Chloé Zhao, 38, has just made history again by becoming the first woman of color to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
The “Nomadland” filmmaker received the Best Director Oscar nomination alongside Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”), marking the first time two women were nominated for the category in the ceremony’s 93-year history.
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In addition to the Best Director nod, Zhao was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing while the film itself was nominated for Best Picture, reports the New York Times.
“Nomadland” actress Frances McDormand also received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Joshua James Richards, for Best Cinematography.
“I’m so thrilled for our nominations! Thank you to the Academy,” Zhao said in a statement. “I’m grateful to have gone on this journey with our talented team of filmmakers and to have met so many wonderful people who generously shared their stories with us. Thank you so much to my academy peers for recognizing this film that is very close to my heart.”
Zhao also became the first woman of Asian descent and second woman to ever win the Golden Globes Best Director award earlier this year, as NextShark previously reported.
The 78th Golden Globes was the first time three female directors were nominated in the category.
“Eternals” will be the filmmaker’s next project, a superhero film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe which is slated for release in November 2021.
Feature Image via Gage Skidmore (left; (CC BY-SA 2.0)), Vegafi (right; (CC BY-SA 4.0))
