Many of Hollywood’s brightest stars are set to gather in Los Angeles Sunday night for the annual Governors Awards. Hosted by the film academy’s board of governors, this prestigious event will honor the late Quincy Jones, James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, filmmaker Richard Curtis, and casting director Juliet Taylor. It’s also a significant stop for Oscar hopefuls as the awards season unfolds.
Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson will continue their family’s legacy by receiving the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, a seldom-bestowed honor that celebrates the exemplary work of producers. Their father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, accepted his own Thalberg Award at the 1982 Academy Awards, a memory etched in their minds as they watched from the audience.
“It’s very humbling,” Broccoli shared with The Associated Press. “I think of so many people who have come before us, so many people I wish had been given the honor who aren’t with us anymore.”
Richard Curtis, a writer and director known for iconic romantic comedies such as “Love, Actually,” “Notting Hill,” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” is being recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his lifetime dedication to charitable work. Reflecting on his long-held dream of winning an Oscar, Curtis recalled how he used to avoid the news as a teenager so he could watch the awards broadcast the next night in the U.K.
“This is particularly a special award, but it’s not work for which one expects praise or needs praise,” he remarked.
Juliet Taylor, a casting director with over four decades in the industry, is rarely celebrated publicly despite her significant contributions to cinema. She has cast enduring classics like “Annie Hall,” “Working Girl,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “Schindler’s List.” Though thrilled about her honorary Oscar, Taylor takes greater pleasure in the impending regular recognition of casting directors. Starting with films released in 2025, the film academy will present a new competitive Oscar in her field.
The Governors Awards are known for their emotional resonance. With no television cameras or bands to rush speeches, the evening allows friends and colleagues to pay heartfelt tribute to the honorary Oscar recipients, who often are in the later stages of their careers. This 15th event carries an additional weight of sorrow following the recent passing of Quincy Jones. Nevertheless, plans are in place to honor him on Sunday with a tribute celebrating his life, work, and enduring legacy.
