The 2021 Academy Awards Made History
Much like 2020, this year also has its fair share of novelty. The 2021 Oscars were the first time that an all-Black producing team got nominated in the best picture category. Judas and the Black Messiah marks the creative genius of producers Ryan Coogler, Shaka Kings, and Charles D. King. Although the movie lost to the star-studded drama The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, its nomination alone is enough to show the Academy is looking to encourage and award greater diversity in film.
A Year of Diverse Talent
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest wins for Netflix at this year’s Academy Awards, aside from its many nominations, was Viola Davis’s Best Actress award for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (which marked Chadwick Boseman’s last film). Viola also became the most-nominated Black actress ever as well as the only Black woman to receive two Best Actress nominations.
2021 also marked the first year where two women earned nominations in the directing category. Emerald Fennell was nominated for Promising Young Woman, and Chloe Zhao received a nomination for her work on Nomadland. In the end, the Oscar went to Thomas Vinterberg for his comedy-drama film Another Round.
In addition to these nominations, there was yet another first in the best actor category where two actors of Asian origin received nominations, one of whom won. Steven Yeun was acknowledged for his role in Minari, while Riz Ahmed won the Oscar for Amazon Studios’ Sound of Metal.
If there’s one thing we can learn from this year’s Academy Awards nominees and winners, it is that diversity will continue to be celebrated.