Oscar Nominations Released, With Two Women Nominated for Best Director for the First Time

Whether or not you’re into awards season (Golden Globes, Grammys, Oscars, etc.), it does give everyone an opportunity to discuss diversity and inclusion–or lack thereof (the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which oversees the Golden Globes, recently stated that it has not had any Black members in over two decades). This year, the Oscar nominees for Best Director include, for the first time ever, two women. In its long history, the Academy has nominated just five women for Best Director: Lina Wertmüller for Seven Beauties (1976), Jane Campion for The Piano (1993), Sophia Coppola for Lost in Translation (2003), Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2009), and Great Gerwig for Lady Bird (2017). Only Bigelow has won the award. This year, the Academy has nominated Chloé Zhao (Nomdaland) and Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) for Best Director, and they are among a group of five nominees total–the others include male directors Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round, David Fincher for Mank, and Lee Isaac Chung for Minari. Arguably the most diverse selection of Best Directors in the Academy’s history. You can read more about the selection here. The Oscars ceremony is April 25.