The 2024 Oscar nominations have marked a significant milestone for women filmmakers. For the first time ever, three out of the ten movies nominated for Best Picture were directed by female auteurs, marking the highest recognition of women in the 96-year history of the Academy Awards.
A Breakthrough Moment
Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall,” Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives” have made cinematic history by securing nominations in the highly coveted Best Picture category. These films have broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings, paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse industry.
A Look at the Nominees
In addition to the groundbreaking films mentioned above, the other Best Picture nominees are “American Fiction,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “The Holdovers,” “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest.” Each film brings its unique storytelling and creative vision to the forefront, making the competition tough and exciting.
A Slow but Steady Progress
This achievement didn’t happen overnight. Before this year’s nominations, the Academy had recognized a total of 591 movies. However, only in four years have two films directed by women been among the Best Picture nominees: Lone Scherfig’s “An Education” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” in 2009, Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are All Right” and Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone” in 2010, Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” in 2020, and Siân Heder’s “CODA” and Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” in 2021. It is worth mentioning that Bigelow, Zhao, and Heder’s films went on to win the Best Picture award.
Recognizing Remarkable Talent
Another notable achievement is the recognition of women in the producing and acting categories. Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) and Margot Robbie (“Barbie”) have become the second and third women in history to be recognized for both Best Picture and acting in the same year. At the 93rd Oscar ceremony, Frances McDormand took home the first-ever double win for a woman, being nominated for both acting and producing in the same year.
Women Power Behind the Scenes
It is worth highlighting the significant presence of women producers in this year’s nominated films. Seven out of the ten movies nominated have female producers, representing the second-highest number of women behind the scenes. The exceptional talent of producers such as Emma Stone, Margot Robbie, Emma Thomas, Marie-Ange Luciani, Amy Durning, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Ewa Puszczynska, Pamela Koffler, and Christine Vachon adds immense value to their respective projects.
Celebrating Progress
The film industry continues to make strides towards gender equality and inclusivity. In 2019, a record-breaking year, eight films with female producers were recognized, including “Parasite,” which made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, with Kwak Sin-ae being the first woman of color to receive this honor. This signifies a positive trend in breaking norms, challenging stereotypes, and amplifying diverse voices.
This year’s Oscar nominations exemplify the extraordinary talent and contributions of women in the film industry. It is a momentous occasion that pushes boundaries, inspires generations to come, and propels the industry toward a more balanced and inclusive future.
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