British-Pakistani actor and musician Riz Ahmed has won his first Oscar for Aneil Karia’s live-action short film ‘The Long Goodbye’ that Ahmed co-wrote and starred in.
The film shows a South Asian immigrant family in Britain preparing its home for a wedding celebration, until a right-wing march spirals out of control and chaos erupts.
Ahmed’s win marks the first time someone of Asian descent has triumphed in the live-action short category, while his nomination last year alongside Steven Yuen in the same category was the first time two Asian men had both been nominated for the best actor, the Guardian reported.
“In such divided times, we believe that the role of story is to remind us there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’. There’s just ‘us’,” 39-year-old Ahmed said in his acceptance speech.
“This is for everyone who feels like they don’t belong. Anyone who feels like they’re stuck in no man’s land. You’re not alone. We’ll meet you there. That’s where the future is. Peace.”
‘The Long Goodbye’ incorporates music from Ahmed’s album with the same name, which was released in 2021, according to the report. It reflects on his identity as a British-Pakistani artiste.
Ahmed was nominated for an Oscar last year for his role as a hearing-impaired drummer in ‘Sound of Metal.’ He lost out to Anthony Hopkins.
