CODA has been named best picture, beating out the likes of Drive My Car, Belfast, and Power of the Dog at the Academy Awards 2024. It is a historic win for the film which brought Deaf actors, and Deaf culture, to the forefront.
Written and directed by Sian Heder, CODA is based on the French movie named La Famille Belier (2014). The English-language remake is about Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a deaf family, who struggles to balance family obligations and her love of music.
Distributed by Apple TV+, it is also the first best movie win for a streaming service. The movie earned three of Apple TV+’s six Oscar nominations and won each one: best picture, best-adapted screenplay for Sian Heder, and best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur.
Streaming studios have been building momentum over the years as Amazon Studio’s ‘Manchester by the Sea’ made waves in 2017 with the first nomination for best picture. Eight of the ten Best Picture nominees were available on streaming services leading up to the award ceremony.
