College Congratulates Oscar Winner Steve McQueen

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Triumph for former Ealing, Hammersmith and West London student

Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College has joined the chorus of congratulations to former student Steve McQueen, after the filmmaker triumphed in yesterday's Oscars.

On its Twitter account @EHWLC, the college said:
" Congratulations to our former student Steve McQueen for winning an Oscar for best picture last night!" and posted this picture of him showing off his trophy.

The 44 year-old director grew up in Ealing and studied A Levels, including art, at the college.

Last night he missed out on the Oscar for best director to Gravity's Alfonso Cuarón, but his movie still walked away with other top gongs - best supporting actress ( Lupita Nyong'o) and best adapted screenplay. Earlier in the evening 12 Years A Slave swept the board at the Independent Spirit Awards and McQueen was recognised as best director.

Producer Brad Pitt praised "the indomitable Mr McQueen" - for "bringing them all together" to tell Northup's story.

Steve jumped for joy when his film was announced for the prized Oscar and said backstage "Everyone saw me jump but truly I am so ecstatic, I'm so happy for us all, it's one of those moments in life that might never happen again but you're living it, you're there, and it might never happen again so emotions just take over."

Set in 1841 New York, the film tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, and accepting the award, Steve dedicated it to '"all those people who have endured slavery.

''Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live," he said. "This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup."

March 3, 2014