Now the 83-year-old has described why it happened like that. The responsibility therefore lay with the producers of the show, who did not want all ten nominated films to be mentioned again before the announcement, which was a time-consuming process. Since 2010, the “Best Film” category has included ten productions instead of just five.
“There seems to be a controversy that I didn’t mention every film by name before announcing the Best Picture award,” said Pacino (“The Godfather”) on Monday (local time). “I just want to make it clear that it was not my intention to leave them out, but rather the producers’ decision.” The films had already been “individually highlighted during the ceremony”. “It was an honor to be part of the evening and I decided to follow the way the creators of the evening had planned.”
Statement “is necessary”
Pacino said that he later considered his explanation “necessary” because he feels a “deep relationship with filmmakers, actors and producers” and doesn’t want anyone to feel disadvantaged. “I realize that being nominated is a big milestone in a person’s life” and that it can therefore be hurtful not to be fully recognized.
Pacino was nominated for an Oscar nine times between 1973 and 2020. He won the award for best actor at the end of March 1993 for his role in the literary adaptation “The Scent of Women”.
“My eyes see Oppenheimer”
At the gala on Sunday evening (CET Monday morning), Pacino only said: “Well, this is the time for the last award of the evening. And it is an honor for me to present it. Ten wonderful films have been nominated, but only one will “Received the award for best film. And for that I have to go to the envelope.” There was laughter in the audience as he continued to comment: “And that’s what I’m going to do. Here he comes. And my eyes see ‘Oppenheimer’.” At this point music started and the crowd cheered.
The “Best Film” category – traditionally at the end of the Oscars – has mostly been presented by older Hollywood greats in recent years, such as Harrison Ford in 2023, Liza Minnelli (with Lady Gaga) in 2022, and Jane Fonda four years ago. Afterwards there was always gossip about the type of presentation.
There was particularly a lot of excitement seven years ago when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway called out the wrong film (“La La Land” instead of “Moonlight”) – but the stars hadn’t done anything wrong, it was a person responsible for the counting and organization Auditing and consulting firm PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) was given the wrong envelope.
