Inclusivity is key: Netflix receives the most Academy Award nominations in 2021

The nominees in the category for “Best Picture” in 2021 are ‘‘Mank’’, ‘‘The Father’’, ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’, ‘‘Minari’’, ‘‘Nomadland’’, ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’, ‘‘Sound of Metal’’ and ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

Netflix held first place for the Academy Awards in 2021 with a full set of 35 nominations. It was also an important moment for Viola Davis who became the most-nominated Black actress ever (four nominations) and the only Black woman who was nominated for “Best actress” twice. 

                                 

The 93rd nominations for the annual Academy Awards will be remembered as an essential part of history. The nominations were announced on March 15 and ‘‘Mank’’ gained the most nominations with a total of ten. Additionally, the movie rocked the most Golden Globes nominations in February but didn’t take home any awards from the ceremony. (Netflix, which streamed ‘‘Mank’’, received 35 nominations ‒ that’s more than any other movie platform got this year.) The film is up against ‘‘The Father’’, ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’, ‘‘Minari’’, ‘‘Nomadland’’, ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’, ‘‘Sound of Metal’’, and ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’ for the “Best Picture” award.  

This year’s Oscars are the first-ever when an all-Black producing team is being nominated for the “Best Picture” award. The producers Shaka King, Ryan Coogler, and Charles D. King and their involvement in ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’ were acknowledged in 2021. 

However, there was another aspect to be proud of once the nomination list was dropped. This year is also the first time that two Asian actors were suggested for the “Best actor” selection. Steven Yeun snatched a nomination for his performance in ‘‘Minari’’ and Riz Ahmed secured his with the motion picture ‘‘Sound of Metal’’. Moreover, it is important to note that Ahmed is the very first Muslim-representative nominee in this category.

2021 additionally marks the first year when two women received nominations for their directing skills. Chloe Zhao won her nomination with her role on ‘‘Nomadland’’ and Emerald Fennell was nominated for the thriller/comedy ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’.

Viola Davis also enjoys her shining moment as she got a nomination for “Best Actress” for the drama ‘‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’ and consequently became the most-nominated Black actress ever (four total nominations) and the only Black woman who could be proud of two “Best Actress” nominations. 

Hollywood’s favorite duo Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas revealed the nominees in a two-part livestream which could be accessed across the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences’ social media profiles and its website. 

The 2021 nominations’ eligibility period was incomparable to any other year. The Coronavirus pandemic caused cinemas worldwide to remain non-operational for most of the year 2020, which made the Academy alter its requirements. 

Exclusively for 2021, the institution has allowed movies that would have been in theatres otherwise (had the situation been different) to still qualify if they were released on the various streaming platforms.

The full list of nominees is the following: 

For “Best Picture” the nominations were awarded to: 

• ‘‘The Father’’;
• ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘Minari’’;
• ‘‘Nomadland’’;
• ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’;
• ‘‘Sound of Metal’’ and
• ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

                     

The “Best actress” decision will be between:

• Viola Davis, ‘‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’;
• Andra Day, ‘‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’’;
• Vanessa Kirby, ‘‘Pieces of a Woman’’;
• Frances McDormand, ‘‘Nomadland’’ and
• Carey Mulligan, ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’.

The “Best Actor” category presents the following nominees:

• Riz Ahmed, ‘‘Sound of Metal’’;
• Chadwick Boseman, ‘‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’;
• Anthony Hopkins, ‘‘The Father’’;
• Gary Oldman, ‘‘Mank’’ and
• Steven Yeun, ‘‘Minari’’.

  

In “Best animated feature” the nominees are:

• ‘‘Onward’’
• ‘‘Over the Moon’’;
• ‘‘A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’’;
• ‘‘Soul’’ and
• ‘‘Wolfwalkers’’.

The very discussed “Best director” category includes the following nominees: 

• Lee Isaac Chung, ‘‘Minari’’;
• Emerald Fennell, ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’;
• David Fincher, ‘‘Mank’’;
• Chloe Zhao, ‘‘Nomadland’’ and
• Thomas Vinterberg, ‘‘Another Round’’.

The “Best cinematography” is one of the most interesting and the competition is between: 

• ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘News of the World’’;
• ‘‘Nomadland’’ and
• ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

For “Best production design” the nominations are:

• ‘‘The Father’’;
• ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘News of the World’’ and
• ‘‘Tenet’’

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  The “Best sound” award will go to one of:

• ‘‘Greyhound’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘News of the World’’;
• ‘‘Soul’’ or
• ‘‘Sound of Metal’’.

The nominees for “Best visual effects” are:

• ‘‘Love and Monsters’’;
• ‘‘The Midnight Sky’’;
• ‘‘Mulan’’;
• ‘‘The One and Only Ivan’’ and
• ‘‘Tenet’’.

In the “Best film editing” category there are: 

• ‘‘The Father’’;
• ‘‘Nomadland’’;
• ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’;
• ‘‘Sound of Metal’’ and
• ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

                                         

In “Best international feature” the contest is between: 

• ‘‘Another Round’’;
• ‘‘Btter Days’’;
• ‘‘Collective’’;
• ‘‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’’ and
• ‘‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’’.

For “Best documentary short subject” the choice is between: 

• ‘‘Colette’’;
• ‘‘A Concerto is a Conversation’’;
• ‘‘Do Not Split’’;
• ‘‘Hunger Ward’’ and
• ‘‘A Love Song For Latasha’’.

The “Best documentary feature” category includes: 

• ‘‘Collective’’;
• ‘‘Crip Camp’’;
• ‘‘The Mole Agent’’;
• ‘‘My Octopus Teacher’’ and
• ‘‘Time’’.

In “Best original screenplay” the nominations were received by: 

• ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’;
• ‘‘Minari’’;
• ‘‘Promising Young Woman’’;
• ‘‘Sound of Metal’’ and
• ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

For “Best supporting actor” the competitors are: 

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

In the category “Best animated short film” the nominees are: 

• ‘‘Burrow’’;
• ‘‘Genius Loci’’;
• ‘‘If Anything Happens I Love You’’;
• ‘‘Opera’’ and
• ‘‘Yes People’’.

  

The award for “Best live action short film” will go to one of the following: 

• ‘‘Feeling Through’’;
• ‘‘The Letter Room’’;
• ‘‘The Present’’;
• ‘‘Two Distant Strangers’’ or
• ‘‘White Eye’’.

For the category of “Best costume design” the nominations are for: 

• ‘‘Emma’’;
• ‘‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘Mulan’’ and
• ‘‘Pinocchio’’.

In “Best hair and makeup”’ the competition is between:

• ‘‘Emma’’;
• ‘‘Hillbilly Elegy’’;
• ‘‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’ and
• ‘‘Pinocchio’’.

For “Best original score” the decision is between:

• ‘‘Da 5 Bloods’’;
• ‘‘Mank’’;
• ‘‘Minari’’;
• ‘‘News of the World’’ and
• ‘‘Soul’’.

The nominations for “Best original song” are:

• ‘‘Husavik (My Hometown)’’, ‘‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’’;
• ‘‘Fight for You’’, ‘‘Judas and the Black Messiah’’;
• ‘‘Io Se (Seen)’’, ‘‘The Life Ahead’’;
• ‘‘Speak Now’’, ‘‘One Night in Miami’’ and
• ‘‘Hear My Voice’’, ‘‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’’.

The nominees for “Best adapted screenplay” are: 

• ‘‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’’;
• ‘‘The Father’’;
• ‘‘Nomadland’’;
• ‘‘One Night in Miami’’ and
• ‘‘The White Tiger’’.

The candidates for the category “Actress in a supporting role” are as following:

• Maria Bakalova, ‘‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’’;
• Glenn Close, ‘‘Hillbilly Elegy’’;
• Olivia Colman, ‘‘The Father’’;
• Amanda Seyfried, ‘‘Mank’’ and
• Yuh-Jung Youn, ‘‘Minari’’.

Let us wish the nominees plenty of luck at the awards and cross our fingers that we get to see more of their work in the future.