Kathryn Bigelow doesn’t want to be singled out as a “female director” – she just wants to be known for her work. Still, she took a big leap for women last night by being the first to win an Academy Award for Best Director. Her gritty war film The Hurt Locker also took home Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture in a new nine-film category that also included Avatar.
Money didn’t triumph this year. According to IMDB, The Hurt Locker cost only $11 million to make, and has made a domestic gross of just over $12 million. Compare that with Avatar – the highest grossing movie of all time. The media also loves to mention that Kathryn used to be married to Avatar director James Cameron, but they split up years ago and remain close friends and respected peers. You could tell by the huge smile and standing ovation from James that last night was no battle of the exes.
“There’s no other way to describe it, it’s a moment of a lifetime,” Kathryn began her speech. (Watch the video here.) She acknowledged the “powerful filmmakers” in her category and also screenwriter Mark Boal, whom she said risked his life to write the screenplay. She said the secret to directing was collaborating, thanking actor Jeremy Renner (who was nominated for Best Actor but lost out to Jeff Bridges.) Kathryn dedicated her Oscar to the women and men in the military who risk their lives on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congrats Kathryn! We can’t wait to see what’s next.
You go girl! So glad she won. The Hurt Locker deserved all the recognition it got! Great moment for female filmmakers!