The first of the 2009 Oscars were awarded this weekend to actress Lauren Bacall , cinematographer Gordon Willis and producer Roger Corman. This follows the announcement over the summer that the Academy was canceling the presentation of honorary Oscars from the televised broadcast and creating a separate event for the awards. As a consequence, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards have been created and the opening ceremony was consumed this Saturday in a ballroom in Hollywood.
USA Today reported that the ceremony was crowded with numerous potential nominees for the approaching Oscars. Quentin Tarantino presented the Oscar to Corman, Jeff Bridges doing the same for Willis. In the audience there were among others, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Gabourey Sidibe or Abbie Cornish.
The two co-host of the upcoming Oscars, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, were also present at the event.
