Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty

Troy Kotsur, winner of the Actor in a Supporting Role award for ‘CODA’ poses in the press room during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022

Academy AwardwinnerTroy Kotsursays his success “still takes time for it all to sink in” after starring in 2021’sCODA.

At the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday night, Kotsur, 54, told PEOPLE that appearing on the awards circuit almost one year after hewon Best Supporting Actorat the 94th Oscars “almost feels like a family reunion” as he appeared to present the best supporting actress award toAngela BassettforBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.

“Well, it’s a weird feeling because I feel like it was all over and since then I’ve had so many projects and development, so many meetings, so many new scripts to read, so it still takes time for it all to sink in,” Kotsur said, when asked about the long-term impact ofCoda’s success on his life.

“Now, being here at this event, it really is the only time us actors have an opportunity to see each other in one place,” the actor told PEOPLE. “It almost feels like a family reunion, because everyone is so busy with their careers and during award season, it pulls us all together, we get to see each other.”

Asked about the difference between one person in the deaf community’s success versus that of the entire community’s success, Kotsur said he feels he “can increase the hope of deaf kids out there because for so long we were ignored and marginalized and isolated.”

Monica Schipper/WireImage

Critics Choice Award Arrivals

“One day when you win an award like an Oscar or a CCA Award, the world will listen to you, the world will pay attention, and then that will of course influence the next generation of deaf and disabled children,” Kotsur told PEOPLE. “Technology has really improved too. Deaf people really rely on this technology to have access to communication and for making movies too.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“It’s really a blessing that I was an award winner, and I think the world was finally ready for that,” the actor — who made history as the first Deaf man to win an acting Oscar in 2022, among other milestones — adds of last year’s awards season success.

Kotsur also teased an upcoming project he has in the works with Disney+ on Sunday, describing an “untitled series that’s based on a true story about a deaf football team that goes on to win the state championship.”

source: people.com