‘Absolutely incredible’: Nova Scotia’s Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for short documentary

Halifax-born filmmaker Ben Proudfoot says it’s “onerous to imagine” he’s now a two-time Oscar winner.

The 33-year-old and his co-director Kris Bowers gained the most effective quick documentary trophy for “The Final Restore Store” at a star-studded ceremony Sunday that included a spirited efficiency of the “Barbie” energy ballad “I’m Simply Ken” by Canadian actor Ryan Gosling.

“It feels completely unimaginable,” Proudfoot stated on name from Los Angeles shortly after the win.

“That is such a victory for arts and music schooling in Los Angeles and all over the world. We’re completely thrilled, and we’re very hopeful that it will mark a brand new chapter for music schooling.”

“The Final Restore Store” tells the story of a Los Angeles workshop that gives free devices, and free repairs, to public faculty college students.

“L.A. is likely one of the final cities in America to offer public faculty college students free and freely repaired devices. We have to repair that as a result of musical schooling isn’t nearly creating unimaginable musicians, it’s about creating unimaginable people,” Bowers stated throughout the acceptance speech.

This marks Proudfoot’s second Oscar after successful a trophy in 2022 for the quick doc “The Queen of Basketball,” concerning the late basketball trailblazer Lusia (Lucy) Harris.

“I may by no means have imagined it,” Proudfoot stated about successful one other Academy Award.

“However the movies we make are actually designed to raise up folks and raise up views that don’t get sufficient consideration, and these awards symbolize a flood of tales that different folks discover necessary.”

Proudfoot and Bowers have been joined on stage by Porche Brinker, an 11-year-old violinist who seems within the movie.

“Porche was over the moon. She was thrilled. It was an unimaginable second out of my wildest goals,” stated Proudfoot.

Proudfoot added that he and the movie’s crew deliberate to rejoice at Vainness Truthful’s Oscars after-party. He additionally deliberate to return to Halifax to rejoice in his hometown.

“I’m coming again for a really massive donair quickly.”

The night additionally noticed Gosling take the stage to carry out the Oscar-nominated music “I’m Simply Ken.”

Wearing a scorching pink swimsuit and sun shades, the Cornwall, Ont. native started the efficiency seated within the viewers earlier than hitting the stage, the place he was joined by Mark Ronson, Weapons N’ Roses guitarist Slash and a bunch of dancers who included fellow Canadian and “Barbie” co-star Simu Liu.

Late Toronto musician Robbie Robertson and actor Matthew Perry have been included within the In Memoriam section honouring deceased stars.

Different Canadians readily available included Catherine O’Hara and Brendan Fraser, who every offered awards.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 10, 2024.

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