The moments at the 2022 Oscars that made history

Well, that was an eventful Oscars. Now I know all everyone wants to talk about is that slap, but come one people, that is not what the Oscars are all about. So let’s instead celebrate the moments at the 94th Academy Awards that made history.

The First Openly Queer Women of Color to Win an Oscar

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images )

Ariana DeBose became the first woman of color from the LGBTQA+ community to win an Oscar. The star of West Side Story she spoke of her identity as a queer Puerto Rican women. “Now you see why Anita sings ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this world we live in, dreams do come true and that is a heartening thing right now.” she said.  She concluded her speech by saying “You see an openly queer woman of color who found her strength in life through art.”

First ‘character’ to win best supporting actress twice

The 2022 Oscars marked the first time an Oscar was awarded to the best supporting actress winner for playing the same character as a previous winner. In 1962, Rita Moreno won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in the original film adaptation of West Side Story, exactly 60 years later, Ariana DeBose has won best supporting actress for playing the same role in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation.

First Oscar win for a male deaf actor

Troy Kotsur, star of CODA is the first male deaf performer to win an Oscar. His CODA costar, Marlee Matlin, was the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar back in 1987, receiving the Best Actress award for Children of a Lesser God. It is only the second time a deaf performer has won an Academy Award for acting. In his moving acceptance speech Troy signed “This is dedicated to the Deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community. This is our moment.”

First streaming service to win and Oscar for Best Film

Apple TV+ just became the first streaming service to receive an Oscar for best film, winning for Coda. There was tough competition from Netflix with both The Power of The Dog and Don’t Look Up nominated, Apple’s first time win really is a big achievement for the streaming service especially considering how many Netflix movies have been nominated for best picture in the past like Roma, The Irishman and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

First Oscar for Sir Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Branagh has been nominated for Academy Awards across seven different categories during his career, including best actor –  that itself is an Oscars record, but until this year he had always come away empty-handed. This year he finally took home a statue, winning Best Original Screenplay for Belfast.

The first back-to-back win by female directors

The Oscar for Best director went to Jane Campion, for her gritty Western, The Power of the Dog. This win comes just one year after Chloe Zhao won in the same category for her film Nomadland. This is the first time there has been a back to back win by two women directors in this category since the Oscars began in 1929. A truly big step for female directors. This is Campion’s 2nd nomination, her first was in 1994 for The Piano. Jane Campion is now the third female in Academy Awards History to be named Best Director, after Chloe Zhao in 2021 and Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 (The Hurt Locker).

Riz Ahmed becomes the First Asian & Muslim to win an Oscar for a live action movie.

Riz Ahmed became the first actor of Asian and Muslim background to win an Oscar for ‘best-live action short film’ on Sunday for his part in The Long Goodbye. This is a win for all Asians and Muslims around the world to see one of their own win such a prestigious award on an international stage! “This is for everyone who feels like they don’t belong. Anyone who feels like they’re stuck in no man’s land. You’re not alone. We’ll meet you there. That’s where the future is. Peace,” Riz Ahmed said in his acceptance speech.