White House Hosts Special Screening Of 'Selma'
After failing to earn a nomination for an Oscar in 2015, the White House opened its doors for the screening of the movie 'Selma' on Friday night.
The news of the screening came after the nomination list for the event became official. New York Daily reported that the film, which chronicled Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, was not nominated in any acting, or directing category despite high expectations.
The list was announced on Thursday morning, while the news of the screening of the movie at the presidential resident came late at the evening. 'Selma' only managed to bag a nomination under the Best Picture category along with seven other contenders.
"A lack of diversity remains a serious problem in Hollywood, where the voices of African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans have historically been excluded from film studios, from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and on screen," announced New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, blasting the Oscar snub for the film.
Multiple tabloids point out that this year's Oscar nominee list consists of 20 all-white acting nominees and an almost all-white list for best director, with the exception of Alejandro Inarritu for 'Birdman'.
In another update by New York Daily, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton declared that they are contemplating, and might stage protest outside the venue on the eve of the award ceremony on Feb. 22. He also declared that it is "appallingly insulting in the year of 2015" that the Academy award voters failed to nominate even a single black performer, despite the commendations for David Oyelowo's portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The movie's director, Ava DuVernay, was also not acknowldeged for her efforts. Had she been nominated for Best Director, she would have become the first African American woman to achieve the feat.
USA Today reported that DuVernay and Oyelowo are expected to attend the White House screening along with the film's producer, Oprah Winfrey. Rep. John Lewis, who reportedly participated in the march depicted in the movie, is also expected to join them for the evening.