While the New York Film Critics Circle Awards took place in the Big Apple Wednesday, the eyes of many in attendance were on Los Angeles, where several wildfires forced the evacuation of over 100,000 residents and killed at least five people so far.
Adrien Brody, upon winning best actor for The Brutalist, delivered an emotional acceptance speech that addressed the situation out west. “I would be remiss to not mention the weight of what’s on all of our minds and in our hearts tonight,” the actor said. “It’s been a heavy day for me. It’s always hard to accept something like this when there’s so much suffering in the world. My heart goes out to all the families and the animals and our colleagues.”
Brody added, “This is our community. I just want to thank and commend the bravery of the first responders, and the sacrifices and their meaningful work that deserves our recognition tonight. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this horrific event.”
According to USA Today, many of the New York Film Critics Circle Awards honorees mentioned the wildfires during their speeches, with The Brutalist filmmaker Brady Corbet, who won best director, saying that it took him “years to rebuild” after his own house burned down eight years ago. “My heart is with absolutely everyone in Los Angeles County,” Corbet said.
Jim Jarmusch, a presenter at the event, added that the wildfires were “brought to you by climate deniers.”
The wildfires have already impacted the West Coast award shows, as the Critics Choice Awards, which were supposed to take place this Sunday, Jan. 12, were postponed and rescheduled for Jan. 26. Academy Awards voting was also extended by two days, pushing the nominations announcement from Friday, January 15 to Sunday, January 17.
The fires have displaced more than 130,000 people, destroyed thousands of homes, businesses, and other structures, and killed at least five people, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Palisades fire has burned through nearly 12,000 acres west of Los Angeles, while the Eaton fire has burned over 10,000 acres east of the city. A new fire, called the Sunset Fire by officials, in the Hollywood Hills broke out Thursday, but Reuters reports that one has largely been contained.
The blazes have been fueled by raging windstorms, with gusts reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour, as well as swaths of dry vegetation.
