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Oscar nominations 2021: Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell are nominated for the Best Director award

Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell made history on Monday morning.

The filmmakers were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director; this is the first time that two female directors have been put up for the same distinction.

This awards season has seen many women and people of color being nominated for various Oscars, and the ceremony is shaping up to be the most inclusive one ever as the Academy recently implemented new diversity rules.

Big achievement: Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, making it the fist time in history that two female filmmakers have been nominated at the same time; Zhao is seen in September of last year

Big achievement: Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, making it the fist time in history that two female filmmakers have been nominated at the same time; Zhao is seen in September of last year

Zhao was nominated for her work on Nomadland, which had its initial premiere last year.

The 38-year-old filmmaker’s feature is centered on a woman named Fern, who begins traveling the United States in a van after losing her job and husband.

The film was based on the book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, which was written by journalist Jessica Bruder.

In addition to helming the feature, Zhao wrote its screenplay and acted as one of its producers.

Great picture: The filmmaker was nominated for her work on the film Nomadland, which had its initial debut at the Venice Film Festival last year

Great picture: The filmmaker was nominated for her work on the film Nomadland, which had its initial debut at the Venice Film Festival last year

Racking them up: Nomadland was put up for various other Oscars, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress for Frances McDormand; the film's lead actress and director are pictured together in September of 2020

Racking them up: Nomadland was put up for various other Oscars, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress for Frances McDormand; the film’s lead actress and director are pictured together in September of 2020

Nomadland had its initial premiere at the Venice Film Festival last September and went on to have a wide streaming release in February.

The picture has garnered high critical acclaim and took home multiple awards at the recently held Golden Globes ceremony, including the distinctions for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director.

Zhao’s film was also nominated for numerous other Oscars, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress for the feature’s star, Frances McDormand.

Fennell was nominated for the award for Best Director for her work on the film Promising Young Woman, which debuted at last year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Solid director: Emerald Fennell was nominated for the Oscar for her work on Promising Young Woman, which made its debut at last year's Sundance Film Festival; she is pictured in 2015

Solid director: Emerald Fennell was nominated for the Oscar for her work on Promising Young Woman, which made its debut at last year’s Sundance Film Festival; she is pictured in 2015

High praise: The media figure's directorial debut received much positive critical attention for the performance of its cast and timely themes

High praise: The media figure’s directorial debut received much positive critical attention for the performance of its cast and timely themes

The film follows the story of a woman named Cassie, who attempts to exact justice on a man who had sexually assaulted her friend in high school.

The 35-year-old filmmaker and author also wrote the script for the feature and acted as one of its producers; Margot Robbie served in the same capacity.

Promising Young Woman was also Fennell’s feature directing debut, as she had previously focused on acting and writing novels.

The feature was the focus of much positive critical attention upon its initial release, with many reviewers pointing out the lead actors’ performances and coverage of timely themes.

Working hard: In addition to directing Promising Young Woman, Fennell wrote Promising Young Woman's screenplay and served as one of its producers; Carey Mulligan and Bo Burnham are seen performing in the movie

Working hard: In addition to directing Promising Young Woman, Fennell wrote Promising Young Woman’s screenplay and served as one of its producers; Carey Mulligan and Bo Burnham are seen performing in the movie

It has also been nominated for the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress, with the latter focusing on the film’s star, Carey Mulligan.

The Academy Awards have been in existence for 93 years. 

Only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director. They include Lina Wertmüller (1976′s Seven Beauties), Jane Campion (1993′s The Piano), Sofia Coppola (2003′s Lost In Translation), Kathryn Bigelow (2009′s The Hurt Locker), and Greta Gerwig (2017′s Lady Bird). 

It is a surprise that two women made the category this year. It is also the first time a woman of Asian decent (Zhao) has been nominated. 

Although the ceremony is usually held at the Dolby Theater, located in Los Angeles, this year’s Oscars will be hosted at multiple venues in an effort to minimize person-to-person contact.

The Academy Awards are set to take place on April 25th after being pushed back from its original air date of February 28th.

Serious accolades: Fennell's film was also nominated for the award for Best Picture, and its lead actress, Carey Mulligan, was also put up for the Best Actress award

Serious accolades: Fennell’s film was also nominated for the award for Best Picture, and its lead actress, Carey Mulligan, was also put up for the Best Actress award

93rd Academy Awards: Who are the 2021 Oscar nominees?

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins – The Father

Gary Oldman – Mank

Steven Yeun – Minari

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman – The Father

Amanda Seyfried – Mank

Youn Yuh-jung – Minari

 

Best Director

Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round

David Fincher – Mank

Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Music (Original Score)

Da 5 Bloods

Mank

Minari

News of the World

Soul

 

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You

Opera

Yes-People

 

Best Live Action Short Film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

 

Best International Feature Film

Another Round

Better Days

Collective

The Man Who Sold His Skin

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Sound: Greyhound - a war film starring Tom Hanks - is up for the gong

Best Sound: Greyhound – a war film starring Tom Hanks – is up for the gong 

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 Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

News of the World

Nomadland

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma

Hillbilly Elegy

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank

Pinocchio

 

Best Music (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…

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

 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 Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

Best Actress in a Leading Role

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 Actor in a Supporting Role

Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…

Paul Raci – Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah

 

Best Animated Feature Film

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul

Wolfwalkers

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Costume Design

Emma

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank

Mulan

Pinnochio

 

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

The Father

Nomadland

One Night in Miami…

The White Tiger

 

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Judas and the Black Messiah

Minari

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Documentary Feature

Collective

Crip Camp

The Mole Agent

My Octopus Teacher

Time

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Documentary Short Subject

Colette

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

A Love Song for Latasha

 

Best Film Editing

The Father

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

The Midnight Sky

Mulan

The One and Only Ivan

Tenet

 

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