On Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, the 31st annual SAG awards, a ceremony to show recognition towards performances in film and television, took place. Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was created to advocate for improved pay for actors and better working conditions. They protected actors from studio exploitation by forming a self-governing union. So, six actors secretly met to establish the union, and SAG was founded! The SAG Awards was founded in 1995 by SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). If received, these awards are considered very prestigious, as actors vote for their peers. The ceremony honors excellence in film and television acting. You may wonder, how are the SAG awards different from other award ceremonies, like the Oscars? The Oscars focus on all aspects of filmmaking, including directing, production design, and editing, while the SAG awards focus exclusively on acting. Usually, the SAG awards help build momentum for an Oscar campaign, as movies that win a SAG award are also likely to win an Oscar. The show is on the shorter end of the spectrum compared to other ceremonies, since the SAG awards is around 2 hours long, while other award shows like the Emmys and the Oscars last around 3.5 hours.
One of the main reasons the SAG Awards are short is because the ceremony does not have a designated host, and has not for the last 30 years. However, this year, Kristen Bell hosted the ceremony. She entertained viewers and nominees with her parody of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” renamed to “Do You Want to be an Actor?” while playing clips of actors as children. There were many other notable moments, including television reunions, like the skit between Leighton Meester and Kristen Bell, who both played a role in the show Gossip Girl (2007-2012). Viewers also got a laugh when Kieran Culkin joked about the award's weight during his acceptance speech. Turns out the award weighs 12 pounds and is 16 inches tall. Aside from the entertainment, there were a few emotional moments. The ceremony paid tribute to the Los Angeles firefighters, recognizing their dedication and hard work in battling the massive LA wildfires. Lastly, the audience was moved by Jane Fonda's speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, an award that is presented to one who upholds the highest standard of the acting profession. Fonda highlighted community and empowerment in her speech, while also mentioning actors' roles regarding those collective strengths.
Usually, the most anticipated awards include Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. Conclave, a film directed by Edward Berger, won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. That night, the category’s other nominees included Emelia Pérez, Wicked, and A Complete Unknown, which is the film for which Timothée Chalamet won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Bob Dylan. Similarly, Demi Moore won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her role as Elizabeth Sparkle in The Substance.
In conclusion, the 31st SAG awards were very eventful, with impactful speeches, prestigious awards, and memorable moments. This ceremony was very special, as it included a host, for the first time, and many television reunions. Heartfelt tributes to current events made the night even more inspiring. Overall, the SAG awards this year were unforgettable, and showed a strong sense of community with the actors.
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