Questlove Wins His First Oscar
(HOLLYWOOD, CA) Oscar Awards: The Roots drummer and first-time director Questlove netted an Academy Award for his Hulu film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival at the 94th Oscar’s Awards. In his acceptance speech, ”Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson was overcome with emotion mentioning his late father Lee Andrews as his mother Jacqui Thompson looked on. “I’m gonna get myself together and I’ll thank everyone proper when I get off stage,” said Questlove, before concluding his speech with “I’m so happy right now I could cry.”
His film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, featuring footage of the pivotal concert series that was nearly lost to time, bested nominated films including Ascension, Attica, Writing With Fire, and fellow 2021 Sundance Film Festival darling Flee. Last year, the musician, filmmaker, producer, writer, and DJ told IssuesMatter that making Summer of Soul “was really therapeutic and literally escorted me to a new path that I never knew I had.” Who could have anticipated taking that path would lead to an Oscars victory?
