Throughout the present, Will’s movie Emancipation obtained a particular honor — and he and director Antoine Fuqua accepted the Beacon Award on behalf of the forged and crew.
It marked Will’s first in-person awards present speech for the reason that controversial Oscars incident final 12 months.
Though he did not acknowledge his earlier award present mishap, Will did categorical his gratitude for all of the help he’d been proven.
“Emancipation was the person most troublesome movie of my complete profession,” Will mentioned, earlier than recounting a narrative of how a costar spit on him throughout filming.
He went on to thank the AAFCA and its co-founder Gil L. Robertson IV, in addition to everybody within the room who had been “conserving our tales alive.”
Can even thanked Apple for his or her dedication to the movie, sharing that the studio by no means wavered of their help for the mission.
“I wish to thank Apple, as a result of the funds was one factor. After which the funds was one other factor. After which the funds was one other factor,” Will mentioned. “And Apple by no means flinched.”
He continued, “It was the primary time I had heard from a studio that the story was extra necessary than how a lot it prices to get it carried out…They make iPhones. They’ll do it.”
Along with the AAFCA honor, Can even lately gained his first main award for the reason that Oscars incident, taking dwelling the NAACP Picture Award for Excellent Actor in a Movement Image final month.
Will was not current on the ceremony to just accept that award — and it is but to be seen if he’ll be attending every other occasions this season.
Emancipation could be streamed now on Apple TV+.
