At 78 years old, legendary helmer Robert Altman has been nominated five times for a Best Director Oscar and five times he’s had to use his ‘I’m so happy for you!’ face - having never scooped Tinseltown’s biggest directing prize.
This is all set to end on 5 March at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. Altman will be the recipient of an honorary gong, voted for by the Oscar board, for his services to filmmaking.
“The board was taken with Altman's innovation, his redefinition of genres, his invention of new ways of using the film medium and his reinvigoration of old ones,” stated Sid Ganis, Academy president. “He is a master filmmaker and well deserves this honour.”
Altman’s lavish career has included writing and producing as well as directing a collection of varied and eclectic flicks. The Academy nominated him as Best Director for M*A*S*H, Nashville, The Player, Short Cuts and Gosford Park – he was also a producer on Nashville and Gosford Park; two films that unsuccessfully fought it out for Best Picture.
“His is a career that has repeatedly reinvented the art form and inspired filmmakers and audiences alike,” Ganis said.
