LOS ANGELES — This Sunday evening, numerous prominent figures from Hollywood will converge on Los Angeles for the annual Governors Awards, an event organized by the film academy’s board of governors. This year, the ceremony will pay tribute to esteemed individuals including the late Quincy Jones, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, filmmaker Richard Curtis, and casting director Juliet Taylor. Additionally, this gathering serves as an unofficial campaign event for those contending for Oscars as the awards season commences.
Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson are following in their father’s footsteps by receiving the distinguished Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding producer contributions. Their father, Albert “Cuddy” Broccoli, accepted a similar bust of Thalberg at the Academy Awards in 1982, while his children looked on from the audience.
Expressing her feelings on the honor, Broccoli said, “It’s very humbling. I think of so many people who have come before us, so many people I wish had been given the honor who aren’t with us anymore.”
Richard Curtis, known for his iconic romantic comedies such as “Love, Actually,” “Notting Hill,” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his extensive charitable efforts. Curtis has maintained a lifelong aspiration to win an Oscar, reminiscing about his teenage years spent avoiding news to ensure he could catch the awards broadcast the following night in the UK.
“This is particularly a special award, but it’s not work for which one expects praise or needs praise,” Curtis noted regarding the accolade.
Casting director Juliet Taylor, who has spent over forty years in the industry, will also receive recognition for her significant contributions. She is known for casting classic films like “Annie Hall,” “Working Girl,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “Schindler’s List.” While she looks forward to receiving the honorary Oscar, she is even more thrilled that her peers will receive formal acknowledgment in the future, as the film academy plans to introduce a competitive Oscar award for casting directors starting with films released in 2025.
The Governors Awards are known for their emotional atmosphere, as the absence of television cameras allows for heartfelt performances and tributes among peers, often honoring those who are later in their careers. However, this year’s 15th event carries a bittersweet tone since Quincy Jones passed away earlier this month. Plans are underway to honor his incredible legacy and contributions to the industry during the event.