“As those who are leaders are acting more like bullies, in the creative and artistic industry, it’s our job to push back and say, ‘No, that’s not okay.’” —Zootopia director Rich Moore

Moana directors Ron Clements and John Musker and producer Osnat Shurer

Moana, which earned two nominations, features a Polynesian teen girl hero.

SHURER, on having a woman of color as a protagonist: “It's suddenly become weirdly radical. It shouldn't be radical, but it suddenly is, and I'm really glad for it. I stand behind it all the way. … Both of these guys have a track record of making films that are uplifting. They're in different worlds, but they're uplifting, and I think we all have that commitment: Make films that uplift, that make you feel good with heart and humor, but also might make you think about something. That's really important to all of us.”

CLEMENTS: “We spent a lot of time in the Pacific Islands; we did a lot of research. The people we met, we were so moved by. The culture that we experienced there is very much in terms of interconnectedness and cooperation, and people wanting to help everyone else. I feel like, myself, that's a really good philosophy. It's a philosophy we tried to incorporate into the movie, and I hope that comes through.”

MUSKER: “One of the things we learned in the Pacific is they think of the ocean as something that connects people, not divides them. So in this time, a movie that celebrates connection seems like a very valuable thing for the world.“

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Moonlight star Trevante Rhodes

Moonlight, a film about a impoverished black queer boy growing up in Miami, was nominated for eight awards and picked up three, including Best Picture.

RHODES: “It's hard for me to be happy and to really appreciate this moment right now, understanding where we are as a people. … I love the film, and I love the people involved with the film so much. So it's a really unique juxtaposition. I try to separate certain moments and certain sensations in life so that I can enjoy this but also not lose sight of what really matters. … I have to always follow my heart. I have to always follow what is on the page. If it speaks to me, if it resonates with me, then I'll go with that. I want to continue to tell stories that are socially relevant, and that do help, but I also understand what the industry is, and I understand what I need to have people actually want to go see the movies.”

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Zootopia directors Rich Moore and Byron Howard

Zootopia won Best Animated Feature. Using animals as a metaphor, it confronted bigotry.

HOWARD: “We made the film over a period of about five years, and so, years ago when we started it, we didn't know that the world would get so divisive. The fact that the film came out a year ago, and people are still talking about the message of inclusion, diversity… that feeling of hope is what we were hoping people would take away from the film after they saw it.”

MOORE: “After working on a film like Zootopia that has such a strong message at its core, and then also, with the political climate, the social climate that we live in today, I don't know how I could just go on to the next thing, 'Oh, we're just gonna do a funny movie.' Or, 'Oh, we're just gonna do a light musical.' It's kind of our job right now. As those who are leaders are acting more like bullies, in the creative and artistic industry, it's our job to push back and say, 'No, that's not okay.' We do that by the stories we tell and the themes that we explore. The combination of Zootopia and how the world is right now makes me really want to double down on having something even deeper to say with my work.”

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