'Dune' has won six awards in the crafts categories, while 'CODA' took home three, including best picture.
Director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune has bagged six Oscars at the 94th Academy Awards.
Dune received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Cinematography and Adapted Screenplay.
Dune secured wins for cinematography (Greig Fraser), editing (Joe Walker), score (Hans Zimmer), visual effects (Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer), production design (Patrice Vermette; set decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos) and sound (Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett).
Titled on-screen as Dune: Part One, Villeneuve’s Dune adapts roughly the first half of Herbert’s seminal sci-fi epic of the same name. The second half of the book will be covered in Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, which is currently slated for release on Oct. 20, 2023.
The epic action-adventure movie, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, was filmed at the Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi over 11 days with a team of local and international talent. The production services were provided by Epic Films, along with support from a number of UAE production partners, including twofour54, Go Aerials, Filmquip Media, FSTOP Location Services and EMAN Transport.
Legendary Pictures benefited from the 30% rebate through ADFC, which also facilitated logistics for the shoot, such as applications for filming permits and helped with the import of equipment, as well as finding local partners in the UAE.
Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to Arrakis – the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Speaking about the success of Dune, Hans Fraikin, Film and Television Commissioner at Abu Dhabi Film Commission, said: “This is an absolutely phenomenal moment for Montreal-born director Denis Villeneuve and the cast and crew of Dune, who have won a fantastic six Academy Awards, for Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. A huge congratulations to all on this incredible success.”
He added: “Dune has performed the rare achievement of becoming critically acclaimed for its technique, storytelling and artistry, as well as being one of the biggest box office successes worldwide since its release. I speak for everyone in Abu Dhabi when I say we are very proud to have contributed to its success, through ADFC’s 30% cashback rebate, a successful collaboration with Epic Films, and introducing Denis to the magnificent sea of sand dunes that provided such a unique and memorable location for the shoot, fully embodying the Spice planet Arrakis.
“Making Dune and bringing Denis’s vision to life was a true passion project for many of us, so its success at the Oscars, BAFTAs and Critics Choice Awards is incredibly rewarding. I am delighted for Legendary Pictures and everyone who worked on the film in Abu Dhabi and around the world.”
Meanwhile, CODA became the first streaming film to nab best picture. It also won best supporting actor for breakout Troy Kotsur) and an adapted screenplay Oscar for writer-director Siân Heder.
