Nominations for the 2021 Oscars have been announced. With a history of being a male dominated award ceremony, this year’s nominees have never been so diverse.
The Golden Globe hype hadn’t had the chance to settle when the Oscars released their 2021 nominations on Monday. In an ordinary year, the award ceremony would have already taken place. However, the pandemic has pushed the Oscars back to late April.
The near 100-year old award ceremony has been at the centre of controversy in the past for its lack of diversity. In 2016, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite shed a harsh light on the social injustice and predominately white male representation in the ceremony. Many Black actors have threatened to boycott the Oscars. However this year, the ceremony has changed their attitude with the most diverse list of nominees yet.
Making History
The Oscars aren’t the only award ceremony that receives criticism for its lack of female presence in the Best Director category. But this year two women have made history with their nomination for Best Director. Chloe Zhao for Nomadland and Emerald Fennel for Promising Young Woman join the five women that have been previously nominated.
Actress Viola Davis, has undoubtedly earned her place in Oscar history as the most-nominated Black actress of all time. Davis’s nomination for Best Actress follows her stunning performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The 55 year old has four nominations and is the only Black woman with two Best Actress nominations.
Women aren’t the only marginalised community marking their place in Oscar history. Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in “Sound of Metal.” Meanwhile, Steven Yeun’s nomination for Best Actor for his performance in “Minari,” makes him the first Asian American to be nominated in the category.
Meanwhile, feature film Judas and the Black Messiah is contributing to creating a stronger Black presence at award ceremonies. Becoming the first time an all-Black producing team has been nominated for Best Picture.
The Oscars ceremony will air on April 25th on ABC. The in-person award show will be broadcast from the Los Angele’s historic Union Station and Dolby Theatre.
Read the full nominees list below:
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Director
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari
Best Actress
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Supporting Actor
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messia
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Mulan
Pinocchio
Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minar
News of the World
Soul
Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger
Best Original Screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Animated Short
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People
Best Live-Action Short
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time
Best Documentary Short
Colette
A Concerto is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best International Feature
Another Round
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio
Best Animated Feature
Onward
Over the Moon
Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
Best Original Song
“Fight for You,” Judas and the Black Messiah
“Hear My Voice,” The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik,” Eurovision Song Contest
“Io Si (Seen),” The Life Ahead
“Speak Now,” One Night in Miami