack Of Diversity In This Year's Oscar Nominations

Wes Anderson's comedy farce The Grand Budapest Hotel - which was considered out of the running for the major awards this season given its release in February 2014 - is now the second favourite to win Best Picture at The Oscars after landing the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Comedy or Musical).

The Grand Budapest Hotel is now the second favourite to win Best Picture at the Oscars

Budapest upset the big favourite, Birdman, to win the top honour at the 72nd annual Golden Globes and now it's being talked about as a possible conqueror of Boyhood at the Oscars.

Continue reading: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Second Favorite For Oscar After Globes Win

The Oscar won by James Cagney in 1942 for his performance in Yankee Doodle Dandy, has failed to sell at an auction in Los Angeles. The statuette had been expected to fetch at least $800,000 by auction house Nate D. Sanders on Friday (November 21st).

James Cagney's Oscar has failed to sell

Bidding was expected to be high since Oscar statuettes rarely make it to auction, primarily because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences started making winners post 1951 agree to offer the prize back to the Academy for $1 before selling it. In the past, the Academy has gone to court to stop some sales of Oscar statuettes.

Continue reading: James Cagney's 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' Oscar Fails To Sell At Auction

Harry Belafonte, an icon of classic Hollywood, received an honorary Oscar at a special ceremony this Saturday night. Belafonte received his award at the Governor’s Awards in Los Angeles, alongside the likes of Irish actress Maureen O'Hara, Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki and French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere.

#GovAwards Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner @harrybelafonte flanked by @SusanSarandon and wife Pamela Frank pic.twitter.com/HCafywRNEf

— Variety (@Variety) November 9, 2014

Continue reading: Harry Belafonte Honorary Tugs At Our Heart Strings During Honorary Oscars Speech