The Academy Makes History with 93rd Oscars Nominations

BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN

Eight films will compete for the Best Picture award at the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards: “The Father”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “Mank”, “Minari”, “Nomadland”, “Promising Young Woman”, “Sound of Metal”, and “The Trial of the Chicago 7”. David Fincher’s black-and-white Netflix opus, “Mank”, earned the most nominations of any film with ten, including Best Director and Actor (Gary Oldman).

Before the nominations were revealed, Academy president David Rubin announced this year’s Oscars ceremony, to be produced by Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher, and Steven Soderbergh, would take place in-person at the Dolby Theatre and Los Angeles’ Union Station. Adding an additional ceremony location is just the cherry on top of this remarkable film year and awards season that began with The Academy announcing last spring that films could still qualify for the Oscars without the traditional theatrical release. With the majority of films premiering or at least being available on streaming services and video-on-demand, this year’s nominees are perhaps the most accessible in Oscars history.

In terms of the makeup of this year’s nominees, the acting categories represent the most diverse group ever nominated. Nine actors of color earned Oscar nominations, including Steven Yeun (“Minari”), who is the first Asian-American ever nominated for Best Actor. In the same category, Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) is the first person of Pakistani descent ever nominated for any Academy Award acting category. Plus, Yuh-Jung Youn, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for “Minari”, is the first Korean person ever nominated for an acting Oscar.

Along with Yeun and Ahmed, Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) earned a Best Actor nomination, meaning for the first time in Oscars history, the majority of Best Actor nominees are non-white.

In Best Actress, Viola Davis is now the first Black actress to earn multiple Best Actress nominations. She is also now the most-nominated Black actress in Oscars history, with her newest nomination bringing her total to four nominations and one win. This year, with Davis and Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”) nominated, it marks the first time since 1973 that two Black women were nominated for Best Actress in the same year. In 1973, Diana Ross (“Lady Sings the Blues”) was nominated alongside the late Cicely Tyson (“Sounder”).

Outside of the acting categories, “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color nominated for Best Director and she is also the first woman to ever receive four nominations in a single year: Best Picture, Director, Film Editing, and Adapted Screenplay. Zhao was nominated in Best Director along with Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”), meaning it’s the first time more than one woman was nominated in that category in the same year.

There are other notable and historic nominations among the bunch. Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson are the first Black women nominated in the Best Makeup & Hairstyling category. They received their nominations for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. The film’s costume designer, Ann Roth, also received a nomination, tying James Ivory and Agnes Varda as the oldest people to ever be nominated for a competitive Oscar. Roth is 89 years old. Her nomination for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is her fifth Oscar nomination.

While the list of this year’s nominees is worthy of celebration, there are a few noteworthy names and projects that didn’t make the cut. Many prognosticators expected Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” to earn mentions in several categories, including a nod for Delroy Lindo in the Best Actor category. Instead, the Netflix film earned a single nomination for Terence Blanchard’s score. Netflix’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” received a total of 6 nominations, including a nomination for Best Picture, but its director, Aaron Sorkin, didn’t make the cut. He did, however, earn a nomination for the film’s original screenplay. Also in directing, Regina King was predicted to make history as the first Black woman ever nominated in that category for her work on “One Night in Miami”. Instead, the film earned nominations in Best Supporting Actor (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Best Original Song, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Also missing from the list is “The Mauritanian”, a late-breaking film that earned several last minute awards nominations and wins for its cast, including a lucrative Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for Jodie Foster. Many lists of predictions had Foster making the shortlist for the Oscar. The film, however, failed to earn a single nomination. The last time Foster was recognized by The Academy was for her performance in 1994’s “Nell”. Other similar instances of precursor awards recognition not resulting in an Oscars nomination are Helena Zengel (“News of the World”), who received a nomination at the Globes and the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Dominique Fishback (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), who earned a BAFTA nomination.

As for surprises, the multiple nominations for “Sound of Metal” are a welcomed surprise. The small film about a metal drummer going deaf, earned major nominations, including for its lead actor, Riz Ahmed, and a critically-acclaimed supporting performance by Paul Raci. In the directing category, Thomas Vinterberg made the list over Aaron Sorkin, Regina King, and Shaka King, to elevate his Danish film, “Another Round”.

In acting, Lakeith Stanfield shook everyone’s predictions lists when he received the fifth slot in Best Supporting Actor. His performance in “Judas and the Black Messiah” had been campaigned by Warner Bros. as a leading performance, but Academy voters are able to list performers in whichever category they see fit. Stanfield will compete against his costar, Daniel Kaluuya, who has won most of the precursor awards, so far.

The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, April 25.

Best Picture

THE FATHER
(Sony Pictures Classics)

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(Warner Bros.)

MANK
(Netflix)

MINARI
(A24)

NOMADLAND
(Searchlight Pictures)

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
(Focus Features)

SOUND OF METAL
(Amazon Studios)

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
(Netflix)

Best Director

Lee Isaac Chung
MINARI
(A24)

Emerald Fennell
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
(Focus Features)

David Fincher
MANK
(Netflix)

Thomas Vinterberg
ANOTHER ROUND
(Samuel Goldwyn Films)

Chloé Zhao
NOMADLAND
(Searchlight Pictures)

Best Actress

Viola Davis
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
(Netflix)

Andra Day
THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY
(Hulu)

Vanessa Kirby
PIECES OF A WOMAN
(Netflix)

Frances McDormand
NOMADLAND
(Searchlight Pictures)

Carey Mulligan
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
(Focus Features)

Best Actor

Riz Ahmed
SOUND OF METAL
(Amazon Studios)

Chadwick Boseman
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
(Netflix)

Anthony Hopkins
THE FATHER
(Sony Pictures Classics)

Gary Oldman
MANK
(Netflix)

Steven Yeun
MINARI
(A24)

Best Supporting Actress

Maria Bakalova
BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM
(Amazon Studios)

Glenn Close
HILLBILLY ELEGY
(Netflix)

Olivia Colman
THE FATHER
(Sony Pictures Classics)

Amanda Seyfried
MANK
(Netflix)

Yuh-Jung Youn
MINARI
(A24)

Best Supporting Actor

Sacha Baron Cohen
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
(Netflix)

Daniel Kaluuya
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(Warner Bros.)

Leslie Odom, Jr.
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
(Amazon Studios)

Paul Raci
SOUND OF METAL
(Amazon Studios)

Lakeith Stanfield
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(Warner Bros.)

Best Original Screenplay

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Screenplay by Will Berson, Shaka King
Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas
(Warner Bros.)

MINARI
Lee Isaac Chung
(A24)

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Emerald Fennell
(Focus Features)

SOUND OF METAL
Screenplay by Darius Marder, Abraham Marder
Story by Darius Marder, Derek Cianfrance
(Amazon Studios)

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Aaron Sorkin
(Netflix)

Best Adapted Screenplay

BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Nina Pedrad
(Amazon Studios)

THE FATHER
Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller
(Sony Pictures Classics)

NOMADLAND
Chloé Zhao
(Searchlight Pictures)

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
Kemp Powers
(Amazon Studios)

THE WHITE TIGER
Ramin Bahrani
(Netflix)

Best Animated Feature

ONWARD
Dan Scanlon, Kori Rae
(Pixar)

OVER THE MOON
Glen Keane, Peilin Chou, Gennie Rim
(Netflix)

A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON
Richard Phelan, Will Becher, Paul Kewley
(Netflix)

SOUL
Pete Docter, Dana Murray
(Pixar)

WOLFWALKERS
Stéphan Roelants, Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young
(Apple TV Plus/GKIDS)

Best Production Design

THE FATHER
Peter Francis (production designer)
Cathey Featherstone (set decorator)
(Sony Pictures Classics)

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Mark Ricker (production designer)
Karen O’Hara, Diana Stoughton (set decorators)
(Netflix)

MANK
Donald Graham Burt (production designer)
Jan Pascale (set decorator)
(Netflix)

NEWS OF THE WORLD
David Crank (production designer)
Elizabeth Keenan (set decorator)
(Universal Pictures)

TENET
Nathan Crowley (production designer)
Kathy Lucas (set decorator)
(Warner Bros.)

Best Cinematography

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Sean Bobbitt
(Warner Bros.)

MANK
Erik Messerschmidt
(Netflix)

NEWS OF THE WORLD
Dariusz Wolski
(Universal Pictures)

NOMADLAND
Joshua James Richards
(Searchlight Pictures)

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Phedon Papamichael
(Netflix)

Best Costume Design

EMMA.
Alexandra Byrne
(Focus Features)

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Ann Roth
(Netflix)

MANK
Trish Summerville
(Netflix)

MULAN
Bina Daigeler
(Walt Disney Pictures)

PINOCCHIO
Massimo Cantini Parrini
(Roadside Attractions)

Best Film Editing

THE FATHER
Yorgos Lamprinos
(Sony Pictures Classics)

NOMADLAND
Chloé Zhao
(Searchlight Pictures)

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Frédéric Thoraval
(Focus Features)

SOUND OF METAL
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
(Amazon Studios)

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Alan Baumgarten
(Netflix)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

EMMA.
Marese Langan (hair and makeup designer)
(Focus Features)

HILLBILLY ELEGY
Eryn Krueger Mekash (makeup department head)
Patricia Dehaney (hair department head)
Matthew Mungle (prosthetic designer)
(Netflix)

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Matiki Anoff (makeup department head)
Mia Neal (hair department head)
Larry M. Cherry (hair department head)
(Netflix)

MANK
Kimberley Spiteri (hair department head)
Gigi Williams (makeup department head)
(Netflix)

PINOCCHIO
Mark Coulier (prosthetic designer)
Dalia Colli (makeup artist)
Francesco Pegoretti (hair designer)
(Roadside Attractions)

Best Sound

GREYHOUND
Odin Benitez, Jason King, Christian P. Minkler, Michael Minkler, Jeff Sawyer
(Apple TV Plus)

MANK
Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance, Drew Kunin
(Netflix)

NEWS OF THE WORLD
John Pritchett, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller, Oliver Tarney, Michael Fentum
(Universal Pictures)

SOUL
Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott, David Parker
(Pixar)

SOUND OF METAL
Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana
(Amazon Studios)

Best Visual Effects

LOVE AND MONSTERS
Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt, Brian Cox
(Paramount Pictures)

THE MIDNIGHT SKY
Matt Kasmir, Chris Lawrence, Dave Watkins, Max Solomon
(Netflix)

MULAN
Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury, Steve Ingram
(Walt Disney Pictures)

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones, Santiago Colomo Martinez
(Disney Plus)

TENET
Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers
(Warner Bros.)

Best Original Score

DA 5 BLOODS
Terence Blanchard
(Netflix)

MANK
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
(Netflix)

MINARI
Emile Mosseri
(A24)

NEWS OF THE WORLD
James Newton Howard
(Universal Pictures)

SOUL
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
(Pixar)

Best Original Song

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA
”Húsavik”
Music and lyric by Savan Kotecha, Rickard Goransson, and Fat Max Gsus
(Netflix)

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
”Fight for You”
Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II
Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
(Warner Bros.)

THE LIFE AHEAD
”Io Si (Seen)”
Music by Diane Warren
Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
(Netflix)

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
”Speak Now”
Music and lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
(Amazon Studios)

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
”Hear My Voice”
Music by Daniel Pemberton
Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
(Netflix)

Best Documentary Feature

COLLECTIVE
Alexander Nanau, Bernard Michaux, Hanka Kastelicová, Bianca Oana
(Magnolia Pictures and Participant)

CRIP CAMP
Nicole Newnham, James Lebrecht, Sara Bolder Hittman
(Netflix)

THE MOLE AGENT
Maite Alberdi, Marcela Santibáñez
(Gravitas Ventures)

MY OCTOPUS TEACHER
Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, Craig Foster
(Netflix)

TIME
Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn, Garrett Bradley
(Amazon Studios)

Best International Feature

ANOTHER ROUND
(Denmark)

BETTER DAYS
(Hong Kong)

COLLECTIVE
(Romania)

THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN
(Tunisia)

QUO VADIS, AIDA?
(Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Best Animated Short

BURROW
Madeline Sharafian, Michael Capbarat
(Disney Plus/Pixar)

GENIUS LOCI
Adrien Mérigeau, Amaury Ovise
(Kazak Productions)

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU
Will McCormack, Michael Govier
(Netflix)

OPERA
Erick Oh
(Beasts and Natives Alike)

YES-PEOPLE
Gísli Darri Halldórsson, Arnar Gunnarsson
(CAOZ hf. Hólamói)

Best Documentary Short

COLETTE
Anthony Giacchino, Alice Doyard
(Time Travel Unlimited)

A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION
Ben Proudfoot, Kris Bowers
(Breakwater Studios)

DO NOT SPLIT
Anders Hammer, Charlotte Cook
(Field of Vision)

HUNGER WARD
Skye Fitzgerald, Michael Scheuerman
(MTV Documentary Films)

A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA
Sophia Nahli Allison, Janice Duncan
(Netflix)

Best Live-Action Short

FEELING THROUGH
Doug Roland, Susan Ruzenski
(Doug Roland Films)

THE LETTER ROOM
Elvira Lind, Sofia Sondervan
(Salaud Morisset, Topic)

THE PRESENT
Farah Nabulsi
(Philistine Films)

TWO DISTANT STRANGERS
Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe
(Dirty Robber, NowThis)

WHITE EYE
Tomer Shushan, Shira Hochman
(EROIN CORP)