School of the Arts Alumna and Faculty Break Ground With Oscar Wins

Columbia's School of the Arts was a winner at this year's Academy Awards when alumna Kathryn Bigelow (SoA'81) and adjunct professor Geoffrey Fletcher received Oscars for director and adapted screenplay. Bigelow became the first woman to receive a best director Oscar, for her film The Hurt Locker. She won a second when the movie, which she also produced, won best picture. In all, the film won six awards. Fletcher, an adjunct professor in the undergraduate film program, received the best adapted screenplay Oscar for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire . Fletcher is the first African American to win a screenplay award. "The School of the Arts is honored to have two members of our community make history at the Oscars," said Carol Becker, dean of the school.