The Woman King Director Gina Prince-Bythewood Will ‘Never Get Over’ Oscar Snub: ‘It Speaks to Such a Bigger Issue
As reported by PEOPLE, The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood isn’t pleased with the lack of nominations at this year’s Academy Awards. While speaking with PEOPLE at Icon Mann’s pre-Oscar dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on Wednesday night, Prince-Bythewood didn’t hold back while talking about her film not getting a single Oscar nomination.
Though The Woman King won’t be an Oscar contender at this year’s Academy Awards, the movie did earn nominations at events like the Critics Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the BAFTAs. The director said, “I’ll never get over it, because what happened was egregious and … it speaks to such a bigger issue in our industry.”
She continued, “But [it also speaks to] who I am, the people around me, these actors. We will never take our foot off the gas. We’re ready to do something next. We’re ready to do something as big, we’re ready to do something together. So we always keep that energy no matter what happens.”
Gina Prince-Bythewood Previously Told THR That “This Award Season Was an Eye-Opener”
Prince-Bythewood words follow a previous similar statement that the Love and Basketball director made while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about her recent film’s lack of recognition from the Academy Awards. She told THR that “this award season was an eye-opener.”
Prince-Bythewood continued, “I’ve gotten so many texts and emails from people in the industry outraged by the Oscar nominations. Of course I’m disappointed. Who wouldn’t be? Especially because there was so much love for our film.”
However, despite The Woman King’s lack of Oscar nominations, The Old Guard director said that her movie had made a significant “impact.” She said, “Not only does The Woman King exist in the world, but it’s a success in the world. … So our film made money and clearly had a cultural impact, which is what we all hoped for.”
Prince-Bythewood added, “But the Academy made a very loud statement, and for me to stay quiet is to accept that statement. So I agreed to speak up, on behalf of Black women whose work has been dismissed in the past, is dismissed now like Alice Diop and Saint Omer, Chinonye Chukwu and Till — and for those who haven’t even stepped on a set yet.”
As for her future plans, the director told PEOPLE, “Honestly, I’m waiting to take a vacation so I can get some clarity. The beauty is I have great choices, and for me, it’s what am I going to give my next two years to. The fact that I have to make a difficult choice on my hand is a great thing because it’s good to have choices.”
Prince-Bythewood finished by saying, “On the other hand, there’s so much I want to do. There’s so many stories I’m going to tell. I’m just happy that I have the opportunity to do any of them.”
