Apple’s ‘CODA’ Wins Oscar for Best Picture with Tim Cook in Attendance

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Apple TV+ film, CODA, won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards on Sunday evening in Hollywood, California.

According to the iPhone maker, this was a historic win as CODA is the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win the Best Picture award.

Apple took home three total Academy Awards, with Troy Kotsur from CODA taking home Best Supporting Actor, the first for a Deaf male actor to win; Siân Heder for “CODA” winning Best Adapted Screenplay.

“On behalf of everyone at Apple, we are so grateful to the Academy for the honors bestowed on ‘CODA’ this evening,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video, in a statement. “We join our teams all over the world in celebrating Siân, Troy, the producers, and the entire cast and crew for bringing such a powerful representation of the Deaf community to audiences, and breaking so many barriers in the process. It has been so rewarding to share this life-affirming, vibrant story, which reminds us of the power of film to bring the world together.”

Apple acquired CODA’s global rights for $25 million back on January 30, 2021 at the Sundance Film Festival, outbidding Amazon in the process.

“What an incredible journey it has been since the moment we first saw ‘CODA’ to today’s historic recognition from the Academy,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “It has been a true joy to witness the positive impact on humanity that this story and its performances have had worldwide. We send our warmest congratulations to Siân; Troy; the cast; the creative team; producers Patrick, Philippe, and Fabrice; and everyone who helped bring inclusion and accessibility to the forefront through this remarkable film.”

CODA has won other notable awards as well recently, to go with this Best Picture win at the Oscars:

  • SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  • PGA Award: Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
  • Sundance Film Festival in 2021: Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast; Directing Award; Audience Award; Grand Jury Prize
  • AFI Award
  • NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
  • Four Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards: Best Picture; Best Adapted Screenplay for Siân Heder; Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur; HCA Spotlight Award

Apple CEO Tim Cook reacted to the Oscar win tonight by saying, “Team CODA created a profoundly beautiful movie, a story of hope and heart that celebrates our differences. Congratulations to the producers, @SianHeder, @TroyKotsur, @MarleeMatlin, @EmiliaJonesy, @DanielNDurant, @EugenioDerbez, and all involved in these historic wins!”

Cook and Apple executive Eddy Cue attended the Academy Awards tonight, showing up to witness the CODA team take home three Oscars.

Apple says since Apple TV+ debuted over two years ago, the streaming service’s library has taken home 240 wins and 953 nominations.

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