Oscar-winning producer Donna Gigliotti (“Shakespeare in Love”) will produce the 91st Academy Awards with Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss set to co-produce and direct the annual awards show, to be broadcast in February 2019 on ABC, Academy President John Bailey announced Monday.
This marks Weiss’ fourth consecutive year helming the Oscars. And yes, he is the one who proposed to his girlfriend while accepting an award (for his work on the 2018 Oscars) at the Emmys last month.
“Donna and Glenn will infuse new energy and vision into this 91st awards presentation, and we are excited about a broad-based creative relationship with these two artists,” Bailey said in a statement.
“I’m grateful to the Academy and ABC for entrusting me with this very special opportunity,” said Gigliotti. “I’m sure it will prove to be a humbling, exhilarating and completely unique experience. Thankfully, I will have Glenn Weiss by my side every step of the way!”
“I’m so looking forward to being back to help celebrate and honor the film industry and all the talented people behind this year’s movies,” said Weiss. “And I am ‘co-excited’ to be co-producing this year’s show with Donna Gigliotti!”
“We’re thrilled to work with someone as passionate about the Academy as Donna Gigliotti–an Oscar winner and multiple nominee. She and (the now famous) Glenn Weiss are committed to making the most of the innovations we’ve embraced for our 91st Oscars,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.
“Donna Gigliotti has worked on some of the most celebrated films of our time and is uniquely qualified to bring her talent to the most anticipated awards show of the year,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. “And, thanks to Glenn Weiss, we just experienced the most talked-about moment at the Emmys with his heartfelt onstage wedding proposal. We can’t wait to see how they top that at The Oscars.”
Gigliotti won a Best Picture Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love” and received nods for “Hidden Figures,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Reader.”
Weiss has won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, including one earlier this year for the 90th Oscars. He has directed 18 Tony Awards shows, along with “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “BET Awards,” “Peter Pan Live!,” “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Live From Lincoln Center,” “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” “Garth Brooks, Live From Las Vegas” and the “American Music Awards.”
The 91st Oscars will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC, as well as in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.