Geoff Keighley Reveals Instagram Block by Oscars CEO Following Criticism of In Memoriam Exclusion for His Father

This year’s Academy Awards continued the tradition of honoring those in the film industry who have passed away over the past year. However, the absence of David Keighley from the “In Memoriam” segment has sparked a public response from his son, Geoff Keighley.

The 98th Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles, featuring the customary tribute to filmmakers, crew members, and actors who left us in the last year. Geoff Keighley, creator and host of the Game Awards, expressed his disappointment that his father, who had a significant impact on IMAX films since the 1970s, was not included in this year’s tribute.

Geoff took to social media to share his feelings: “So incredibly disappointed and heartbroken that the #Oscars and AMPAS chose not to include my father, David Keighley, and his immeasurable contributions to IMAX and cinema in the In Memoriam segment in the broadcast. I will never forget.”

David Keighley served as IMAX’s first Chief Quality Officer for 15 years before his passing in September 2025, overseeing every IMAX film print for decades. Renowned directors like James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Ryan Coogler praised his work, with Coogler stating, “Anyone who’s ever had their mind blown by the images in an IMAX theatrical presentation has David to thank for it.” Despite his legacy, he was overlooked in the Oscars’ tribute.

Following the awards on March 15, Geoff expressed his heartbreak over the omission, stating, “I will never forget.” The next day, he revealed that he had been blocked on social media after voicing his disappointment. “The Oscars’ response? AMPAS/Oscar CEO Bill Kramer apparently blocked me on Instagram last night after seeing my post expressing disappointment about the broadcast’s In Memoriam omission of my father,” he tweeted. “You truly can’t make this stuff up.”

In the comments of his posts, fans and creators shared memorable moments from the Game Awards, including the iconic outburst from director Josef Fares, who famously declared, “Fuck the Oscars!” during the 2017 event.

In a 2022 interview, Geoff reflected on his upbringing around movies and award shows, which fueled his desire for the gaming industry to have its own prestigious event. “My dad would always talk about the Oscars and how much it meant to him,” he shared. “I always wondered, ’Well, why don’t games have something that people care about that much? What’s the Oscar equivalent for gaming?’”