Oscars® Nominations Announced - Historic Female Directors Nomination, Maria Bakalova Makes History for Bulgaria

Credit: The Academy Awards

This morning the 93rd Academy Awards nominations were announced by Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. Unlike previous years, this year was historic for the Oscars®. There are two female directors nominated for the first time ever in the Best Director Category - Chloe Zhao ("Nomadland") and Emerald Fennel ("Promising Young Woman"). In addition, Maria Bakalova made history for Bulgaria with her first ever Oscars® nomination for her role in Borat 2. The Academy Awards will air LIVE on ABC, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET from both the Union Station in LA and the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. 

Academy members from each of the 17 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories, nominees are selected by a vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees. Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all 23 categories beginning Thursday, April 15, through Tuesday, April 20.

Here is a full list of the nominees:

Credit: The Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role:

• Riz Ahmed in “Sound of Metal”
• Chadwick Boseman in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
• Anthony Hopkins in “The Father”
• Gary Oldman in “Mank”
• Steven Yeun in “Minari”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

• Sacha Baron Cohen in “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
• Daniel Kaluuya in “Judas and the Black Messiah”
• Leslie Odom, Jr. in “One Night in Miami...”
• Paul Raci in “Sound of Metal”
• Lakeith Stanfield in “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Performance by an actress in a leading role:

• Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom”
• Andra Day in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
• Vanessa Kirby in “Pieces of a Woman”
• Frances McDormand in “Nomadland”
• Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Woman”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

• Maria Bakalova in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
• Glenn Close in “Hillbilly Elegy”
• Olivia Colman in “The Father”
• Amanda Seyfried in “Mank”
• Yuh-Jung Youn in “Minari” 

Best animated feature film of the year: 

• “Onward” Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
• “Over the Moon” Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
• “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
• “Soul” Pete Docter and Dana Murray
• “Wolfwalkers” Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants

Achievement in cinematography:

• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Sean Bobbitt
• “Mank” Erik Messerschmidt
• “News of the World” Dariusz Wolski
• “Nomadland” Joshua James Richards
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Phedon Papamichael

 Achievement in costume design:

• “Emma” Alexandra Byrne
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Ann Roth
• “Mank” Trish Summerville
• “Mulan” Bina Daigeler
• “Pinocchio” Massimo Cantini Parrini

Achievement in directing:

• “Another Round” Thomas Vinterberg
• “Mank” David Fincher
• “Minari” Lee Isaac Chung
• “Nomadland” Chloé Zhao
• “Promising Young Woman” Emerald Fennell

Best documentary feature:

• “Collective” Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
• “Crip Camp” Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
• “The Mole Agent” Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
• “My Octopus Teacher” Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
• “Time” Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn

 Best documentary short subject:

• “Colette” Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
• “A Concerto Is a Conversation” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
• “Do Not Split” Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
• “Hunger Ward” Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
• “A Love Song for Latasha” Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan

Achievement in film editing:

• “The Father” Yorgos Lamprinos
• “Nomadland” Chloé Zhao
• “Promising Young Woman” Frédéric Thoraval
• “Sound of Metal” Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Alan Baumgarten

Best international feature film of the year:

• “Another Round” Denmark
• “Better Days” Hong Kong
• “Collective” Romania
• “The Man Who Sold His Skin” Tunisia
• “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Bosnia and Herzegovina

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling:

• “Emma” Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
• “Hillbilly Elegy” Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
• “Mank” Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
• “Pinocchio” Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):

• “Da 5 Bloods” Terence Blanchard
• “Mank” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
• “Minari” Emile Mosseri
• “News of the World” James Newton Howard
• “Soul” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

 Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):

• “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
  Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
• “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
  Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
• “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
  Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
• “Io Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
  Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
• “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami...”
  Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

Best motion picture of the year:

• “The Father” David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
• “Mank” Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
• “Minari” Christina Oh, Producer
• “Nomadland” Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
• “Promising Young Woman” Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
• “Sound of Metal” Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers

Achievement in production design:

• “The Father” Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
• “Mank” Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
• “News of the World” Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
• “Tenet” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

 Best animated short film:

• “Burrow” Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
• “Genius Loci” Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
• “If Anything Happens I Love You” Will McCormack and Michael Govier
• “Opera” Erick Oh
• “Yes-People” Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson

Best live action short film:

• “Feeling Through” Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
• “The Letter Room” Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
• “The Present” Farah Nabulsi
• “Two Distant Strangers” Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
• “White Eye” Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman

Achievement in sound:

• “Greyhound” Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
• “Mank” Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
• “News of the World” Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
• “Soul” Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
• “Sound of Metal” Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

Achievement in visual effects:

• “Love and Monsters” Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
• “The Midnight Sky” Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
• “Mulan” Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
• “The One and Only Ivan” Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
• “Tenet” Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

Adapted screenplay:

• “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” 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
• “The Father” Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
• “Nomadland” Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
• “One Night in Miami...” Screenplay by Kemp Powers
• “The White Tigers” Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

Original screenplay:

• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
• “Minari” Written by Lee Isaac Chung
• “Promising Young Woman” Written by Emerald Fennell
• “Sound of Metal” Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Written by Aaron Sorkin

For more information, visit: www.oscars.org 

2021 Cinema Unbound Awards Honorees

The Cinema Unbound Awards is an annual celebration presented by the Northwest Film Center, honoring boundary-breaking multimedia storytellers working at the intersection of art and cinema. This year the awards took place virtually on March 4. 

The Cinema Unbound Awards statement: "We honor artists and nonconformists who are not content to be contained but instead expand the notion of what’s possible. The Cinema Unbound honorees defy expectations and refuse to embrace labels using their creative vision to inspire and push us to look at what is beyond the norm. The Cinema Unbound Awards represents the Portland Art Museum & Northwest Film Center’s embrace of artistic exploration and commitment to equity and inclusion."

This year the Cinema Unbound Awards honored Steve McQueen, Garrett Bradley, Mollye Asher, Gus Van Sant and Alex Bulkley. Presenters of the awards were Chloe Zallo, Guiilermo del Toro, Rajendra Roy, Mollye Asher, Charles Burnett, among others. Event partners of the event were Gucci and Netflix. 

“The Cinema Unbound Awards celebrate those who are not content to be contained,” says Amy Dotson, Northwest Film Center Director and Portland Art Museum Curator of Film & New Media. “We honor these multi-media misfits and nonconformists who expand the notion of what’s possible; these unbound storytellers who defy expectation by refusing to embrace what is for what might be. They inspire us not just by simply coloring outside the lines, but by redrawing the lines entirely, creating a more interesting, inclusive and inspiring space where cinema and art collide.”

Alex Bulkley. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards

"The Cinema Unbound Award is a particular and personal honor because it truly reflects that same spirit that was taught to me to instill in the work that I do."

Guillermo del Toro said: "Normally the role of producer comes with this preconception that the producer has to be tough, has to be rough, has to be brutal. But Alex is nothing but gentle, and thoughtful, and a champion of the arts and a champion of the artist. He is a perfect example of keeping cinema unbound from reality while bound to reality.”

Garret Bradley. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards
"I see it really as a celebration of the gray area of intersectionality of a place where practice, and function, and ideas, geographies, spaces, things that might seem to even be in contradiction with one another can be in dialogue, to help us gain new understandings of ourselves and to pave the path for a more transparent and just and loving world.”

Mollye Asher. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards
"As an indie producer, you often have to think outside the box because the industry isn't constructed to fit anything other than what's been done before. But when you're working with partners like Chloe and Josh, that necessity to think outside of the box becomes a choice."

Chloe Zhao, who recently won for Best Director for Nomadland a Golden Globe Award and a Critics Choice Award, said: "It's in those darkest times that I think the character of a great producer really shows. And Mollye has shown that over and over and over in the times I've worked with her."

Steve McQueen. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards

"I've always tried to look at places where maybe it would be uncomfortable, but having to go there, because that's what we as artists do. We try to, sort of get driven on to reflect who we are as human beings.”

Gus Van Sant. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards.

For more on the awards, visit: https://cinemaunbound.org/. 

Golden Globes Awards Make History With Many Firsts

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo at the 78th Golden Globes Awards. Photo: Rich Polk/NBC

This year's 78th Golden Globes Awards made history by nominating the first ever Bulgarian actress, Maria Bakalova, for her role in Borat 2, as well as giving the Best Director Award to Chloe Zhao, the first ever Asian female and second woman in the Golden Globes history, to receive this award. A lot of Black actors and actresses received awards as well for various films and a promise was made by the HFPA on stage to include more Black journalists in the association. A recognition for her historic nomination was also given to Maria Bakalova who marked the first ever Golden Globes nomination for Bulgaria. She was also thanked for her bravery, talent and work by Rosamund Pike and Sasha Cohen in their acceptance speeches.

Maria Bakalova dressed in Armani. Credit: Maria Bakalova Instagram

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the first-ever bi-coastal show with Fey at New York's famed Rainbow Room and Poehler at the iconic Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Kerry Washington,Ted Danson, Brie Larson and Laverne Cox paid tribute to 2021 Cecil B. deMille Award honoree, Jane Fonda. 

Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Photo: NBC

Jane Fonda gave a remarkable speech after she received her award: "...You know, we are a community of storytellers, aren't we? And in turbulent, crisis-torn times like these, storytelling has always been essential. You see, stories have a way to ... they can change our hearts and our minds. They can help us see each other in a new light. To have empathy. To recognize that, for all our diversity, we are humans first, right? ..."

Jane Fonda. Photo credit: Golden Globes, HFPA

Wanda Sykes, Marisa Tomei and Lin-Manuel Miranda participated in a tribute to Noman Lear, who was honored with the 2021 Carol Burnett Award. Satchel & Jackson Leeserved as this year’s Golden Globe Ambassadors, and supported the charities Callen-Lorde NYC and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as part of their role. 

In addition to celebrating the best in film and television, the telecast highlighted Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization and its COVID-19 Relief Fund, as well as CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which is dedicated to saving lives and strengthening marginalized communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. In appreciation of their courage and sacrifice to provide care, support, and public service for their communities throughout the pandemic, frontline and essential workers, including food bank workers, attended the event. 

This year’s presenters who appeared from multiple locations around the world included Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Anthony Anderson, Awkwafina, Kevin Bacon, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Dern, Michael Douglas, Ava DuVernay, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, Salma Hayek, Bryce Dallas Howard, Kate Hudson, Jeanise Jones, Christopher Meloni, Tracy Morgan, Annie Mumolo, Sandra Oh, Sarah Paulson, Rosie Perez, Joaquin Phoenix, Margot Robbie, Kyra Sedgwick, Amanda Seyfried, Christian Slater, Ben Stiller, Kenan Thompson, Susan Kelechi Watson, Kristen Wiig, Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The stars were dressed in various high-end fashion designers. For example:

- Maria Bakalova was dressed in a beautiful red Gergio Armani dress;

- Kate Hudson wore a Louis Vuitton dress;

- Jodie Foster wore Prada pajamas;

- Peter Morgan wore a Prada suit;

- Catherine Zeta-Jones wore a Dolce & Gabanna dress;

- Awkwafina wore Gucci;

- Renee Zellweger wore Armani Prive and Jimmy Choo shoes;

Amanda Seyfried in Oscar De La Renta. Credit: Marcus Mam.

Julia Garner dressed in Prada. Credit: Hung Vaango.

Tahar Rahim dressed in Louis Vuitton. Credit: Naj Jamai 

Among many other amazing designers....

Golden Globes winners:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA NOMADLAND 

 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA ANDRA DAY 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA CHADWICK BOSEMAN MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM 

 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - ROSAMUND PIKE 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - SACHA BARON COHEN 

 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED - SOUL 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE - MINARI (USA) 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE - JODIE FOSTER 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE - DANIEL KALUUYA 

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE - CHLOÉ ZHAO, NOMADLAND 

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE - AARON SORKIN, TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7  

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE - TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS, JON BATISTE , SOUL 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE - “IO SÌ (SEEN)” THE LIFE AHEAD 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - THE CROWN 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - EMMA CORRIN 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - JOSH O'CONNOR 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - SCHITT'S CREEK 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - CATHERINE O'HARA 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - JASON SUDEIKIS 

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - ANYA TAYLOR-JOY 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - MARK RUFFALO 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE - GILLIAN ANDERSON

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE - JOHN BOYEGA