{"id":68310,"date":"2014-03-03T06:34:46","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T06:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2014\/03\/03\/12-years-a-slave-wins-oscar-for-best-picture\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T04:07:40","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T04:07:40","slug":"12-years-a-slave-wins-oscar-for-best-picture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/12-years-a-slave-wins-oscar-for-best-picture\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Years a Slave WINS Oscar for Best Picture"},"content":{"rendered":"

12 Years a Slave WINS Oscar for Best Picture<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

March 3, 2014<\/p>\n

A Reprint from The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

\"12<\/a>12 Years a Slave<\/em><\/strong> took home the top prize at the 86th Academy Awards, winning Best Picture and two other Oscars.<\/p>\n

Directed by Steve McQueen<\/strong>, 12 Years a Slave <\/em>also <\/em>took home statuettes for best supporting actress (Lupita Nyong’o<\/strong>) and best adapted screenplay (John Ridley<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

“It’s been an absolute privilege to work on Solomon [Northup]’s story,”<\/strong> producer Brad Pitt<\/strong> said when he took the stage to accept the award, praising the “indomitable” McQueen, who was a bumbling ball of nerves when he approached the microphone. McQueen took the moment to thank Pitt, who he said without his support “the film would never have been made.”<\/strong> McQueen endearingly stumbled through his speech, aided by a piece of paper, requesting an additional minute to thank his long list of supporters — including his mother and children.<\/p>\n

\"Lupita<\/a>“Everyone deserves not just to survive but to live. This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup,”<\/strong> McQueen said. He concluded his speech, “I dedicate this to everyone who have endured slavery”<\/strong> and to those who continue to endure slavery.<\/p>\n

“I can’t believe this is in my hands,” Nyong’o said, holding up her statue. “I cant believe this is real life. I’m really overwhelmed.” The actress, who made her feature film debut in Steve McQueen<\/strong>‘s drama, has had a whirlwind awards season, topping it off with a win at the Academy Awards. “What I’ve learned for myself is that I don’t have to be anybody else and that myself is good enough,”<\/strong> she told reporters. “When I’m being true to myself, I can avail myself to such extraordinary things — such as this!”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>On his first nomination, John Ridley won the adapted-screenplay prize for \u201c12 Years a Slave,\u201d from Solomon Northup\u2019s memoir. Ridley became only the second black person to win an Oscar in the writing category, after Geoffrey Fletcher for \u201cPrecious,\u201d<\/strong> states Variety<\/a>. The award-winning screenwriter is also the author of seven novels and three graphic novels. His well-known work includes\u00a0Oliver Stone\u2018s U-Turn<\/em>, David O. Russell\u2019s Three Kings <\/em>and the George Lucas-produced Red Tails.<\/em><\/p>\n

12 Years a Slave<\/em>, set years before the Civil War, follows the story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor<\/strong>), a free black man from upstate New York, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one owner (Michael Fassbender<\/strong>), he finds kindness from another, as he struggles to survive and maintain his dignity. In the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon’s life.<\/p>\n