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Special Oscar to be presented to Alejandro González Iñárritu for Carne y arena

Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu will receive a special Oscar for his work Carne y arena (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible); a virtual reality installation that simulates an illegal crossing into the United States.

The Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of the United States decided to award the prize to the work of Iñárritu for being "a visionary and powerful narrative experience". In the words of John Bailey, president of the Academy, "The Governors of the Academy are proud to present a special Oscar to Carne y arena, in which Iñárritu and his cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki have opened for us new doors of cinematic perception".

Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Built over four years with Emmanuel Lubezki, Carne y arena is an immersive work that confronts the viewer with the experience endured by Mexican and Central American migrants in their attempt to cross the border with the United States. The installation was premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival and is currently on display at the Tlatelolco Cultural Center in Mexico City and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The special Oscar will be presented on November 11.