FSU alumni’s ‘Moonlight’ wins in three categories at Academy Awards

In a night full of controversy Moonlight won three Academy Awards

The stars gathered Sunday for the 89th edition of the Academy Awards. Excitement was in the air for the creators of Moonlight, who went into the night with eight nominations. Seven of the most important production roles including the Director graduated from FSU’s esteemed film school. The film had received plenty of praise from critics around the country, with the world intriqued by the remarkable story. Naturally, the students of Florida State tuned into see what the night had to offer.

Of the first seven nominations, Moonlight came home with hardware for Best Supporting Actor and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay). In a night that seemed destined for glory, the cast and crew of Moonlight awaited anxiously for the biggest announcement of the night: Best Picture. The competition was stiff, as many had considered La La Land and Hidden Figures strong candidates for the coveted Best Picture award.

After much anticipation, it was finally time. To the surprise of many, the award was initially presented to the team of La La Land. Once it was announced, the confusion began to ensue. The second it was announced, people with headsets came to the stage and the wrongfully announced winner immediately realized the flub. Suddenly, the envelope appeared. Jordan Horowitz, one of the La La Land producers was the first to begrudgingly announce: “There’s a mistake. ‘Moonlight,’ you guys won best picture.” The rest was history for the Florida State alumni.

The chaos may have put a slight damper on Moonlight’s victory, but the eventual celebration was about as good as it gets. Director Barry Jenkins was gleaming as he accepted the award as the night’s rightful champion. He exclaimed, “I’m done with my dreams” alongside his cast and crew. There to accept the award with him was producer Adele Romanski who also graduated from FSU.

As a Florida State student, this unlikely success serves as a reminder that hard work truly pays off. A production team that once walked the same campus we do today went on to win one of the most respected awards in America. Moments like this prove that FSU breeds excellence, and the sky is the limit. Any one of our fellow students could be next in line to show the world what we’re made of.

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