16 May - The first Academy Awards in 1929

 

The first Academy Awards, officially known as the 1st Academy Awards, were presented on May 16, 1929, in a private dinner ceremony at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Although the awards ceremony took place on May 16th, the awards recognized films released between August 1, 1927, and August 1, 1928.

The Academy Awards were organized by the newly-formed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), an organization created to recognize excellence in the film industry. The awards were intended to honor achievements in various categories, including acting, directing, cinematography, and more.

The ceremony itself was relatively low-key compared to modern-day Oscars. The event was not televised, and attendance was limited to around 270 guests. The entire ceremony lasted only 15 minutes, with the winners known in advance. The winners had been announced three months earlier, on February 18, 1929, at a private dinner.

The first Academy Award for Best Picture was presented to the film "Wings," a World War I aviation drama directed by William A. Wellman. The film "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" received the unique award for "Best Unique and Artistic Picture," a category that was only presented in the first year.

Other categories included Best Director, which was won by Frank Borzage for "Seventh Heaven," and Best Actor, which went to Emil Jannings for his performances in both "The Last Command" and "The Way of All Flesh." Janet Gaynor won the first-ever Best Actress award for her performances in three films: "Seventh Heaven," "Street Angel," and "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans."

The Academy Awards have since become an annual tradition and one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the film industry, attracting worldwide attention. The awards have expanded to include numerous categories and have evolved into a highly anticipated televised event

 

16 May - Georg Bednorz birth anniversary

 

He was born on 16 May 1950, in Neuenkirchen, Germany. He received his undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Münster in 1972 and his Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Heidelberg.

After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a researcher at the IBM Research Laboratory in Ruschlikon, Switzerland. In 1986, he and his colleague, K. Alex Müller, discovered high-temperature superconductivity in a new class of materials called cuprates. This discovery was a major breakthrough in the field of superconductivity, as it allowed for superconductivity to occur at much higher temperatures than previously thought possible.

Since his discovery, Bednorz has continued to work on the development of new materials with novel electronic properties. He has also been involved in the design and fabrication of new devices based on these materials, such as superconducting sensors for medical imaging.

Overall, Georg Bednorz’s work has had a profound impact on the field of materials science and has opened up new avenues for research and development in a wide range of fields.

16 May - Mass Graves Day

 

"Mass Graves Day" may refer to a specific event or commemoration related to the discovery or remembrance of mass graves in Iraq, which has unfortunately experienced significant human rights violations and mass killings in recent history.

Iraq has a tragic history of mass graves resulting from conflicts, genocides, and human rights abuses. During the regime of Saddam Hussein, mass graves containing the remains of thousands of victims were discovered, particularly in the aftermath of the 1991 uprisings and the Anfal campaign against the Kurdish population.

To address these mass grave sites and provide justice to the victims, Iraq established the Mass Graves Directorate (MGD) in 2003. The MGD's mission is to investigate, exhume, identify, and document the victims buried in mass graves, as well as to support legal proceedings and provide support to survivors and their families.

Although there may not be a specific day dedicated to mass graves in Iraq, the country acknowledges the importance of remembering and documenting these atrocities to ensure accountability, justice, and remembrance for the victims.

 

16 May - Charles Perrault death anniversary

 

Charles Perrault (2 January 1628 – 16 May 1703) was an iconic French author and member of the Académie Française. In his 1697 book, Histoires ou contes du temps passé (Stories or Tales from Past Times), he laid the foundation for a new literary genre: the fairy tale. Among his most famous tales are Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (“Little Red Riding Hood”), Cendrillon (“Cinderella”), Le Maître chat ou le Chat botté (“Puss in Boots”), La Belle au bois dormant (“Sleeping Beauty”), and Barbe Bleue (“Bluebeard”).

In addition to his fairy tales, Perrault also wrote poetry, plays, and literary criticism. He was a member of the French court and held various official positions throughout his career, including a post as secretary to the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres. Perrault's work had a significant impact on French literature and helped establish fairy tales as a recognized genre.

Although his stories were initially intended for adult readers, Perrault's fairy tales have become beloved children's classics and have been adapted and retold in numerous forms of media over the centuries. His contributions to the genre have had a lasting influence on storytelling and continue to enchant audiences of all ages