To was presented with the Stanley Kramer Award by the PGA on Saturday night.
Accepting the award, the film’s producer and co-writer, Keith Beauchamp, said: “We dedicate this film to Mamie Till-Mobley, who in her heroism chose to reformulate her grief to raise awareness for the lifting of the to intensify humanity.”
“I was 10 years old when I first heard Emmett Till’s story,” recalls Beauchamp. “The journey to this story has been a humbling and rewarding experience.”
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He thanked Emmett Till’s family and To Director Chinoye Chukwu, along with the “extraordinarily talented” Danielle Deadwyler. That last comment drew a particularly loud cheer from the audience, perhaps because Deadwyler was disqualified from the Best Actress Oscar race.
Beauchamp also thanked his “dear friend and mentor, Mamie Till-Mobley, whose trust in me is my greatest honor.”
Deadwyler plays Mom To, which follows the aftermath of the murder of Emmett Till in 1955 after a brutal lynching. His mother vowed to expose the racism behind the attack as she worked to bring those involved to justice.
Deadwyler took the stage at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday night to present the award To an example of “using art to raise awareness, and awareness to bring about change through action. It is so important that we continue to create and advance important issues together, even if it means fighting with special strength and passion. We need more stories that show diversity in terms of race, religion, gender, sexuality and ability.”
To Producer Barbara Broccoli has been vocal about how upset she is that AMPAS overlooked the Oscar-nominated film, telling Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye: “They looked the other way.”
The theatrical release of Orion and Eon was screened at the White House on February 16, with President Joe Biden saying, “To everyone involved in this film, to paraphrase Maya Angelou, people will never forget how you make them feel. ”
“People will never forget how you make them feel,” Biden added last week. “You know, you have this artist’s gift of making us feel our common humanity.”
To was nominated at the BAFTAs for Deadwyler’s performance. She is also attending Sunday’s SAG Awards for Best Actress – Motion Picture.
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
