CODA Wins Big at the 2022 Oscars

Apple’s CODA won Best Picture at the 94th annual Academy Awards held on Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The drama, which tells the story of the hearing daughter of a deaf family who dreams of pursuing a musical career and earning a scholarship to Berklee, also received the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Troy Kotsur and Best Adapted Screenplay for Cambridge-born writer and director Siân Heder. 

Filmed in Gloucester, Massachusetts, CODA features musical contributions from Berklee students and alumni, who performed on set and in the studio for the film. Nicholai Baxter B.M. ’07, a graduate of Berklee's music production and engineering major, served as the film's co-music producer and cowrote its end-credit original song, "Beyond the Shore,” with Heder, co-music producer Marius de Vries, and Berklee alumnus Matt Dahan B.M. ’07.

"We are incredibly honored that Berklee is featured in this magnificent and inspiring film. We are unique among major arts institutions, and, as was so beautifully illustrated by the journey of the film’s protagonist, Ruby, we provide a home unlike any other for aspiring artists and creatives who wish to pursue impactful careers fueled by imagination, story, and a dedication to empowering others,” said Berklee President Erica Muhl.

“Our students come from all walks of life, and from all over the world to engage in an educational experience that carefully nurtures the knowledge, technique, and skills required to thrive as an artist, but also the openness and curiosity that is essential to advancing their creative contributions," Muhl added. "We would like to congratulate the movie's director, producers, and all involved who brought this story to life, including the Berklee students and alumni who contributed to the film’s musical landscape.” 

CODA wasn’t the only Berklee-affiliated film recognized at the Academy Awards last night, as three other Oscar-winning films featured the contributions of Berklee alumni: Sean Jones B.F.A. ’14 starred as the character Action in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Lena Glikson B.M. ’15 was a music editor on King Richard, and Alvin Wee B.M. ’13 worked as the score mixer on Disney's Encanto.