Since its world premiere with simultaneous screenings at Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in September, “Nomadland” has taken home award after award. After claiming the most prestigious prizes at those festivals, Chloé Zhao’s drama went on to win honors from critics associations, the AFI Awards, Gotham Awards, and other international awards and fests. The writer-director’s awards season isn’t just busy — it’s historic. “With 34 awards season trophies for directing, 13 for screenplay, and nine for editing, [Zhao] has surpassed Alexander Payne (‘Sideways’) as the most awarded person in a single awards season in the modern era,” per Variety.
The source details, “Zhao’s current 54 win tally exceeded Payne’s 42 win spread among directing and screenplay trophies for his film from 2004. ‘Sideways’ went on to win the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay. Zhao’s tally doesn’t reflect the additional 23 wins for the best picture, which she technically tacks due to her producing credit. The film’s win numbers have already surpassed Payne’s film and other big critical darlings like ‘Schindler’s List’ from Steven Spielberg and ‘L.A. Confidential’ from Curtis Hanson.”
Set in the aftermath of the Great Recession, “Nomadland” tells the story of Fern (Frances McDormand), a woman from a rural Nevada mining town who moves into her camper van and travels across the American West, picking up odd jobs along the way.
“Nomadland” is up for four Golden Globe Awards, and is expected to score lots of love when Oscar nominations are announced March 15.
Zhao made her feature debut with 2015’s “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” and followed it up with 2017’s “The Rider.”
Currently in post-production on Marvel Studios’ “The Eternals,” Zhao’s upcoming slate also includes a futuristic, sci-fi Western take on “Dracula” for Universal.
