NEW YORK, 09 MAR – For the second consecutive year, the Academy of Motion Pictures has rejected the request of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to appear on video during the live broadcast of the Oscars. Variety writes it. Zelensky hoped to follow up his video appearance at the Berlin Film Festival with a virtual spot Sunday night live on ABC. The Ukrainian leader’s request, transmitted by Mike Simpson of the Wme agency, was returned to the sender, wrote the entertainment newspaper, without receiving confirmation or comments from the Academy. Zelensky’s advances at the Oscars coincide with a decline in support from the American public for Ukraine’s cause. The Kiev leader had appeared in Berlin to coincide with the presentation of Superpower, the documentary about him shot by Sean Penn. The message at the Berlinale closed a year in which Zelensky was welcomed with open arms at the Cannes and Venice film festivals and last September at the New York Stock Exchange. Zelensky had been in Washington in December to meet with President Biden and address Congress. Last year, however, his appearance at the Oscars was rejected by producer Will Packer, fearful that Hollywood’s attention reflected support for a white people’s cause, while many other conflicts around the world whose victims are people of color are systematically ignored. (HANDLE).
(ANSA)
