Category: Lifestyle

“Avatar: The Way of Water” sailed to the top of the box office in its second weekend, bringing in what studios estimate Sunday will be a strong $56 million in North America — a sign that the sequel may stay afloat into the new year and approach the massive expectations that met its release.

James Cameron’s digital extravaganza for 20th Century Studios has made $253.7 million domestically in its first 10 days of release, compared to $212.7 million in the same stretch for 2009’s first “Avatar,” which would go on to become the highest-grossing film of all time.

While Cameron’s films like the “Avatar” original and “Titanic” tend to have serious legs at the box office, sequels tend to open big and decline quickly, complicating guesses on where the film will end up. Its second-weekend drop-off from the $134 million it made in its first was not precipitous, given the way blockbusters open.

“This is James Cameron’s first $100 million opener,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore “For this movie to have opened that big and only dropped 58%, it shows it has staying power.”

Globally, “The Way of Water” is already the third highest-grossing film released in 2022, bringing in $855 million — putting it behind only “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jurassic World Dominion” — and is a lock to surpass $1 billion.

It’s also clear sailing for the film looking ahead, with more holiday time coming and no comparable competition until February, when Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is released.

Storms across the U.S. could keep people home, however.

“The biggest foe that Avatar is facing at this moment is the weather,” Dergarabedian said.

Universal’s animated Shrek spinoff, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” featuring the voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, finished a distant second with $11.35 million in its opening weekend.

Sony’s biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” finished third with $5.3 million.

The weekend’s biggest disappointment was “Babylon,” the epic of early Hollywood from “La La Land” director Damian Chazelle starring Brad Pitt and Margo Robbie. In a nationwide release it brought in just $3.5 million, finishing fourth.

The tepid, $6.5 million opening weekend in October of director David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam,” another film, set in a similar period, that combined prestige, scope, star power and a celebrated auteur, brought industry worries that audiences just weren’t flocking to theaters for such films.

The concerns proved justified, as “Babylon” barely made more than half of the opening of “Amsterdam.”

The coming weeks in theaters, streaming showings and any nominations it may get could help “Babylon” rise above bomb status.

“I would say Babylon is a movie that isn’t about the opening weekend,” Dergarabedian said. “We’ll have to see what it does in the coming weeks then into the new year, particularly if it gets more awards buzz.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, with Wednesday through Sunday in parentheses. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $56 million.
2. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” 11.35 million.
3. “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” $5.3 million.
4. “Babylon,” $3.5 million.
5. “Violent Night,” $3.14 million.
6. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” $3 million.
7. “The Whale,” $924,000.
8. “The Menu,” $617,000.
9. “The Fabelmans,” $550,000.
10. “Strange World,” $410,000.

 

 

Source: Voice of America

 

The movies have returned to Indian-administered Kashmir after an absence of more than three decades.

A new multiplex cinema, INOX Srinagar, lit up its three screens for the first time on September 30, almost 33 years after all of the region’s theaters shut down in the face of a campaign by armed militants opposed to cinemas, beauty parlors and liquor shops.

Even today, the threat of violence remains high for the several dozen theatergoers who visit the multiplex each day, seeking a novel experience in the case of the younger generation or, in the case of their elders, a nostalgic reminder of times past.

Would-be patrons must pass through a tight security cordon, having their cars checked by a rifle-bearing policeman, and then being frisked at the main gate before entering the theater. An armored truck with at least a dozen policemen is stationed near the entry gate, and an elevated security tower stands next to the ticket counter.

The Kashmir Valley boasted some 15 movie theaters until 1989, when militants opposed to Indian rule in the region demanded their closure. All were shut down on January 1, 1990.

Some were turned into malls, some into hospitals, and some into bunkers now occupied by Indian paramilitary forces. Several, subjected to grenade or firebomb attacks, are nothing more than piles of bricks. A few short-lived attempts to reopen theaters since 1990 failed in the face of heavy security and militant threats.

None of that history has dampened the enthusiasm of INOX Srinagar owner Vikas Dhar, whose family has owned movie theaters in Srinagar since the 1960s. He told VOA that for him, the opening of his multiplex marks the realization of a dream.

So far attendance has been sparse, with a little more than 5,000 patrons visiting the 524-seat complex in its first month of operation. But Dhar is already looking ahead.

“It is not a big figure, but it will increase with the passage of time when people will come out of their houses without being afraid of anyone,” he said.

“We are planning to provide a wholesome entertainment for the entire family, and it requires more development,” Dhar continued. “The launch of multiplex is generating interest among people and will surely increase in the near future. We are also thinking of developing a play area for children and food court for the adults next year.”

A peek at the past

For Mahjabeen Ashai, a homemaker in her early 60s, a visit to the cinema brought back the past. “Though hard but I visited INOX Srinagar just to recollect memories of old times when I used to watch movies in halls with my husband,” she told VOA.

But for a younger generation of Kashmiris who have never visited a movie theater, there is the question of why they should put up with the security risks when they can enjoy the same films in their own homes on streaming video – commonly referred to in the region as OTT (Over The Top).

“I like watching stuff from the comfort of my home,” said Tayba Gulnar, a 27-year-old lawyer. “Almost all of us have big TV screens with OTT subscriptions at home. Cinema is a public place and is different from what it used to be 10-15 years ago.

“Why should I go to the cinema to watch a movie?” she asked. “I would only watch an animated movie in cinema, if I ever go there.”

But Dhar is convinced that even younger Kashmiris will learn to appreciate the unique experience of watching a film in a cinema. He said that movies such as “Avatar” and “Avengers” with their dramatic special effects can only be fully enjoyed on the big screen.

Dhar’s optimism is shared by Manmohan Singh Gauri, whose Palladium Cinema was perhaps the best-known theater in the region before shutting down with the others at the beginning of 1990. India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was photographed shaking hands in front of the theater with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, then prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir, not long after independence from Britain.

Gauri told VOA that he hopes to open his own two-screen multiplex if he is granted permission by the government. He said he expects his bid could make a big impact, adding that the return of cinema to the valley can give younger Kashmiris access to more information about what is happening around the world.

Despite the strict security measures, the threat of violence remains a concern; just in the past week four militants were killed in twin encounters with Indian forces in Kashmir.

But Dhar said he is taking steps to keep his patrons safe. “At present we are running three to four shows in a day and don’t have any plans for late evening shows,” he said.

 

 

Source: Voice of America

 

Celebration and reflection, joy and gratitude – these were the sentiments at Commencement Dinner 2022, which marked a memorable close to this year’s Commencement.

Taking place at the Kent Ridge Guild House, the dinner honoured the newly minted graduates and was graced by some 160 guests, from the graduates – including Honorary Graduate Professor Wang Gungwu – and faculty to members of the NUS Board, and NUS Pro-Chancellors Mr Po’ad Mattar, Mrs Theresa Foo, and Prof S. Jayakumar.

Sharing about their lives post-graduation and heartily congratulating their fellow graduates, Masters of Ceremonies Ms Sneha Sunil Pillai and Mr Chua Huaren, graduating Student Ambassadors from the College of Humanities and Sciences—NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and NUS Faculty of Science respectively—set the tone for an exuberant evening marked by inspiring speeches and moving performances.

Looking back, moving forward

Offering a rousing toast to the graduating Class of 2022, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye lauded the graduates’ “exceptional resolve, innovative spirit, and uplifting ambitions to make the world a better place”.

He further paid tribute to outstanding graduates like Mr Nur Hazeem Abdul Nasser, Yale-NUS graduate and Singapore Rhodes Scholarship recipient who founded the SignPost Project to highlight the challenges faced by vulnerable members of our community who struggle to make a living as tissue paper sellers and cardboard collectors.

Prof Tan also imparted three essential life lessons on change and transformation to the new graduates, gleaned from the experience of COVID-19—to be adaptable, open-minded, and innovative in the face of changing circumstances; to maintain a focus on long-term priorities, even while remaining flexible in working out pathways and solutions; and finally, to strive towards a common purpose and make a difference both individually and collectively.

“[The] new generation of NUS graduates is imbued with the distinctive NUS spirit of excellence and service to community, and well ready to lead the way in building a common future that offers greater hope, security and prosperity,” said Prof Tan.

“I wish all graduates a fulfilling journey ahead, and that they will find many opportunities not only for self-development, but also for giving back to community,” he added.

Food for the soul

The night was also enlivened by student performances that enthralled and inspired.

These include energetic, upbeat renditions of “Perfume Medley” and “Counting Stars” from NUS Resonance, the pioneer and premier collegiate a capella group in Singapore which has clinched multiple awards in local and international competitions.

The NUS Jazz Band, the only tertiary jazz CCA that houses its own big band, vocal ensemble, and combo bands, serenaded the audience with a soulful repertoire of timeless classics, “On the Sunny Side of the Street”, “Love is Here to Stay”, and “Dat Dere”.

A sophisticated dance number by NUS Dance Synergy, titled “Play Pretend”, celebrated the perpetual renewal of the self and sought to represent the path of self-discovery – through the journey of pursuing knowledge and the experience of graduation.

Reflections on the graduates’ journeys also found expression in the speech delivered by Ms Lim Huiyi of the College of Design and Engineering, Representative of the Class of 2022 and NUS Students’ Union Deputy Communications Secretary.

Encapsulating the spirit of the graduating class, she said, “It was our resilience in adapting to the new normal that allowed us to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic in our own way, crafting our identity as the Class of 2022.”

“By pursing our passions and having the strength to give our best every day despite the multitude of stumbling blocks in our path, we can be proud of how far we have come.”

This story is the final instalment of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2022, which celebrates the achievements of our 13,975 graduates through 28 in-person ceremonies. For more on Commencement, read our story on the opening ceremony, check out the official Commencement website, or look up (and tag) #NUS2022 on our social media channels!

Source: TREND News Agency

Country star Mickey Gilley, whose namesake Texas honky-tonk inspired the 1980 film Urban Cowboy and a nationwide wave of Western-themed nightspots, has died. He was 86.

Gilley died Saturday in Branson, Missouri, where he helped run the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre. He had been performing as recently as last month but was in failing health over the past week.

“He passed peacefully with his family and close friends by his side,” according to a statement from Mickey Gilley Associates.

Gilley — cousin of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis — opened Gilley’s, “the world’s largest honky tonk,” in Pasadena, Texas, in the early 1970s. By mid-decade, he was a successful club owner and had enjoyed his first commercial success with Room Full of Roses. He began turning out country hits regularly, including Window Up Above, She’s Pulling Me Back Again and the honky-tonk anthem Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time.

Overall, he had 39 Top 10 country hits and 17 No. 1 songs. He received six Academy of Country Music Awards, and also worked on occasion as an actor, with appearances on Murder She Wrote, The Fall Guy, Fantasy Island and The Dukes of Hazzard.

“If I had one wish in life, I would wish for more time,” Gilley told The Associated Press in March 2001 as he celebrated his 65th birthday. Not that he’d do anything differently, the singer said.

“I am doing exactly what I want to do. I play golf, fly my airplane and perform at my theater in Branson, Missouri,” he said. “I love doing my show for the people.”

‘Urban Cowboy’

Meanwhile, the giant nightspot’s attractions, including its famed mechanical bull, led to the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, starring John Travolta and Debra Winger and regarded by many as a countrified version of Travolta’s 1977 disco smash, Saturday Night Fever. The film inspired by Gilley’s club was based on an Esquire article by Aaron Latham about the relationship between two regulars at the club.

“I thank John Travolta every night before bed for keeping my career alive,” Gilley told the AP in 2002. “It’s impossible to tell you how grateful I am for my involvement with Urban Cowboy. That film had a huge impact on my career, and still does.”

The soundtrack included such hits as Johnny Lee’s Lookin’ for Love, Boz Scaggs’ Look What You’ve Done for Me and Gilley’s Stand by Me. The movie turned the Pasadena club into an overnight tourist draw and popularized pearl snap shirts, longneck beers, the steel guitar and mechanical bulls across the country.

But the club shut down in 1989 after Gilley and his business partner Sherwood Cryer feuded over how to run the place. A fire destroyed it soon after.

An upscale version of the old Gilley’s nightclub opened in Dallas in 2003. In recent years, Gilley moved to Branson.

He was married three times, most recently to Cindy Loeb Gilley. He had four children, three with his first wife, Geraldine Garrett, and one with his second, Vivian McDonald.

A Natchez, Mississippi, native, Gilley grew up poor, learning boogie-woogie piano in Ferriday, Louisiana, alongside Lewis and fellow cousin Jimmy Swaggart, the future evangelist. Like Lewis, he would sneak into the Louisiana clubs to listen to R&B music. He moved to Houston to work construction but played the local club scene at night and recorded and toured for years before catching on in the ’70s.

Gilley had suffered health problems in recent years. He underwent brain surgery in August 2008 after specialists diagnosed hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an increase in fluid in the cranium. Gilley had been suffering from short-term memory loss and credited the surgery with halting the onset of dementia.

He underwent more surgery in 2009 after he fell off a step, forcing him to cancel scheduled performances in Branson. In 2018, he sustained a fractured ankle and fractured right shoulder in an automobile accident.

Source: Voice of America

Rich Strike came off a blistering pace at odds of more than 80-1 to beat 19 blue-blooded opponents and produce one of the biggest upsets in history while capturing the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rich Strike, who was only entered into the field on Friday when Ethereal Road was scratched, is trained by Eric Reed, and owned by RED TR-Racing. Sonny Leon, a journeyman jockey based in Ohio, rode Rich Strike and won his first Kentucky Derby in his first attempt.

Race-favorite Epicenter was second by a length, with Zandon third by another half-length.

Rich Strike had raced just seven times before the Derby, winning once and finishing third three times.

He found his way through the field after starting in the 21st and far outside post position and under the fastest opening quarter mile in race history.

Rich Strike was still far back under a very fast pace as the horses turned for home down the long Churchill Downs stretch but went to the rail to save ground. Leon moved out to get past a fading Messier and then returned to the rail to run down Epicenter and Zandon, who were eye to eye with the finish line in sight but could not hold off the winner.

The winner is the second longest shot to win the Derby after Donerail took the post at 91-1 odds to win the Run for the Roses in 1913.

Source: Voice of America

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 24. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) announced the official rate of foreign currencies on April 24, Trend reports referring to CBI.

According to the currency exchange rate of the Central Bank of Iran, 10 currencies have grown and 29 have decreased in price, compared to April 21.

According to CBI, $1 equals 42,000 Iranian rials and 1 euro equals 45,358 rials.

Currency Iranian rial on April 24 Iranian rial on April 21

1 US dollar USD 42,000 42,000

1 British pound GBP 53,933 54,837

1 Swiss franc CHF 43,859 44,358

1 Swedish krona SEK 4,396 4,452

1 Norwegian krone NOK 4,688 4,769

1 Danish krone DKK 6,095 6,131

1 Indian rupee INR 549 551

1 UAE dirham AED 11,437 11,437

1 Kuwaiti dinar KWD 137,170 137,536

100 Pakistani rupees PKR 22,389 22,590

100 Japanese yens JPY 32,686 32,879

1 Hong Kong dollar HKD 5,353 5,355

1 Omani rial OMR 109,234 109,232

1 Canadian dollar CAD 33,010 33,623

1 New Zealand dollar NZD 27,877 28,610

1 South African rand ZAR 2,693 2,789

1 Turkish lira TRY 2,850 2,863

1 Russian ruble RUB 543 511

1 Qatari riyal QAR 11,539 11,539

100 Iraq dinars IQD 2,878 2,878

1 Syrian pound SYP 17 17

1 Australian dollar AUD 30,424 31,309

1 Saudi riyal SAR 11,201 11,200

1 Bahraini dinar BHD 111,703 111,701

1 Singapore dollar SGD 30,634 30,806

100 Bangladeshi takas BDT 49,413 49,199

10 Sri Lankan rupees LKR 1,312 1,255

1 Myanmar kyat MMK 23 23

100 Nepalese rupees NPR 34,295 34,400

1 Libyan dinar LYD 8,929 8,911

1 Chinese yuan CNY 6,460 6,544

100 Thai baths THB 123,557 124,282

1 Malaysian ringgit MYR 9,711 9,808

1,000 South Korean wons KRW 33,728 34,018

1 Jordanian dinar JOD 59,239 59,238

1 euro EUR 45,358 45,604

100 Kazakh tenge KZT 9,462 9,486

1 Georgian lari GEL 13,836 13,919

1,000 Indonesian rupiahs IDR 2,924 2,927

1 Afghan afghani AFN 484 482

1 Belarus ruble BYN 12,498 12,782

1 Azerbaijani manat AZN 24,707 24,717

100 Philippine pesos PHP 80,222 80,098

1 Tajik somoni TJS 3,352 3,358

1 Turkmen manat TMT 12,002 12,011

In Iran, the official exchange rate is used for the import of some essential products.

SANA system is a system introduced by the Central Bank of Iran to the currency exchange offices, where the price of 1 euro is 273,941 rials, and the price of $1 is 253,623 rials.

NIMA is a system intended for the sale of a certain percentage of the foreign currency gained from export.

The price of 1 euro in this system is 266,175 rials, and the price of $1 is 246,469 rials.

On the black market, $1 is worth about 275,000-278,000 rials, while 1 euro is worth about 300,000-303,000 rials.

Source: TREND News Agency

A very good afternoon to everyone.

I am delighted to be here for the opening of our second Climate Action Exhibition, “Change the Present, Save the Oceans”, held in collaboration with City Developments Limited.

I would like to say a very big thank you to CDL for making this meaningful exhibition possible. CDL has also created a virtual 3D version of the exhibition, so that those who can’t visit the gallery in person can enjoy it from the comfort of their home, wherever in Singapore or over the world they may be at. I hope that through the exhibition, more people will understand the importance of our marine habitats and biodiversity, and how everyone can play a part in conserving them.

Indeed, for many years now, CDL has been flying the flag of sustainability; not just by organising exhibitions and providing us with a beautiful facility in the Singapore Botanical Gardens, an UNESCO site, but also in its everyday work, in its support for NGOs and sustainability activities, and in its development of projects in Singapore and around the world. I hope other developers will also embody the sustainability goals that we set out to achieve, and to help us achieve the “80-80-80” targets for the built environment under the Singapore Green Building Masterplan.

Impact of Climate Change on Marine Biodiversity

Our marine ecosystems are an invaluable part of Singapore’s natural capital. Although the waters in Singapore are in some of the busiest waterways in the world, they are rich and valuable. Coastal reefs and mangroves provide us with essential ecosystem services – they help protect us from storm surges and floods, they act as carbon sinks that mitigate our emissions, and much more.

Despite being a small city-state, Singapore’s marine ecosystems support a very wide range of marine biodiversity. For example, we have more than 250 species of hard corals, which is about a third of the total hard coral species in the world. We also have over 200 species of sponges, 120 species of reef fish, a rich diversity of nudibranchs, and other invertebrates. Our mangroves are one of the most biodiverse in the world as well – we have more than half of the world’s ‘true’ mangrove species.

And in fact, we are still finding new species in Singapore. Just recently, researchers from the National University of Singapore discovered three Bryozoan species that are new to science at the Sisters’ Island Marine Park. Nine other species of Bryozoan were also recorded in Singapore for the very first time. Bryozoans are simple, filter-feeding animals, and interestingly, some of them have been found to be a promising source of anticancer drugs. So, it is very important to conserve and protect our marine habitats and their rich biodiversity, especially given their significant role in our ecosystems.

But marine ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. For example, rising sea levels threaten to overwhelm coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangroves. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification also result in coral bleaching, which can cause irreversible damage to them. This is why we must take collective action to protect our marine ecosystems, as we transform into a City in Nature.

Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience

To do so, we have dedicated $25 million to the Marine Climate Change Science programme recently, which builds on the work of the earlier Marine Science R&D Programme.

The Marine Climate Change Science programme will fund research to understand the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. This will help us to use nature-based solutions more effectively, to protect and restore Singapore’s coastal habitats. For instance, we recently worked with community partners to plant trees and restore the coastal habitat at Kranji Coastal Nature Park. By combining habitat enhancement with engineering solutions, we established a natural green belt in the Nature Park, which not only supports the biodiversity there, but also protects our coastline from erosion and storm surges.

In partnership with scientists, volunteers and marine conservation groups, we are also restoring two other coastal sites on Pulau Ubin. Using nature-based solutions, these projects encourage the natural establishment of mangroves to mitigate coastal erosion and habitat loss. This will in turn provide spaces for marine and coastal species to thrive and restore more of the island’s rich biodiversity.

We will continue to study different nature-based solutions in other parts of Singapore, to strengthen our climate resilience.

Partnering the Community for Marine Conservation

Transforming Singapore into a City in Nature is not something the Government can do on its own. We need everyone to play a part.

That is why we have been partnering the community on the Marine Conservation Action Plan, which sets out our comprehensive plans for marine biodiversity conservation.

We work closely with researchers and academics, volunteers and the public on various research, outreach and education efforts, such as monitoring the health of our coastal and marine habitats, enhancing coral reefs and other marine habitats, and conducting species recovery projects for endemic, rare or threatened species.

I would like to thank our marine community for stepping up to support these marine conservation efforts. And as border reopens and travel resumes, we hope more collaborations will take place physically and virtually.

As just one example, our Friends of the Marine Park community, comprising researchers, kayakers, boat operators, and divers, works with the National Parks Board to manage Bendera Bay on St. John’s Island. This is a 3.9-hectare bay comprising various marine habitats such as mangroves, seagrass meadows and rocky shores. It provides unique opportunities to organise activities such as beach and dive clean-ups, guided walks, and citizen science projects, to raise awareness on marine conservation and heritage.

Many other volunteers have participated in our various outreach programmes, including biodiversity surveys and other citizen science initiatives, and we thank them for their contributions and efforts. Through these shared activities and experience, we can forge stronger community bonds, and better steward our environment together.

Promoting Community Stewardship

Today, more and more Singaporeans are going out to enjoy the wonders of nature, especially amid the stresses and strains of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is great that more people are experiencing the joys of the great outdoors, some for the first time. It is a golden opportunity for us to reach out to them and share more about our marine environment and how best to care for it – the actions that directly or indirectly support the conservation of the seas around us.

If you are keen to join us in this effort, there are many ways to volunteer. You can join our Intertidal Watch citizen programme, and share your knowledge of our intertidal zone with visitors. The next low-tide season is coming up and we are working with our community partners, stakeholders and NGOs to take this opportunity to turn things around and to reach out to communities who are quite excited in exploring our rocky shores, to share with them the knowledge and the spirit of stewardship. Or you can help to share responsible etiquette that all of us should practise when visiting intertidal habitats and other coastal areas in Singapore. You can also join us on our biodiversity surveys, and habitat restoration programmes, such as at Chek Jawa Wetlands on Pulau Ubin.

Let us all do our part, so that everyone, including our future generations, can continue to appreciate our precious biodiversity in its natural habitats.

Thank you.

Source: Municipal Services Office

Troy Kotsur made history on Sunday as the first deaf man to win an Oscar for his role in “CODA,” and Ariana DeBose took the supporting actress trophy for “West Side Story” as Hollywood returned to all-out glitz at this year’s Academy Awards.

In “CODA,” an acronym for “child of deaf adults,” Kotsur played Frank Rossi, the father of a teenager who struggles to help her family’s fishing business while pursuing her own aspirations in music.

“This is amazing to be here on this journey. I cannot believe I am here,” Kotsur said in a heartfelt speech delivered in sign language as he accepted the supporting actor honor.

“This is dedicated to the deaf community, the ‘CODA’ community and the disabled community. This is our moment,” he added.

The only other deaf person to win an Oscar was Kotsur’s “CODA” co-star Marlee Matlin. She won best actress for her role in 1986 romantic drama “Children of a Lesser God.”

Supporting actress went to DeBose for playing the spirited Anita, who sings “America” in Steven Spielberg’s remake of the classic musical.

As she held her gold statuette, the Afro-Latina actress asked the audience to imagine her as a young girl “in the back seat of a white Ford Focus.”

“You see a queer, openly queer Latina, who found her strength in life through art. And that’s what we’re here to celebrate,” she said.

“So, anybody who’s ever questioned your identity. Or find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us,” she added, referencing the moving song from “West Side Story.”

DeBose also thanked “divine inspiration” Rita Moreno, who earned the best supporting actress award in 1962 for playing Anita in the original movie version of the musical.

Beyonce opened the show by performing “Be Alive,” an Oscar-nominated song from the movie “King Richard,” about the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. She and her backup dancers, clad in sparkling yellow gowns, performed from a tennis court in the sisters’ hometown of Compton, California.

After going three years without a host, a trio was chosen to guide Sunday’s ceremony: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.

“This year, the Oscars hired three women to host because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” Schumer joked.

“And for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night,” added openly gay Sykes, referring to legislation in the state that limits LGBTQ discussion in schools and has been labeled by critics in Hollywood and elsewhere as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

A dark Western, “The Power of the Dog,” is battling the feel-good drama “CODA” for the prestigious best picture prize. A win by either movie would mark a milestone by handing the statuette to a streaming service.

Netflix Inc NFLX.O released “Power of the Dog” while “CODA” streamed on Apple TV+ AAPL.O.

Producers said they planned an upbeat show but will acknowledge the crisis in Ukraine, which has killed thousands and driven a quarter of Ukraine’s 44 million people from their homes. Actor Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, is among the night’s presenters. Jason Momoa wore a handkerchief in the colors of the Ukrainian flag: blue and yellow.

Jessica Chastain, Nicole Kidman and other nominees donned a rainbow of colors for a ceremony with 2,500 gown- and tuxedo-clad attendees and free from last year’s pandemic restrictions. Nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee wore a light blue suit, while Chastain picked a lavender and gold gown with giant ruffles on the skirt. Kirsten Dunst and Marlee Matlin chose bright red.

After past complaints about a lack of diversity, two of this year’s four acting accolades may go to people of color. Will Smith is likely to earn his first Oscar for “King Richard,” awards watchers say, as is Ariana DeBose for “West Side Story.”

In a bid to draw more viewers, especially younger ones, after years of declining ratings, the show will add two awards, the results of fan votes for favorite film and scene. Some winners were announced ahead of the live show with their speeches edited into the show.

The best picture race hinges on whether the 9,900 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences back a gothic psychological thriller or an uplifting story.

“Power of the Dog,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a repressed cowboy who torments his brother’s new wife, outpaced all movies with 12 nominations. It had been considered the leader until “CODA” landed top honors from the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild.

Source: Voice of America