Statuettes of Oscar winners will not have gold; understand the reason

The campaign, created by DM9, aims to draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis of the Yanomami caused by illegal mining

The Oscar ceremony will take place this Sunday (12) in Los Angeles, USA. Considered the most important film award on the market, the 2023 edition will have a difference from the previous ones: the statuettes of the winners will not have gold.

The removal of this metal is part of an action carried out by the Yanomami, an indigenous group from the Amazon Forest, which fights against the illegal extraction of what was once considered the most valuable symbol in history. In place of the traditional golden statuette, the winners will take home a statuette in the shape of the deity Omama.

The campaign, created by DM9 and produced by Hungry Man, aims to draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis of indigenous people caused by illegal mining. The direction was on account of Hanna Batista and audio production is by Pingado.

To publicize the action, twenty of the main Oscar nominees will receive a message from Junior Hekurari Yanomami, leader of the Urihi Yanomami Association. Nominees include Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kerry Condon, Stephanie Hsu, Hong Chau, Brendan Gleeson, Judd Hirsch, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan, Ke Huy Quan, Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell, Austin Butler, Bill Nighy, Paul Mescal, Andrea Riseborough, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, Ana de Armas and Michelle Yeoh.

The action will also lead artists and the public to a digital calculator, which shows the social and natural impact of each gram of illegal gold for the Amazon Rainforest and the Yanomami people.

“In your culture, gold means success. For my people, for the forest and the creatures that still remain in the Amazon, it means death and destruction. All participants in this award can and have helped to shape the behavior of the world many times. They need to know what the real cost of illegal gold is and help spread that message so we can see change,” Junior said.