British Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed first Oscar for The Long Goodbye

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British Pakistani actor and musician, Riz Ahmed has become the first Muslim Actor to receive his first Oscar for the live-action short film The Long Goodbye.

In his acceptance speech the 39 years old actor said: “In such divided times, we believe that the role of story is to remind us there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’. There’s just ‘us’.”

“This is for everyone who feels like they don’t belong. Anyone who feels like they’re stuck in no man’s land. You’re not alone. We’ll meet you there. That’s where the future is. Peace.”

Riz Ahmed reflected on the “role of the story” during an acceptance speech for the best short film (live action) at this year’s Oscars.

The actor and musician, 39, took to the stage during the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles to accept the award for The Long Goodbye.

The 11-minute film, directed and co-written by Aneil Karia, who joined him on stage, which is also co-written and stars Ahmed, tracks a family who are preparing for a wedding celebration when “the events unfolding in the outside world arrive suddenly on their doorstep”.

We put our nightmares on screen and they turned into a dream. Thank you to everyone who watched and shared this film, and got us to this point. https://t.co/lPoUenNbUC @TLGshort pic.twitter.com/lcbuoXLIu9

— Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) March 17, 2022