Governors Awards
Encyclopedia
The Governors Awards presentation is an annual award ceremony hosted by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
(AMPAS), at the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center. Three awards, the Academy Honorary Award
, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award are presented at this ceremony. The 1st Annual Governors Awards ceremony was held on November 14, 2009. Prior to, these three awards were formally presented during the main Academy Award ceremony, but now are restricted to a short appearance of the recipients on stage after a summary recorded presentation of the event.
The Academy Honorary Award
, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award are presented at the ceremony. The Governors Awards are held the November before the main Academy Awards ceremony, usually held in February or March the following year. The Awards are not voted upon but, rather, are presented at the discretion of the Academy.
The Academy Honorary Awards and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards are both Oscar statuettes, while the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award is a small bust of Thalberg
on a plinth.
The Academy Honorary Award is given for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy". The Thalberg Award is given to "a creative producer whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production".
The board members of AMPAS had previously been concerned about awarding more than one or two Honorary Academy Awards each year for fear of lengthening the main Academy Awards presentation. The smaller presentation of the Governors Awards was designed to invoke the feel of the early Academy Award ceremonies.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
(AMPAS), at the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center. Three awards, the Academy Honorary Award
Academy Honorary Award
The Academy Honorary Award, instituted in 1948 for the 21st Academy Awards , is given by the discretion of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to celebrate motion picture achievements that are not covered by existing Academy Awards, although prior winners of...
, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award are presented at this ceremony. The 1st Annual Governors Awards ceremony was held on November 14, 2009. Prior to, these three awards were formally presented during the main Academy Award ceremony, but now are restricted to a short appearance of the recipients on stage after a summary recorded presentation of the event.
Description
The Governors Awards are one of five award ceremonies hosted by AMPAS, along with the Academy Scientific and Technical Awards, Academy Student Academy Awards and the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.The Academy Honorary Award
Academy Honorary Award
The Academy Honorary Award, instituted in 1948 for the 21st Academy Awards , is given by the discretion of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to celebrate motion picture achievements that are not covered by existing Academy Awards, although prior winners of...
, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award are presented at the ceremony. The Governors Awards are held the November before the main Academy Awards ceremony, usually held in February or March the following year. The Awards are not voted upon but, rather, are presented at the discretion of the Academy.
The Academy Honorary Awards and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards are both Oscar statuettes, while the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award is a small bust of Thalberg
Irving Thalberg
Irving Grant Thalberg was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and his extraordinary ability to select the right scripts, choose the right actors, gather the best production staff and make very profitable films.-Life and...
on a plinth.
The Academy Honorary Award is given for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy". The Thalberg Award is given to "a creative producer whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production".
The board members of AMPAS had previously been concerned about awarding more than one or two Honorary Academy Awards each year for fear of lengthening the main Academy Awards presentation. The smaller presentation of the Governors Awards was designed to invoke the feel of the early Academy Award ceremonies.
1st Annual Governors Awards
The Academy held its 1st Annual Governors Awards ceremony on November 14, 2009. The following awards were presented.- Academy Honorary Award: Lauren BacallLauren BacallLauren Bacall is an American film and stage actress and model, known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry looks.She first emerged as leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have And Have Not and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in The Big Sleep and Dark Passage ,...
, Roger CormanRoger CormanRoger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
, and Gordon WillisGordon WillisGordon Willis, ASC, is an American cinematographer best known for his work on Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather series as well as Woody Allen's Annie Hall and Manhattan.... - Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award: John CalleyJohn CalleyJohn Calley was an American film studio executive and producer. He was quite influential during his years at Warner Bros...
2nd Annual Governors Awards
The Academy held its 2nd Annual Governors Awards ceremony on November 13, 2010. The following awards were presented.- Academy Honorary Award: Kevin BrownlowKevin BrownlowKevin Brownlow is a filmmaker, film historian, television documentary-maker, author, and Academy Award recipient. Brownlow is best known for his work documenting the history of the silent era. Brownlow became interested in silent film at the age of eleven. This interest grew into a career spent...
, Jean-Luc GodardJean-Luc GodardJean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
, and Eli WallachEli WallachEli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly... - Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award: Francis Ford CoppolaFrancis Ford CoppolaFrancis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
3nd Annual Governors Awards
The Academy held its 3nd Annual Governors Awards ceremony on November 12, 2011. The following awards were presented.- Academy Honorary Award: James Earl JonesJames Earl JonesJames Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
and Dick SmithDick SmithDick Smith may refer to:*Dick Smith , Australian entrepreneur**Dick Smith , electrical retailer in Australia.**Dick Smith Foods, food brand in Australia*Dick Smith , former player with Manchester United... - Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Oprah WinfreyOprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...