For the second yr in a row, the Academy has snubbed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who hoped for a digital spot on Sunday’s Oscar telecast on ABC following his distant look on the Berlin Film Festival final month. Sources say, WME energy agent Mike Simpson made a plea to the Academy to incorporate the comedic actor-turned-politician however was shut down. The Academy declined to remark.

According to Variety, a US-based media firm, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelenskyy has popped up through satellite tv for pc at each the Cannes and Venice movie festivals in addition to the Grammy Awards and just about rang the Opening Bell of the New York Stock Exchange in September. At the Golden Globes in January, actor Sean Penn launched Zelenskyy, who reiterated his message of the previous 12-plus months that Ukraine will win the battle towards Russia and applauded “the free people of the free world — those who united around the support of the free Ukrainian people.”

Meanwhile, the Academy is not the one group to refuse Zelenskyy. In September, Zelenskyy’s group reached out to the Toronto Film Festival in regards to the chief showing through satellite tv for pc, however they have been denied. A TIFF spokesperson stated on the time that the pageant “does not comment on discussions with dignitaries, government officials or international embassies.”

The spokesperson added that the pageant “stands in solidarity with Ukrainians both here at home and abroad and is proud to showcase the depth and creativity of Ukrainian filmmakers at this year’s festival.” In latest months, Zelenskyy’s group enlisted Simpson, who represents such heavyweights as Quentin Tarantino and Bong Joon Ho, to make overtures to the Globes and re-engage the Academy after final yr’s rejections. While the Globes embraced the concept and gave Zelenskyy a number of minutes of airtime, the Academy wasn’t . (ANI)

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