At the AFI Awards luncheon that took place this weekend, everyone was already a winner. This is clear since only those TV shows and films that have been selected are invited. Rather than compete and accept awards, the honorees enjoy a horizontally organized celebration in which everyone is equal, free to enjoy the festivities, and likely to indulge in some networking.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, this year’s Awards ceremony included the customary AFI format of introductory remarks by AFI CEO Bob Gazzale, in which everyone is proudly announced a winner, followed by a reading of statements from the AFI juries. While the event’s format can’t be said to possess award ‘categories,’ each presented statement, followed by a select clip, is meant to justify why the AFI juries selected each winner.
Some of these reported “rationales” are clear. Others require a little guesswork.Avatar: The Way of Water’s“endless inventive vision” from James Cameron and its “landmark” status “in the history of cinema” suggested the film’s recognition this year for special effects and cinematography. The Daniels’ “epic vision” that “leaves no genre behind” inEverything Everywhere All at Once,meanwhile, suggested a win for the direction and screenwriting. However,Elvis,Maverick, andTárall clearly surpassed–in part at least–on the heels of phenomenal acting. Award categories these are not, yet the AFI juries this year found a way around the requisite eligibility category to enter the competition that all films must be American productions. This year, the American Film Institute created a “special award” mention to honor the non-American productionThe Banshees of Inisherin.
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It Depends on Who’s Voting
Awards shows, and categories can be a curious thing for the public. According toVariety, the recent SAG nomination snub ofMichelle Williams forThe Fablemansthis year might be explained by the fact that the guild only follows Studios' submissions. SAG award voters reported seeing Williams’s performance as a ‘supporting’ role but were not offered that option in submissions categories. Meanwhile, much of the recent buzz surrounding wins forBansheesandEverything Everywhere All at Onceat the 2023 Golden Globes considered their interesting selection as either dramas or comedies.
The Banshees of Inisherin, for example,reads as a comedy and light-hearted dramathat devolves into a story of violence and revenge. Yet, in its repetition of the background theme of The Irish Troubles at the very end, we realize the grim film may be more about the psychological nihilism we are capable of as humans in creating such unfathomable tragedy. The film was featured at the Golden Globes as a comedy.Everything Everywhere, meanwhile, is a genre-busting combination of comedy, science fiction, and martial arts action that turns strongly into a heartfelt and tear-inducing drama about family and reconciliation. Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan both won acting awards for the film in the Comedy category.
According to Golden Globes rules for voting, members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association receive a list of eligible films submitted by Studios. Films can be submitted as either a comedy/musical or as drama. However, the HFPA reserves the right to change the categories. For example, the 1983 filmTerms of Endearmentwas submitted as a comedy but came to be nominated as a drama. In addition, both musicals,A Star Is BornandBohemian Rhapsody,have also been categorized by the HFPA as dramas.
As it turns out, if you want to know what category a film or performance may fall under, it depends on who is voting.
