The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented an honorary award Oscar To actor and producer Tom Cruisechoreographer and actress Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas at the 16th festival. Governor's Awards on Sunday at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.
Music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton received the Gene Gersholt Humanitarian Award, which she accepted in a pre-recorded message.
The annual event, hosted by Jennifer Fox, attracted a slew of directors, stars and Oscar contenders. Director Guillermo del Toro was in attendance along with his “Frankenstein” actors Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth, as well as costume designer Kate Hawley and composer Alexandre Desplat.
Other notable attendees I spotted included Noah Baumbach and Adam Sandler from Jay Kelly, Edward Berger and Colin Farrell from The Ballad of the Little Player, and Kate Winslet with writer Joe Anders from Goodbye June. Directors Clint Bentley, Richard Linklater and Rian Johnson were in attendance along with the cast of their films Dream Train, New Nebula and Wake Dead. “Wicked: For Good” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo also charmed the room, along with “Blue Moon's” Ethan Hawke and “Hamnet's” Chloe Zhao.
Notable absences included Marty Supreme's Timothée Chalamet, Hamnet's Paul Mescal and Nuremberg's Russell Crowe.
Legendary production designer Wynn Thomas won his first Oscar, presented by Octavia Spencer. Widely regarded as the first African-American production designer in film history, Thomas has worked with directors such as Spike Lee, Tim Burton and Ron Howard on films such as Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Hidden Figures and A Beautiful Mind. He was also the first African American to join the Art Directors Guild and to be nominated for an Art Directors Guild Award.
In his acceptance speech, Thomas reflected on growing up poor and black in Philadelphia, finding salvation and purpose in books. He delivered this line with the loudest laugh of the evening: “The local gangs looked down on me and called me a woman. But this woman grew up to work with great directors!”
“Wicked for Good” star Cynthia Erivo had the honor of presenting an honorary Oscar to choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, whom she affectionately calls “Auntie.”
Allen spotted Cruise in the audience and couldn't resist a playful nod to his iconic “Risky Business” moment. “Honey,” she teased, “we loved it when you left the house in those white undies.” The crowd roared as Allen wallowed in nostalgia, reminding everyone why Cruise remains one of Hollywood's most enduring showmen.
The honorary award, according to the Academy, is presented “for distinguished lifetime achievement, exceptional contribution to the advancement of the cinematic arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.”
The Gene Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, recognizes “an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought glory to the motion picture industry by promoting human well-being and helping to eliminate inequalities.”
The 2024 Governor's Awards honored Quincy Jones (posthumously), the first Black producer nominated for Best Picture; legendary casting director Juliet Taylor; writer and director Richard Curtis; and longtime James Bond producers Michael J. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
As usual, the untelevised ceremony featured a mix of heartfelt speeches, star reunions and candid moments that viewers at home will never see. Here are 10 of the most memorable moments from the room.
Ariana Grande posed for a photo with EJAE, the voice of “Golden”
Ariana Grande had one of the most adorable intergenerational interactions of the evening when she posed for a photo with EJAE, the singer of “Golden,” the year's biggest hit and a leading contender in the original song race. She also posed with singer-songwriter Aiyana-Lee, who sings and appears on Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest.” The exchange delighted those in attendance and showed how the Governor's Awards uniquely combine music, film and rising talent.
Tom CruiseAn honorary Oscar—and the moment Sydney Sweeney froze
Two-time Best Director winner Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu presented Tom Cruise with an honorary Oscar, calling him a superfan of “Amour Perros” and praising him as “the epitome of cinema.” Iñárritu will direct Cruise in the as-yet-untitled Warner Bros. film, scheduled for release in 2026.
Watching Cruise at that moment, I couldn't help but think about Paul Newman's trajectory – when he received an Honorary Oscar and then the following year won the competition for The Color of Money (1986), which starred a young Cruise.
Previously, Sydney Sweeney experienced her own movie star shock wave. When Cruz approached, she froze.
-Have you ever met him? I asked.
“No, never,” she said.
– Go say hello.
– I don’t even know what to say.
Earlier in the evening, Andra Day—an obvious Cruise fan—corrected the cancel button mid-conversation. The aura of a movie star remains invincible.
Will Arnett starts the case, Andra Day destroys the house
Will Arnett, star of Bradley Cooper's third directorial film, Is This Coming?, set the tone with a free and deadpan introduction: “You may know me from my legendary film career – and this story is thanks to Bradley Cooper, he finally made a good movie, right?” Arnett then handed things over to his co-star Andre Day, who performed a soulful cover of Dolly Parton's “Jolene” immediately after Parton's pre-recorded acceptance speech, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
Austin Butler chats with Jacob Elordi and walks with Josh O'Connor
Between greetings and photo ops, Austin Butler played the role of unofficial assistant. The Elvis actor appeared to direct Wake Dead star Josh O'Connor to his seat before speaking to Jacob Elordi. The Frankenstein star also squeezed in conversations with Jennifer Lopez, who was there to support her film Kiss of the Spider Woman, and the cast of Cannes favorite Sentimental Value, including Renata Reinsve, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleas.
Tom Cruise's speech makes Wagner Moura ready to film
“Secret Agent” star Wagner Moura was deeply touched Career video and speech by Tom Cruise.
“I really want to go and make a movie right now,” he told me later, calling the Cruise tribute “clean fuel.”
The room is so full of stars that it is impossible to walk straight through
At some point I found myself surrounded by Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio Del Toro, Jennifer Lopez, Ted Sarandos, Hailee Steinfeld, Rian Johnson, Mark Hamill, Sydney Sweeney – and Cruise himself. Navigating a room has become an Olympic sport, but what room to be in!
Lily Tomlin Tribute to “The Wild and Wonderful Dolly Parton”
Comedy legend Lily Tomlin received a standing ovation before launching into Dolly Parton's hilarious, twisty, heavily improvised 15-minute performance. Sharing that she has problems with double vision, she reminisced about slumber parties with Jane Fonda and Parton during the making of the 1980 comedy classic 9 to 5, joking, “Can you imagine Brando inviting Pacino and Duvall over for a sleepover?”
Halfway through, producers attempted to replay Parton's pre-recorded speech, prompting Tomlin to pause and ask if she had been gently nudged off stage.
Uncut Gems reunion
Adam Sandler met with his “Uncut Gems” directors Benny and Josh Safdie, who were supporting their new films “Smashing Machine” and “Marty Supreme” as individual directors. The moment brought a flurry of table-hopping from filmmakers eager to greet them.
Looking forward to the Hail Mary Project
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were not filming this year and were guests at the Governor's Awards ceremony. However, they have shared scant details about their Ryan Gosling sci-fi adventure, The Hail Mary Project, which is scheduled for release in March. “Ryan is very emotional in this movie. Amazingly emotional,” Miller said. There were rumors around town that the film was excellent, but the couple had not yet been “locked in”.
Menu for the stars
Guests dined on Oscar matzo with smoked salmon; aged parmesan; beet and truffle hummus; avocado puree with homemade pita bread; steak frites with grilled filet mignon; Café de Paris butter; French fries; and roasted Brussels sprouts. Dessert included Espresso Chocolate Candy, Raspberry Linzer Cookies and Caramelized Lemon Tart paired with La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2021, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2015 and Lallier R.021 Champagne.
