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At today’s DGA Awards, directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert won Best Feature Film for their A24 smash Everything Everywhere All At Once – Best Competition, with Todd Field (Tár), Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans) make their first appearance at the ceremony.
Kwan began his remarks by noting what an “incredible year” it has been for him and Scheinert’s “little film that kind of goes on” which began its journey to awards glory back at SXSW 2022.
Kwan then thanked “Everything Everywhere” star Michelle Yeoh for “making this movie” with a performance where she appeared “in every single frame” and honored the filmmakers with “everything.”
Kwan also thanked A24 for taking a chance on his and Scheinert’s film when “a lot of people” weren’t. “Movies like this often don’t get a launch pad, [but] They’re the craziest studio, and with movies like ours, you always take some risks. So thanks,” he said.
Kwan concluded by saying that “more than anything” he will carry with him the “heartiness,” “curiosity,” and “enthusiasm” of his fellow contestants from this awards season. “Every time we break bread or share a stage, I’m so inspired, and it’s just a lovely reminder that even the best filmmakers in this industry, even the legends in this industry, deep down, they’re just kids are looking forward to making films,” said the director. “Thank you for that reminder.”
Scheinert thanked only one person – his co-director Kwan. “Thank you for bearing with me when I asked to make our film weirder and thank you for making our film so much braver and more vulnerable,” he said. “What an honour.”
While it’s almost impossible to sum it up with a traditional logline, Everything Everywhere is a martial arts-packed multiverse film centered around Evelyn Wang (Yeoh), an aging Chinese immigrant who becomes embroiled in a demented adventure in which she alone can save the world by exploring other universes that connect to the lives she could have led.
In addition to being the highest-grossing film in A24 history, Everywhere Everywhere is the most-nominated film of all time at the upcoming Academy Awards, with a total of 11 nominations, including in the Best Picture and Best Director categories. Kwan and Scheinert produced the pop culture sensation alongside Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca and Jonathan Wang, with Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr. and James Hong rounding out the cast.