Oscars 2016: nominees' reactions

Titles listed in alphabetical order

45 Years

Charlotte Rampling (Lead actress): “I am deeply moved and thrilled by this nomination. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing 45 Years. Having the wonderful experience of working with the great Tom Courtenay and Andrew Haigh was a truly rewarding experience and I am simply delighted to have everyone’s hard work and true collaboration honoured by our friends and peers in the Academy.”

Amy

Asif Kapadia (Documentary): “The Academy Award nomination for best documentary is an incredible honour, thank you to everyone in the Academy who voted for Amy! This nomination is a recognition of the hard work for over three years put in by our producer extraordinaire James Gay Rees, our incredible Editor Chris King, our brilliant team of researchers and over 100 contributors who had never spoken publicly before, but trusted in us to tell Amy’s story. It’s been quite a journey since Amy first premiered at the Cannes film festival. Our aim was a simple one, to show the world the real Amy, the North London Jewish girl who wanted to write, sing, create art, who was healthy, funny, witty, had beautiful eyes and was happy, but perhaps she wasn’t properly set up to be a pop star and for the entertainment machine and the pressure which came with mega fame. A huge thank you to all at A24, Dish Inc and all of our team who have done such an excellent job.”

Anomalisa

Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson, Rosa Tran (Animated film): “We are thrilled to be recognised by the Academy, alongside such a great group of animated films. We are grateful for the dedication and passion of our talented team of animators and artists, as well as our brilliant cast – Jennifer, Tom and David. Thank you to the Academy for recognising our film.”

The Big Short

Adam McKay (Director): “So happy for everyone who worked on this movie. This was truly an ensemble project from cast to crew to producers. Thank you to the members of the Academy and to all the audiences that have supported The Big Short. Now I’m going to take a nap.”

Charles Randolph (Adapted screenplay): “I’m delighted. I’m particularly delighted to share the honour with Mr. Adam McKay — visionary, troublemaker, mensch.”

Bridge Of Spies

Matt Charman (Original screenplay): “I’m pinching myself to think that a historical foot note I found could lead to the most wonderful collaboration with Steven Spielberg and now to recognition from the Academy. It seems like a miracle. I want to thank AMPAS from the bottom of my heart for this nomination and I know James Donovan’s children will be so grateful for the recognition of their father’s remarkable story.”

Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger (Best picture): “A cliché is the truth many times over, so to say we’re just so honoured to have been nominated is the plain truth. On behalf of all our colleagues who worked on Bridge Of Spies, we are all very proud to have been nominated for best picture. To be included in such a spectacularly creative and diverse field of movies this year, makes this a nomination we’ll never forget.”

Adam Stockhausen (Production design): “It’s incredibly exciting to be nominated for an Academy Award this morning. Bridge Of Spies has been a wonderful project from start to finish and I’ve been so happy and honoured to be part of the team with Steven. It’s just wonderful to see the film recognised like this today.”

Cartel Land

Matthew Heineman (Documentary): “This is definitely a morning I will never forget. I was going to run outside and then come back in to see what happened, but I ended up watching the live cast. The screen froze after Amy was announced, then it reconnected and I hear Cartel Land. I was blown away. I’m still pinching myself. It hasn’t sunk in and probably won’t for a while. I’m just incredibly grateful and honoured that the Academy nominated the film and most importantly that the issues in the film will have a further spotlight.”

Carol

Carter Burwell (Original score): “I was making my daughters lunch to take to school when my agent called me with the news. It was great but my wife is out of town and my daughter is four-years-old and has no idea what an Academy Award is so it took me a while before I came face-to-face with a grown up that I could proudly announce my nomination; I told the cashier at the coffee shop.”

Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley (Producer, Number 9 Films): “Four years ago when we began the production of Carol we couldn’t have dared dream that we would have six Oscar nominations including the most important ones - best actress and best supporting actress. We are thrilled for everyone involved in the film especially Phyllis and of course Todd who deserve all the credit for this extraordinary production.”

Ed Lachman (Cinematography): “I am moved by this nomination and recognition of my work in Carol and the work of my crew, the vision and inspiration of my director Todd Haynes. Thank you to the Academy.”

Rooney Mara (Supporting actress): “To be acknowledged this morning along with Cate, Phyllis, Ed, Carter and Sandy is an incredible honor. Todd made a beautiful and quiet love story with Carol. I am proud to have been a part of it and feel privileged to have worked with some of our finest artists and one of our greatest directors.”

Phyllis Nagy (Adapted screenplay): “I am humbled and thrilled by the Academy’s nomination, and for the recognition of the work of so many of my Carol collaborators. It’s the stuff of dreams, for sure, and I certainly never imagined this happening when I began this journey 18 years ago. I am so proud that Patricia Highsmith’s groundbreaking novel has also been saluted. I know my friend Pat is knocking back a few neat scotches in writer’s heaven. The Weinstein Company, Liz Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon, Film 4 and Todd Haynes allowed all of this to happen, and I am profoundly grateful to them.”

Sandy Powell (Costume designer; also nominated for Cinderella): “I’m so thrilled with my double nominations. Thank you to all my peers who voted and big congratulations to my fellow nominees, Jenny Beavan, Jaqueline West and Paco Delgado.”

Brooklyn

John Crowley (Best picture): “It is such an honour, and no small thrill, that Brooklyn was recognised today. Watching audiences respond to this film on both sides of the Atlantic since premiering at Sundance last year has been an incredibly gratifying experience, and today’s acknowledgement by the Academy is beyond our most extreme hopes. Nick Hornby’s beautifully judged and lovingly crafted screenplay was the departure point for us all as we made the film and he is so deserving of this nomination. And I’m thrilled that Saoirse Ronan’s astonishing performance has been nominated. It’s a defining moment for this brilliant actress and one I’m ecstatic to see applauded in this way.”

Saoirse Ronan (Lead Actress): “When we made Brooklyn, we had no idea of what was to come. It is the most personal film I have ever done, the hardest one too. I am honoured to represent this film with my friends - John, Nick, Finola, Yves, Colm, Amanda. This has all been a dream. To see how the film has been embraced has been heartwarming. Thank you so very much to The Academy - you are a group of people I respect greatly and to be recognised by you means so much. Thank you!”

Nick Hornby (Adapted screenplay): “The moment I saw Saoirse Ronan’s incredible performance in Brooklyn, I knew that she would get nominated for an Oscar, and that she might drag one or two of us along with her. It’s fantastic recognition for a film that we are all so proud of, and a tribute to the persistence and ferocity of my wife Amanda Posey and her producing partner Finola Dwyer, who got the film made after several years of struggle.”

The Danish Girl

Eddie Redmayne (Lead actor): “I’m incredibly grateful to the Academy for this nomination – particularly in a year with so many brilliant films and performances. This nomination is a testament to the vision of our fearless director Tom Hooper, and the support of my fellow cast members, especially the incandescent Alicia Vikander. Being recognised for The Danish Girl is particularly special to me; if sharing Lili and Gerda’s journey and their love story can in any small way be a part of positive social change – then I will be even more grateful.”

Alicia Vikander (Lead actress): “I am deeply grateful to the Academy for this honour. To be recognised alongside these actresses and their inspiring performances is humbling. To be a part of bringing The Danish Girl to life was such a gift and to receive this nomination is a thrill.”

The Embrace Of The Serpent

Ciro Guerra (Foreign language film, Colombia): “We got together with some of the films crew, the producers, and some of the backers for breakfast. We watched the announcement together. Afterwards, I got a call from the Columbian president. There was so much screaming and jumping around. It was euphoria.”

Cristina Gallega (producer, Ciudad Lunar and Screen International Future Leader 2015): “We knew we had a powerful film but nobody had predicted the nomination. We shared the news with our crew and partners and we’re very proud to bring Colombia to the Academy Awards for the first time. This is such happy news for a small company likes ours. Today we are the Colombian team at the World Cup!”

Ex Machina

Alex Garland (Original screenplay): “I am deeply grateful for the Academy’s nomination. Ex Machina was the most personally meaningful project I’ve ever worked on, with the best and most talented group of filmmakers. This is a great honour.”

The Hateful Eight

Jennifer Jason Leigh (Supporting actress): “This is incredible news to wake up to. I am thrilled. I didn’t think the experience of working with Quentin and this cast could get any more rewarding… to get this recognition for this role is such a joy.”

Ennio Morricone (Original score): “When Quentin first asked me to write the score for his new Western, I said no. But Mr. Tarantino is an astute man, and he left the screenplay for my wife Maria to read. He had spotted who is the boss in our house. Maria realised instantly what a brilliant screenplay Quentin had written for The Hateful Eight, and she told me in no uncertain terms that I had to do it. I am so happy that I did. To work with such a brilliant young director at my age gives me great pleasure. He was just one year old when I wrote my first score for Sergio Leone for A Fistful of Dollars. It is also a deep honour and very humbling to receive this prestigious award nomination for doing the profession I love. I receive it on behalf of myself, Quentin Tarantino, The Weinstein Company, and the whole cast and crew of this remarkable film. And of course I receive it on behalf of my clever wife Maria.”

Robert Richardson (Cinematography): “I am deeply honoured to be nominated beside a brilliant ensemble of nominees.”

The Hunting Ground

Lady Gaga (Original song, Til It Happens To You): “This nomination lends a voice to so many victims and their families around the world. Thank you to The Academy for recognising the movement of people who have come together around The Hunting Ground and Til It Happens To You in the name of sexual assault. Diane Warren and I are simply honoured to represent the voices of so many survivors.”

Diane Warren (Original song, Til It Happens To You): “I didn’t sleep much in the last couple of days, some of my friends stayed over, Frances Fisher and Bonnie Greenberg, the one who got me involved in this. We just watched and counted down the minutes to the nominations. It was the first category, interesting. It’s so exiting, and two years in a row, that’s pretty cool!”

Inside Out

Pete Docter (Animated feature; Original screenplay co-writer): “It’s a good morning. I was in bed [when I got the news]. I was thinking I’d be cool and just sleep through it but I couldn’t so I woke up and my wife and I watched the live stream. We asked my 17-year-old daughter if she wanted us to wake her up, she said no so we were quietly cheering.”

Meg LeFauve (Original screenplay co-writer): “I was watching along with John Lasseter and Josh Cooley when I got the news. We all jumped up on our feet and screamed. It was pretty exciting. We were each on the phone with our families. Right now, I’m really happy for the team. [We went] down that rabbit hole of trying to create something so original from Pete Docter’s vision… I’m really enjoying the now!”

Joy

Jennifer Lawrence (Lead actress): “I am beyond grateful and humbled by this nomination. I feel incredibly honoured to be recognized among the other amazing women in this category. Joy is an incredibly inspiring story about an ordinary woman who does extraordinary things.  For me, working with David O Russell has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I share this nomination with him as well as our incredible supporting cast. I could not be more proud to be a part of this film and thankful to the producers and Fox for their unyielding support.”

The Look Of Silence

Joshua Oppenheimer (Documentary): “It’s incredibly humbling to be nominated again with The Look Of Silence. We could not have made these films without our anonymous Indonesian crew, and our gentle protagonist, Adi Rukun, who risked their lives to share their story. While the genocide began years ago, it hasn’t ended for the survivors because the perpetrators still hold power, and millions still live in fear. The Act Of Killing helped transform the way Indonesia talks about its past. The Look Of Silence helped Indonesia express its yearning for truth, justice, and reconciliation. We hope this nomination makes this dream a reality.”

The Martian

Drew Goddard (Adapted screenplay): “I’m thrilled to be nominated and I share this honour with Andy Weir and our extraordinary cast and crew. I’d like to give special thanks to the man who carried our red planet on his shoulders, Sir Ridley Scott. Congratulations to my fellow nominees, and thank you to everyone in the Academy for recognising The Martian.”

Simon Kinberg (Best picture): “We made this movie with a lot of love: love for science, love for cinema, a sort of radical optimism about human beings. We didn’t know if the world would embrace it. They did, and now I’m so thrilled the Academy has embraced it too.”

Ridley Scott (Best picture): “We are genuinely honoured, delighted and grateful for the very generous recognition our film received today from the Academy. The Martian was a demanding shoot and a true collaboration between every single person associated with it. So to see so many of our team members receive nominations  this morning is particularly gratifying. A deeply heartfelt thank you to all the members of the Academy.”

Richard Stammers (Visual effects): “I was at home watching the stream from the Academy. I was engaged in live text chats with my fellow nominees. I’m very pleased and very excited and proud of our teams work. We are all terribly ecstatic about the news.”

Mustang

Deniz Gamze Erguven (Foreign language film, France): “It’s the greatest honour. I do often feel that Sonay has a real potential to change the world and trigger change. This is the universal spotlight to a subject matter so dear to my heart and it’s so important for so many women in the world today. It’s just the best possible spotlight and strength and honour, and it’s a dream, an excellent dream. I’m just so thankful. We’ve been crazy with joy. It’s an immense honour, and it’s a relief. The characters [in this film] transcend and they react in ways we would have never have dared to react. It gives the film a very strong idea that courage pays and freedom isn’t compressible. It’s a film that gives strength and questions very fundamental weaknesses in our society. I hope it will trigger dialogue. Right now we have very confident or very random reactions to the film, but the spotlight the film has gives us so much strength.”

Racing Extinction

J Ralph (Original song for Manta Ray): “I was at the house with my wife and daughter playing with her toys. [The nominations] were on in the background. I was blown away, I was not expecting this. My wife told me. It makes me feel really good because the film is important. It deals with the fate of all humanity. It’s important for everyone to get involved in this and become aware of this. To celebrate the film through the song and the importance of raising the awareness of the state of the planet feels great. I’m grateful to the Academy for recognising that.”

The Revenant

Leonardo DiCaprio (Lead actor): “I am so grateful to the Academy for their recognition of this film. MakingThe Revenant was one of the most rewarding and collaborative experiences of my life. None of this would  have been possible without Alejandro’s talent, vision and determination. Our dedicated crew also deserves to share in this moment. Together, they have created a truly unique cinematic experience. Congratulations to all of my fellow nominees this season. Thank you to the Academy.”

Emmanuel Lubezki (Cinematography): “I’m so very very happy. I was in bed and suddenly my phone started to vibrate and I saw that I was getting a lot of messages. I don’t remember who sent the first one but it said ‘Congrats’, so I started getting excited. My daughters were still sleeping so I didn’t want to wake them up with loud celebrations but I was very excited. When I realised that the movie had that many nominations, I was exited for the team and for Alejandro and all of the effort that we went through. It’s great when your peers send you love, especially after a movie like this.”

Arnon Milchan (Best picture): “On behalf of Brad Weston and the entire team at New Regency, I thank the Academy for
honouring our films once again this year. At the end of the day, we love making movies. We love the artistry and the challenges and everything that comes in between. It is recognition like this that enables us to continue making films like The Revenant and The Big Short. On a personal level, I am incredibly proud to be nominated as a producer of an Alejandro Inarritu film. I share this honour with every single person in front of and behind the camera on The Revenant. Everyone involved with this project gave the film everything they had, and I believe it shows.”

Mary Parent (Best picture): “It’s so exciting to see The Revenant receive such recognition from The Academy and it’s such an honour to be a part of it. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such an incredibly talented group of amazing people.”

Room

Lenny Abrahamson (Director): “This is an incredible day for everyone involved in Room. Thank you to the Academy for honouring us with four nominations — it’s beyond all our wildest dreams. It is a testament to everyone who gave so much of themselves to make this film happen. I am so proud of Emma Donoghue whose incredible novel started the journey, of Ed Guiney, my filmmaking other half who has been with me, driving the train, from the beginning, and to everyone at Element Pictures Dublin, my filmmaking home, of the extraordinary Brie Larson and the prodigy that is Jacob Tremblay. Also love and thanks go to Stephen Rennicks, Nathan Nugent, Ethan Tobman and Danny Cohen, my filmmaking team. What a day for Irish cinema! I am so delighted.”

Ed Guiney (Best picture): “We are truly ecstatic. We are incredibly honoured to get four nominations from the
Academy, especially in these categories, it is truly amazing and beyond our wildest dreams. I’m especially pleased for Lenny’s best director nomination. He has done such an extraordinary job and it’s so brilliantly deserved. We are so grateful to our amazing cast and crew and to all our partners and financiers including A24, Film4, the Irish Film Board, FilmNation and No Trace Camping. It’s a landmark day for Irish cinema - eight nominations in total including ourselves, Brooklyn and the short film Stuter. Congrats to all! What a day!”

Shaun The Sheep Movie

Mark Burton (Animated film): “It’s a great feeling, tinged with a bit of sadness because we lost a great British actor today in Alan Rickman. It’s a group effort; it’s really a nomination that feels like it belongs to our team. It was a great challenge and a great learning curve, because it’s my first time as a director. I don’t draw or animate so I had to learn a lot of skills pretty quickly. We had this big idea that this should be a film with no dialogue. That was why I signed up because it was such an interesting idea. The fact that we pulled it off to where we’re nominated for an Oscar, that feels good.”

Son Of Saul

László Nemes (Foreign language film, Hungary): “We are honoured, excited and deeply appreciative to the Academy. Since the premiere of the film last May at the Cannes Film Festival, it has been a great adventure for all of us. The close collaboration of a dedicated international cast and crew transformed the ambition of a first feature into a film that can now reach a wider audience worldwide including a new generation that has lost touch with such defining moments of our civilisation as the Holocaust. The significance of this movie and its nomination for Hungary and Central Europe, in a region and continent threatened again by extremes, cannot be understated.”

Spotlight

Tom McCarthy (Directing, Best picture): “I have two little girls and we were trying to get them ready for the morning while keeping an eye on the TV and when they started to announce, we all just went and sat on the couch and jumped around a little bit. The kids were a little confused why mommy and daddy were screaming and hugging. It’s not a normal morning ritual here. My daughter kept saying, ‘Daddy, what do? What do?” And we had to explain to them it was a very special morning. We’re just thrilled. I never made a true story movie before based on true events. I jus thought in the beginning it was an incredibly compelling and timely subject matter. I thought I was really connected to the story. I have roots in Boston and I have roots in the Catholic community. I felt like I could tell the story with compassion and humanity, and at the heart, I felt like it was a really compelling story and investigation that’s procedural. I just thought it had a great engine to it and I felt if we could find the humanity in it, we’d have a very potent combination.” 

Steve Jobs

Michael Fassbender (Lead actor): “Thank you to the Academy, I feel very privileged for this nomination and honoured to be considered in what has been such a great year for cinema.” 

A War

Tobias Lindholm (Foreign language film, Denmark): “I was in my kitchen with my wife. I tried to isolate myself not knowing how I would react. We went totally crazy when we saw the news. After a couple of minutes we just found ourselves jumping up and down not knowing what to say. It’s one of those moments that I remember emotionally, but I have no idea what actually happened. It is wonderful news.”

When Marnie Was There

Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Animated film): “I am delighted and honoured that When Marnie Was There has been selected by the Academy as a nominee for best animated film of 2015. The selection of the film truly is a tribute to the entire production staff of the film, to whom I express my sincere appreciation. I will continue to endeavour to make films that will be seen and enjoyed by many people. Thank you very much for this honour.”

Winter On Fire

Evgeny Afineevsky (Documentary): “I am very thankful to all the documentary branch members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for nominating Winter On Fire for an Oscar for best documentary! For a kid who was born in Russia, raised in Israel and became an American filmmaker, it is an honour to be recognised for my work by AMPAS. I am proud to be an American filmmaker, and have the ability of freedom of speech and to be an artist with freedom of expression. I think today’s achievement belongs not only to me, but to all the people who were with me on Maidan Square in the Ukraine, during these 93 days of events shown in the film. To my amazing Ukrainian filmmaking team, who dedicated their lives to tell these human stories and document this history, thank you. To my great producers who stood behind me while I was putting the project together, guiding and advising me, thank you. To an amazing Netflix family team, who believed in me and helped me to bring the story to the people in over 130 countries across the globe, thank you. This revolution of dignity was a fascinating example of the unity of people from different social groups, ages, religions and nationalities and now this unique historic moment can be seen everywhere. Thank you to all my friends, supporters and believers, for entrusting and believing in my vision.”

Live-action short

Henry Hughes (Director, Day One): “I’m so proud of this movie and am thankful to all who worked on the film. As an army veteran having served in Afghanistan I wanted to make a film that brought up the brutal complexities of war and I could not have done it without my interpreter who gave my words meaning in Afghanistan. Thank you for allowing me to use yours to tell this story. And thank you to the Academy for honoring this film with a nomination.”

Film4

David Kosse, director, Film4: “We are deeply grateful that the Academy and its members have embraced our films Carol, Room, Ex Machina, 45 Years, Youth and Amy and recognised the extraordinary talent and creativity in bringing them to audiences far and wide. 

“15 nominations across the films is an amazing validation of our belief in the potential of these bold, inspirational stories we championed at Film4.  It’s enormously rewarding to see everyone’s hard work and creativity illuminated by an Oscar nomination and I am delighted to see so many of our friends and partners honoured today.  Congratulations to you all – it’s very well deserved.”

British Film Institute

Amanda Nevill, CEO, BFI: “What is so thrilling about today’s Oscar nominations is seeing British films and talent included across almost every category, showing that Academy voters have recognised what we already know: Brits excel across all areas of filmmaking, from our celebrated on-screen talent to the creatives, technicians and craftspeople whose extraordinary skills bring stories to life on the big screen.

“I am over the moon that the BFI and indeed all the National Lottery players of the UK can feel especially proud of Brooklyn and 45 Years, which were supported through the BFI Film Fund and between them have garnered four nominations. My warmest congratulations to the UK’s nominees – we are rooting for you all!”

GKIDS

Eric Beckman, founder and president, on two animated film nominations: “GKIDS is absolutely thrilled to have two nominees for best animated feature for two years in a row, and we are incredibly thankful to the Academy for embracing outstanding animated filmmaking that pushes the boundaries of the medium into new and exciting directions. And we are so happy for Alê Abreu and Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who are both amazingly talented wonderful, thoughtful artists that are so deserving of the recognition!”

Telefilm Canada

Carolle Brabant, executive director, on Canada’s 21 Oscar nominations: “Telefilm Canada is extremely proud to see such an impressive array of Canadian films and talent nominated for an Oscar this year. Canada’s outstanding 2016 crop testifies to a robust film industry overflowing with creativity.”