Well-Deserved Oscars for Owen Roizman, ASC and Fellow AMPAS Honorees

On November 11 during their annual Governors Awards — which took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood — the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) recognized five filmmakers for their individual and unique contributions to motion pictures. 

They were director Charles Burnett, director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, cinematographer Owen Roizman, ASC; actor Donald Sutherland and director Agnès Varda. (See our original announcement piece here and ASC celebration account here.)

Each filmmaker was presented with an honorary Oscar statuette for their respective work, and, for Roizman — nominated five times for his work behind the camera on The French Connection, Network, The Exorcist, Tootsie and Wyatt Earp — this night was especially gratifying.

The evening began with opening remarks by Academy president John Bailey, ASC and Steven Spielberg:

It was then that AMPAS Cinematographers Branch co-chair Daryn Okada, ASC — who helped champion Roizman to be selected as one of this year’s honorary Oscar recipients — kicked things off and put Roizman’s distinctive contributions to filmmaking into the proper historical and artistic context:

Okada was followed by writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, with whom Roizman collaborated on the features I Love You to Death, Grand Canyon, Wyatt Earp and French Kiss. He spoke eloquently of his longtime friend’s inspiring work and lasting influence:

Dustin Hoffman — who worked closely with Roizman on the features Straight Time and Tootsie — then took the stage to present the cinematographer’s  statuette, first describing his indelible work as a master storyteller and confidant collaborator:

And, finally, Roizman’s heartfelt acceptance speech:

Additional stills from the evening: