The Oscars to Honor Spike Lee Kevin Fleming August 28, 2015 Music News The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted to present Honorary Awards to Spike Lee and Gena Rowlands and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Debbie Reynolds. Lee made an auspicious debut with his NYU thesis film, “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads,” which won a Student Academy Award® in 1983. He proceeded to blaze a distinctive trail with such features as “She’s Gotta Have It,” “School Daze” and “Do the Right Thing,” which earned him a 1989 Oscar® nomination for Original Screenplay. His work as a director ranges from the Oscar-nominated documentary feature “4 Little Girls” to such mainstream successes as “Malcolm X” and “Inside Man.” Lee’s other feature credits include “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever,” “Crooklyn,” “He Got Game,” “25th Hour,” “Miracle at St. Anna” and “Red Hook Summer.” Lee currently serves as the artistic director of the graduate film program at NYU. Related