“This honor is not just for me or myself,” Bassett said. “What I hope this moment means is that we are taking necessary steps toward a future where it is the norm, not the exception, to see and embrace the full humanity, stories, and perspectives of others. This should be our goal and always remember that there is room for everyone.”
In Littleton's prolific career spanning more than four decades, the editor has edited films as varied as “ET the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Body Heat” and “The Accidental Tourist.” Glenn Close presented Littleton with his award. The two first worked together in 1983 on Close's second film, “The Big Chill.”
“I say this to all the editors who work in the darkness of an editing room, weighing every cut and making endless decisions to create a unique, believable world born of the imagination,” Littleton said. “Most of all I want to thank John, my dear Johnny.”
Then came Satter, who in her four decades as founding director of the Sundance Institute has been responsible for launching the careers of some of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers: from Quentin Tarantino, Kimberly Peirce and Gina Prince-Bythewood to Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang and Marielle Heller. The directors of the last three best picture winners – The Daniels (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Sian Heder (“CODA”) and Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) – all began their careers at Sundance Labs.
Satter's son, Michael, was the founder of an entertainment marketing company that promoted the work of underrepresented voices and had worked closely with Coogler on the launch of “Fruitvale Station.”
But it was Zhao, who was on stage with Coogler to present Satter's award, who had the most emotional moment of the night. “Michelle, you are a mother to me. And you're Ryan's mother. And you are the mother of so many people sitting in this room,” she said.
“We are very grateful to you,” he continued. “We wouldn't be here without you. We know you are suffering. We are so sorry and know there is nothing we can say that can ease the pain. We want to tell you and we hope to be able to tell you this: we are all your children.”
