Halifax’s Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for best short documentary

‘The Queen of Basketball’ is a 22-minute film that centres on the story of Lucy Harris

CITYnews halifax \ Canadian Press

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A film by Halifax-native and director Ben Proudfoot has won an Oscar for best short documentary.

“The Queen of Basketball” is a 22-minute film that centres on the story of Lucy Harris, the only woman to be drafted by the NBA and the first Black woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

“This proves that Lucy Harris’ story, after 45 years of being ignored, does indeed mean something profound to America and the world,” Proudfoot told The Canadian Press when reached by text at the early bash.

In a taped acceptance speech that aired later in the broadcast, Proudfoot saluted the late Harris who passed away before the film was nominated, and noted her family was in attendance.

"If there is anyone out there that still doubts whether there's an audience for female athletes, let this Academy Award be the answer."

Ben Proudfoot accepts Academy Award Best Documentary Short for "The Queen of Basketball."https://t.co/JeyaYGEMUG#oscars pic.twitter.com/fL7ZUvustS

— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2022

“When you watch the film, I think at the end of it, you talk about Lucy,” Proudfoot told CityNews Halifax last month. “You talk about her personality, her smile, her giggle, her career — the heartbreaking twists and turns.”

Proudfoot was also nominated in 2021 for “A Concerto Is a Conversation.”

To watch The Queen of Basketball, visit the Breakwater Studios’ website.

With files from CityNews Halifax