Women took home the honors for Best Director at the last two editions of the Academy Awards. Now, after riding the high of seeing Jane Campion and Chloé Zhao take home the biggest honor in their industry, we’re confronted by another year with zero women nominees in the category. Just seven women have received nominations for best director, but the news still stings. Contenders like Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) and Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”) have been shut out.
“Women Talking,” the story of an isolated religious community reeling in the aftermath of a series of sexual assaults, is up for Best Picture. It’s the sole woman-helmed title in the running. Polley also scored a nod for adapted screenplay. One other woman is nominated in that category: Lesley Paterson, who co-wrote “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Women are entirely absent from the original screenplay category.
One of the contenders for best animated feature hails from a women filmmaker: “Turning Red,” Domee Shi’s coming-of-age comedy that explores the highs and lows of puberty.
Two of the titles up for Best Documentary are helmed by a woman: Laura Poitras’ “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” and Sara Dosa’s “Fire of Love.” The former highlights artist Nan Goldin’s efforts to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid crisis and the latter is a tribute to volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.
We’re disappointed to see “Till’s” Danielle Deadwyler being snubbed. Her portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett Till’s mother, ought to have landed her a spot in the best actress in a leading role category. As expected, Michelle Yeoh scored a nod for metaphysical comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” If she wins, she’ll become the first Asian woman to top the category. Only one other Asian woman has been nominated for Best Actress: Merle Oberon for “The Dark Angel” in 1935.
The supporting actress race is a refreshing deviation from #OscarsSoWhite. Three of five nominees are women of color: Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), Hong Chau (“The Whale”), and Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”).
Other nominees include Mandy Walker (Best Cinematography, “Elvis”) and Monika Willi (Best Film Editing, “Tár”).
Head over to The New York Times’ website to check out all of the nominees.
