Nomadland Sparks A Historical Win at the 2021 Oscars

Chloe Zhao is the second woman in Oscars’ history to win ‘Best Director’.

The Academy Awards took place this Sunday, April 25, at the Los Angeles Union Station. The Oscars normally occur during the month of February but this year it was postponed to April in order to maintain the red carpet tradition and in-person ceremony. Throughout the night, there were multiple historical wins that celebrated the diversity within the film industry.

Nomadland was appointed 2021’s ‘Best Picture’ and Francis McDormand won ‘Best Actress’ for the third time in her career. The feature film’s director, Chloe Zhao, was the second woman to receive the ‘Best Director’ award and the first woman of colour to do so.

“I have always found goodness in the people I met everywhere I went in the world,” said Chloe Zhao.

“This is for everyone who has the faith and the courage to hold onto the goodness in themselves.”

A night of celebration

As for ‘Best Actor’, Anthony Hopkins won his second Oscar 30 years after being recognized for his role in The Silence of the Lambs. Hopkins received the award for The Father in which he plays a character struggling to accept his dementia diagnosis. The movie also garnered the award for ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’.

Another highlight of the night was Youn Yuh-Jung accepting the award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her portrayal as the matriarch of an immigrant family in Minari. Yuh-Jung is the first South Korean actress to win this award.

Throughout the Awards season, Daniel Kaluuya was constantly recognized for his role as a Black Panther leader in Shakah King’s Judas and the Black Messiah. The actor’s winning streak continued as he received the award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in a category that included his fellow co-star Lakeith Stanfield. ‘Fight For You’, H.E.R.’s anthem for Judas and the Black Messiah was the recipient for ‘Best Original Song’ weeks after the singer won ‘Song of the Year’ at the Grammys.

“Him (W’Kabi), Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, The Black Panther Party, they showed me how to love myself, and with that love they overflowed to the Black community and other communities,” said Kaluuya in his speech.

Soul and Promising Young Woman take home prizes

Soul not only won for ‘Best Animation’ but also for ‘Best Original Score’. The Pixar film follows a Jazz music teacher’s journey to unveil the meaning of life.

Promising Young Woman also did not leave empty-handed. Emerald Fennell, who was also nominated for ‘Best Director’, won for ‘Best Original Screenplay’.

Despite the Oscars maintaining the in-person maskless aesthetic, the ceremony suffered some modifications. Amongst them were the ceremony being held outside the Dolby Theatre, which is its usual location. The music performances that normally come in between categories were instead presented prior to the 93rd edition of film’s greatest night.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture

Nomadland

Best Director

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Best Actress

Frances McDormand, Nomadland 

Best Actor

Anthony Hopkins, The Father 

Best Supporting Actor

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Supporting Actress

Youn Yuh-jung, Minari

Best Original Screenplay

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton,The Father

Best International Feature Film

Another Round (Denmark)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best Costume Design

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best Sound

Sound of Metal

Live Action Short Film

Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film

If Anything Happens I Love You

Best Animated Feature

Soul

Best Documentary, Short Subject

Colette

Best Documentary Feature

My Octopus Teacher

Best Visual Effects

Tenet 

Best Production Design

Mank

Best Cinematography

Mank

Best Film Editing

The Sound of Metal 

Best Original Score

Soul 

Best Original Song

Fight For You, Judas and the Black Messiah

Isabella Soares

@IconicStop

Featured image courtesy of Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.