Academy Awards

It was not your usual night in the press room at the Loews Hotel, where journalists have gathered to interview Oscar winners backstage: the evening featured metal detectors accompanied by extra Covid-19 precautions, including plenty of extra elbow room between seats and tables. But once the ceremony had settled into its routine (or almost), including a choreographed musical number by Beyoncé introduced by the Williams sisters (portrayed in the film King Richard), it was almost business as usual - until the now-infamous moment when Will Smith got up and punched Chris Rock before returning to his seat and screaming clearly audible offensive words.

For the first time, people once again gathered in person at the Italian Cultural Institute in Westwood, the façade of the building lit with the colors of the Ukrainian flag in support of the ongoing and tragic conflict. The occasion, however, was a celebratory one, to honor the two-time Oscar nominee and legendary maestro of cinematography Dante Spinotti and two of the three Italian nominees for this year’s Oscar: Enrico Casarosa, director of the animated film Luca and Massimo Cantini Parrini, costume designer of Cyrano.