DW
16/03/2026
"Chaotic, frightening times": Diverse Academy Awards presenters and winners called out Trump's wars and restrictions on human rights.
'ICE OUT OF LA' was projected on a hotel near the Dolby Theatre, in protest against the immigration enforcement policies under Trump's administration
Image: Mike Weekes/REUTERS
Ahead of the Oscars night, the award ceremony's host Conan O'Brien gave the impression he would be avoiding politics: "We're celebrating movies and the amazing people behind them, but it has to be funny without tipping into anger or politics," he'd said at a press conference.
But then, at the beginning of the Sunday night ceremony, he warned that "things could get political," adding: "So there's an alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock at the Dave and Busters down the street," referring to the conservative-leaning alternative "All-American Halftime Show" that had been produced during the Super Bowl in protest of Bad Bunny's performance at the official event.
Without naming the US president, O'Brien also took a jab at Donald Trump and the fact that he stamped his name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: "We're coming to you live from the Has a Small Penis Theatre," the host said about the Oscars' venue, the Dolby Theatre. "Let's see him put his name in front of that!"
Referring to the absence of British nominations in the lead acting categories, O'Brien also took aim at the lack of consequences in the United States over the Jeffrey Epstein files: "It's the first time since 2012 that there are no British actors nominated for best actors or best actress. A British spokesperson said: 'Yeah, but at least we arrest our pedophiles'."
O'Brien concluded his opening monologue on a more earnest note, saying: "If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now, around the world, is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times … So let us, please, celebrate not because we think all is well, but because we work and hope for better in the days ahead."
Paul Thomas Anderson apologizes for this 'mess'
The evening's two top films already set the tone, as "One Battle After Another," which won six Oscars including Best Picture, and "Sinners," which took home four awards from its record-breaking 16 nominations, both carried political themes.
Paul Thomas Anderson's film centers on a rebel group fighting an authoritarian government that detains immigrants. During one of his acceptance speeches, Anderson apologized to his children's generation for "the housekeeping mess we left in this world we're handing off to them" and expressed hope that they would restore "common sense and decency."
Paul Thomas Anderson said he wrote his political thriller 'One Battle after Another' for his kidsImage: Mike Blake/REUTERS
"Sinners," by Ryan Coogler, explores racial violence and injustice in the era of Jim Crow segregation. Michael B. Jordan, took the Best Actor Oscar for his double role as a pair of twins in the film. The actor paid tribute to the previous Black lead actors who won the award before him, naming all six of them: "I stand here because of the people who came before me — Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith," he said, adding that he was honoured "to be amongst those giants."
Javier Bardem says 'no to war and free Palestine'
The most direct anti-war statement on stage came from Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who declared "No to war and free Palestine" while presenting the Best International Feature Film. The "F1" star has been a longtime vocal advocate for Palestinian human rights. He was also wearing a pin with the word "Palestine" on it and featuring Handala, a long-standing symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance, as well as a badge on his vest that read: "No a la Guerra" (No to war).
"Sinners," by Ryan Coogler, explores racial violence and injustice in the era of Jim Crow segregation. Michael B. Jordan, took the Best Actor Oscar for his double role as a pair of twins in the film. The actor paid tribute to the previous Black lead actors who won the award before him, naming all six of them: "I stand here because of the people who came before me — Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith," he said, adding that he was honoured "to be amongst those giants."
Javier Bardem says 'no to war and free Palestine'
The most direct anti-war statement on stage came from Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who declared "No to war and free Palestine" while presenting the Best International Feature Film. The "F1" star has been a longtime vocal advocate for Palestinian human rights. He was also wearing a pin with the word "Palestine" on it and featuring Handala, a long-standing symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance, as well as a badge on his vest that read: "No a la Guerra" (No to war).
Javier Bardem is one of the more outspoken voices in Hollywood on the war in the Gaza Strip
Image: Mike Blake/REUTERS
Diverse celebrities wore pins or symbols signalling their political stances, including pins that read "ICE OUT," against violent immigration enforcement policies in the US. Others had the Artists4Ceasefire pin on the outfits, showing their support for a group that has called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, along with humanitarian aid for civilians and the release of all hostages.
Joachim Trier: Children need to be protected
Winning the Best International Feature Film Oscar for "Sentimental Value," Joachim Trier paraphrased US civil rights activist and author James Baldwin, pointing out that, "All adults are responsible for all children. Let's not vote for politicians who don't take this seriously and into account."
Diverse celebrities wore pins or symbols signalling their political stances, including pins that read "ICE OUT," against violent immigration enforcement policies in the US. Others had the Artists4Ceasefire pin on the outfits, showing their support for a group that has called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, along with humanitarian aid for civilians and the release of all hostages.
Joachim Trier: Children need to be protected
Winning the Best International Feature Film Oscar for "Sentimental Value," Joachim Trier paraphrased US civil rights activist and author James Baldwin, pointing out that, "All adults are responsible for all children. Let's not vote for politicians who don't take this seriously and into account."
Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier commented on the impact of war on children
Image: Mario Anzuoni/REUTERS
Backstage, the filmmaker expanded on his acceptance speech statement, telling the press that as a father of two children he felt empathy for children suffering in conflict zones. "We've seen Palestinian children suffer, children from Ukraine suffer, from Sudan suffer, and there doesn't seem to be any accountability at the moment," he said.
Jimmy Kimmel takes a jab at CBS over accusations of censorship
Handing out the Best Documentary award, Jimmy Kimmel called out attacks on freedom of speech. "There are some countries whose leaders don't support free speech," said the late-night TV show host. "I'm not at liberty to say which. Let's just leave it at North Korea and CBS" — a reference to the fact that the US network CBS has faced accusations of censorship after blocking the broadcast of a "60 Minutes" program about Trump administration deportations as well as a Stephen Colbert interview with a Texas Democrat.
Kimmel himself was abruptly pulled off the air last fall for a week after coming under fire from Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
Backstage, the filmmaker expanded on his acceptance speech statement, telling the press that as a father of two children he felt empathy for children suffering in conflict zones. "We've seen Palestinian children suffer, children from Ukraine suffer, from Sudan suffer, and there doesn't seem to be any accountability at the moment," he said.
Jimmy Kimmel takes a jab at CBS over accusations of censorship
Handing out the Best Documentary award, Jimmy Kimmel called out attacks on freedom of speech. "There are some countries whose leaders don't support free speech," said the late-night TV show host. "I'm not at liberty to say which. Let's just leave it at North Korea and CBS" — a reference to the fact that the US network CBS has faced accusations of censorship after blocking the broadcast of a "60 Minutes" program about Trump administration deportations as well as a Stephen Colbert interview with a Texas Democrat.
Kimmel himself was abruptly pulled off the air last fall for a week after coming under fire from Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
Amid increasing censorship, Kimmel praised the courage of documentary filmmakers
Image: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP
"We hear a lot about courage at shows like this but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage," Kimmel said, as he praised the nominated documentary filmmakers for their determination amid censorship.
"There's an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth, oftentimes at great risk, to make films that teach us, that call out injustice, that inspire us to take action," he said.
Kimmel then contrasted such documentaries with the Amazon production promoting Donald Trump's wife, Melania. "And there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes," he quipped. "Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife isn't nominated," Kimmel joked, once again referring to the president without naming him.
Documentary on Russia shows 'how you lose a country'
The Best Documentary Oscar went to "Mr Nobody Against Putin," a film that follows a videographer documenting how school children are indoctrinated to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We hear a lot about courage at shows like this but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage," Kimmel said, as he praised the nominated documentary filmmakers for their determination amid censorship.
"There's an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth, oftentimes at great risk, to make films that teach us, that call out injustice, that inspire us to take action," he said.
Kimmel then contrasted such documentaries with the Amazon production promoting Donald Trump's wife, Melania. "And there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes," he quipped. "Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife isn't nominated," Kimmel joked, once again referring to the president without naming him.
Documentary on Russia shows 'how you lose a country'
The Best Documentary Oscar went to "Mr Nobody Against Putin," a film that follows a videographer documenting how school children are indoctrinated to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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The team of 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' accepting their Oscars for Best Documentary Feature Film
Image: Mike Blake/REUTERS
"'Mr Nobody Against Putin' is about how you lose your country," said director David Borenstein in his acceptance speech. "And what we saw when working with this footage is that you lose it through countless, small, little acts of complicity."
"When a government murders people on the streets of our major cities, when we don't say anything, when oligarchs take over the media and control how we could produce it and consume it, we all face a moral choice," said the filmmaker, drawing parallels with current developments in the US. "But luckily, even a nobody is more powerful than you think."
And the film's co-director, Pavel Talankin, concluded the speech by saying "In the name of our future, in the name of all of our children, stop all of these wars now."
Edited by: Brenda Haas
"'Mr Nobody Against Putin' is about how you lose your country," said director David Borenstein in his acceptance speech. "And what we saw when working with this footage is that you lose it through countless, small, little acts of complicity."
"When a government murders people on the streets of our major cities, when we don't say anything, when oligarchs take over the media and control how we could produce it and consume it, we all face a moral choice," said the filmmaker, drawing parallels with current developments in the US. "But luckily, even a nobody is more powerful than you think."
And the film's co-director, Pavel Talankin, concluded the speech by saying "In the name of our future, in the name of all of our children, stop all of these wars now."
Edited by: Brenda Haas
Elizabeth Grenier Editor and reporter for DW Culture
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