British artist-filmmakerSteve McQueenmade history with his best picture win for12 Years A Slavein 2014.
But what does he remember from that night in the Dolby Theatre?
He took his shades off and met my mum.
Steve McQueenJoe Maher/Getty Images for BFI.
It was Prince, man, oh my god.
It was an in, McQueen said.
It was before Oscars So White.
Because it was a blockbuster.
It made loads of money from a very small budget.
So a lot of movies got made because of it.
I took these meetings and they were all looking at me funny.
But during those meetings it became apparent to me that slavery happened here.
Its something that really happened here.
And I thought to myself I want to make a movie about slavery.
After12 Years A Slave, McQueen made Widows with Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, and Colin Farrell.
McQueen was asked by the moderator if he felt he received adequate support when making the film.
People werent ready yet.
They just werent ready, McQueen said.
The final version, however, features all the films main characters.
Just look at the poster.
It should have been the four women on that poster.
Thats what I wanted, he said.
But I was told it needs to be this and that.
And then you get everyone on the poster.
But if its for everyone its for no one.
I wanted those four women.
McQueens latest filmBlitzopens the London Film Festival later this evening.
The London Film Festival runs until October 20.
