The nominations for the upcoming 88th Academy Awards ceremony won’t be revealed until January but yesterday the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences officially announced their honorary award winners with director Spike Lee being one of the big names on the list.
The honorary awards – which will be presented at the Academy’s 7th Annual Governor’s Awards on November 14 – are given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service…”
What’s interesting about this one is that the Do The Right Thing director has openly criticised the Academy in the past claiming that “[Oscars] don’t matter” after being snubbed for Best Picture in 1989 in favour of Driving Miss Daisy. Lee’s debut feature won the Student Academy Award back in 1983 and Do The Right Thing earned him a Best Original Screenplay nomination but the director has never shied away from insinuating that the Academy has diversity issues, a debate that always seems to rear its head once nominations are announced.
Academy President Cheryl Boone said “The board is proud to recognize our honorees’ remarkable contributions…We’ll be celebrating their achievements with the knowledge that the work they have accomplished – with passion, dedication and a desire to make a positive difference – will also enrich future generations.”
Whatever your stance on the Academy is, it’s great to see Spike Lee get the recognition he deserves. Legendary actresses Gena Rowlands (Gloria, The Notebook) and Debbie Reynolds (Singin’ In The Rain) will also receive honorary awards.
