CODA

The movie CODA was a big winner in Sunday night's Academy Awards, and the film and the recognition it received is especially important to Rochester's large ...

It’s still very much a family unit, so it was good for our nation to see that.” And not only for deaf people, but also for all the CODAs in our country and the theater community as well. CODA is a term used to describe the hearing children of deaf adults, and it’s one that Denise Kavin, an assistant dean at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, is quite familiar with.

“CODA's” come-from-behind best picture triumph at the 94th Academy Awards delivered a major stamp of legitimacy for Apple and its young original film business, ...

Focus Features’ “Belfast,” set in the turmoil of 1960s Northern Ireland, won original screenplay for Kenneth Branagh. Sideshow and Janus Films’ Japanese film “Drive My Car,” directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, took home the Oscar for international feature. Walt Disney Co. scored six kudos for movies including Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, which won for supporting actress (Ariana DeBose). Lead actress went to Jessica Chastain for the title role in Disney unit Searchlight Pictures’ “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” which also won for makeup and hairstyling. Warner Bros.’ “King Richard” and “Dune” debuted simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters, as the company temporarily adapted its strategy for the lingering public health crisis. “CODA” won all three of the awards for which it was nominated. Sunday’s result is yet another sign of how much Hollywood’s attitude toward the tech takeover has evolved since Amazon became the first streaming studio to field a best picture nominee with 2016’s “Manchester By the Sea.” Streaming services have spent vast sums of money to get into the pantheon of Oscar winners. The science fiction visual stunner, produced by Legendary Pictures, won production design, sound, film editing, original score, cinematography and visual effects. The Cupertino tech giant’s $25-million acquisition of “CODA” at last year’s Sundance Film Festival set a record for the festival. Convenience won out over the lauded theatrical experience for many fans. the Machines” and multiple shorts. But the film industry has changed. It’s the latest narrow defeat for Netflix, which has been pushing hard for Oscars during the last few awards seasons.

In an Academy Awards ceremony that will be remembered as much for Will Smith storming the stage and slapping presenter Chris Rock as it will be for Smith ...

Nothing could be further from the truth and all who make movies know this.” But he was in a car accident and he became paralyzed from the neck down, and he no longer was able to sign. Chastain, who won her first Oscar following three earlier nominations, accepted her best actress award by saying, “Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have filled with a lot of trauma and isolation. “Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, it’s touched many families. “They invited the cast to CODA to visit and have a tour of the White House. We met a president, Joe, and Dr. Jill. I was planning on teaching them some dirty sign language, but Marlee Matlin told me to behave myself. Rock, while presenting the nominees for best documentary feature, made a joke about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith — referencing her bald head and suggesting she would be starring in a “G.I. Jane” sequel. “It’s really amazing that our film CODA has reached out world wide, and even reached all the way to the White House,” Kotur said. This is our moment.” Then Kotsur turned serious, saying, “My dad, he was the best signer in our family. Meanwhile, the award for best makeup and hairstyling went to “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” while “The Queen of Basketball” won for best documentary short subject, “The Windshield Wiper” for best animated short film and “The Long Goodbye” for best live action short film. “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said, tears streaming down his face. Kotsur’s best supporting actor award made him the first deaf man, and second deaf performer, to win an Academy Award. Marlee Matlin, his co-star in “CODA” — an acronym for “Child of Deaf Adult(s)” — won for best actress in 1987’s “Children of a Lesser God.”

CODA is an acronym for "child of deaf adult" and the title of the Massachusetts-set film that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

It was very exciting," she said. "It was amazing — that movie," she said through an ASL interpreter. "So exciting!"

The win for deaf family drama 'CODA' marks the first time a streaming service took Hollywood's biggest prize.

It is also the first time the directing award has ever gone to women in back-to-back years after “Nomadland” filmmaker Chloe Zhao won last year. Troy Kotsur made history as the first deaf man to win an Oscar, earning best supporting actor for his role in “CODA”. “Art imitates life. Campion, who had been the first woman ever twice nominated in the category (previously for 1993’s “The Piano”), is just the third woman to win best director. Smith later apologised to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and to his fellow nominees as he tearfully accepted the Oscar for best actor for playing the father of Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard”. “CODA”, the heartwarming movie about a deaf family with a hearing daughter, has won the prestigious best picture prize at the Oscars.

Troy Kotsur's win for "CODA" makes him the first deaf man to win an Oscar for acting.

Sian Heder, you are the best communicator. And the reason why is you brought the deaf world and the hearing world together, and you are our bridge," he said. Until his win on Sunday, Kotsur's “CODA” co-star, Marlee Matlin, was the only deaf person to win an Oscar for acting. So don’t worry, Marlee; I won’t drop any F-bombs in my speech today," he joked. “Dad, I learned so much from you. “This is our moment.”