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“Whether we’re straight or gay or somewhere in between. We’ve all gone through first love”

James Ivory has accepted the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the coming-of-age drama, Call Me By Your Name, starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.

Ivory becomes the oldest person to win an Oscar in any category at 89 years old.

“My rule number one for a screenwriter who adapts a novel, is first thank the author, André Aciman, who wrote the story about first love and who’s here tonight”, began Ivory in his acceptance speech.

“A story familiar to most of us, whether we’re straight or gay or somewhere in between. We’ve all gone through first love, I hope, and come out the other side mostly in tact.

“Though maybe not with the benefit of loving parents like the Perlmans in this film.”

“I want to thank our sensitive and sensible director, Luca Guadagnino, as well as my neighbours in upstate New York, who offered me this job.

“And of course I want to thank the film’s wonderful, emotion-filled actors. I wouldn’t be standing here tonight without their inspired help.”

Ivory also thanked his life and professional partner, Ismail Merchant, who died in 2005, along with screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, with whom he and Merchant made up Merchant Ivory Productions – known for their adaptions of LGBT+ novels.

“I wouldn’t be standing up here without the inspired help I received from my life’s partners, who are gone.

“Thank you very much everyone”, he finished.

Timothée Chalamet lost the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role to Gary Oldman for his performance in the British war drama Darkest Hour.

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Danielle Mustarde

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