The annual Governor’s Awards, where honorary awards are presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, are usually a celebration. This year’s 15th edition was a happy occasion too, but it was muted by the fact that one of the honorees, Quincy Jones, died on Nov. 3, just two weeks before the awards were presented on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
Jones’ daughter, actress Rashida Jones, spoke for the family in accepting the award. “In some ways it was a difficult decision for our family to be here tonight but we felt like we wanted to celebrate his beautiful life and career,” she said. “His music has literally defined an entire century of culture – jazz, disco, film, pop, hip-hop, but the real thread in his music is that his music is all infused with his love.”
This year’s other honorees, voted on by the Academy’s board of governors and announced in June, were casting director Juliet Taylor; filmmaker and philanthropist Richard Curtis (the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award); and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, best known for the James Bond franchise (the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award).
Jones’ award was presented “for his artistic genius, relentless creativity and trailblazing legacy in film music.” Curtis was honored “for his extraordinary charitable work that has transformed lives around the world.” Taylor was cited “for her expansive body of work and indelible influence on the field of film casting.” Wilson and Broccoli were honored “for their consistently high quality, high impact motion picture production.”
The event was produced by Jennifer Fox for the sixth year in a row. Rickey Minor was music director.
Here are eight highlights from the 2024 Governor’s Awards.
