LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� 鈥淐ODA鈥� won the top prize at Saturday night’s Producers Guild Awards, giving momentum to the possibility that the small film could have a big night at next week’s Oscars.
The story of three adult family members who are deaf and a fourth who is not and seeks a singing career beat out bigger contenders including 鈥淭he Power of the Dog,鈥� 鈥淒une鈥� and 鈥淲est Side Story” to take an award that 鈥� more often than not 鈥� goes on to win the Academy Award for best picture.
鈥淭his movie has been an amazing ride, it was such a special one to make, there was so much love and so much heart put into it,鈥� said Fabrice Gianfermi as he accepted the award with his 鈥淐ODA鈥� co-producers Philippe Rousselet and Patrick Wachsberger at the 33rd PGA Awards.
An American Sign Language translator, who had been off to one side of the stage throughout the night鈥檚 speeches, stood front and center during the 鈥淐ODA鈥� acceptance and another stood in front of the stage to translate for the three actors from the film who are deaf: Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin and Daniel Durant.
鈥淐ODA,鈥� an acronym for 鈥渃hildren of deaf adults,鈥� is nominated for three Oscars at the March 27 ceremony, including best adapted screenplay for writer-director Sian Heder and best supporting actor for Kotsur, who is expected by most to become the first actor who is deaf since Matlin in 1987 to win an Oscar.
After it won best ensemble at last month’s Screen Actors Guild Awards it began to appear 鈥淐ODA鈥� could get real consideration for best picture. The odds may be getting better. The top PGA award winner has gone on to win the top Oscar in three of the past four years and 10 of the past 13. Academy Award voting closes Tuesday.
The PGA Awards, an untelevised show from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles honoring producers of film and television, is as much like a company awards banquet as a typical awards show, with no speeches cut short for time or curses bleeped out.
鈥淧roducing some s— is really f—— hard,鈥� said Issa Rae, producer of 鈥淚nsecure鈥� and 鈥淎 Black Lady Sketch Show鈥� as she accepted the guild鈥檚 Visionary Award.
Ninety-year-old Rita Moreno, star of the both the 1961 and 2021 versions of 鈥淲est Side Story,鈥� accepted the guild鈥檚 Stanley Kramer Award, which honors someone who has combined a career of artistry and activism.
鈥淭his business has taken tenacity and hard work,鈥� Moreno said. 鈥淎dvocating for issues of social justice for the last 60 years, it鈥檚 been exhausting, exhilarating and life-giving.鈥�
Moreno said the night itself was both joyful and exhausting after taking the stage at 11 p.m. local time, nearly three hours into the show.
鈥淚 was really getting tired,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y buttocks are a bit sore.鈥�
George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, stewards of the Star Wars universe and producers of many other notable motion pictures, were honored for their careers with the PGA’s Milestone Award.
Presenter Steven Spielberg, whose films have produced by both Lucas and Kennedy, called them 鈥渢wo titans鈥� who are “still just like kids playing in a sandbox.鈥�
Lucas acknowledged that his favorite achievement may not be the most popular among his peers, including the one who introduced him Saturday.
鈥淭he thing I’m the most proud of is digital cinema. That was something that I worked on for 20 years. Spent many many millions of dollars to make it happen,” Lucas said. 鈥淪ome still don’t believe in it. Where’s Steven?鈥�
Spielberg, standing in the wings, acted out the operation of a traditional film camera, to laughs from the crowd.
鈥淏ut we’re all friends,” Lucas said.
鈥淪ummer of Soul鈥� won the PGA鈥檚 documentary film category and 鈥淓ncanto鈥� won the award for animated movies. Both are also nominated for Oscars.
In the PGA鈥檚 television categories, awards went to the producers of 鈥淪uccession,鈥� 鈥淢are of Easttown鈥� and 鈥淭ed Lasso.鈥�
Greg Berlanti, producer of shows including 鈥淒awson’s Creek鈥� and several series from the D.C. comic universe, was given the guild’s Norman Lear Award and was praised for advancing LGBTQ characters and storylines.
Outgoing co-presidents of the guild Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher were tearful as they expressed joy that they could finally see their gathered peers in person after two years during which the pandemic forced the show to go virtual.
They praised their fellow producers for keeping the industry alive during their tough tenure.
鈥淗ollywood loves a comeback story,鈥� Fisher said, 鈥渁nd boy, yours is one for the ages.鈥�
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