This year’s Oscar nominations were historic in many ways. The 2021 Oscar nominations not only celebrate diversity, but also mark many firsts with their list of candidates released.
On Monday night IST, when the real-life couple and global icons Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas took the stage to announce the nominees for the 93rd Oscars, it was kind of a given to expect some surprises and scorns, as is the case almost every year. After all, you can’t please everyone! However, the final list of nominees was a big surprise, especially considering the number of innovative nominations we received for people of color.
Of the two directors being nominated for two men of Asian descent who are vying for the Best Actor trophy, here is a quick look at all the first nominations that the 93rd Oscar nomination brought with it.
Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim actor nominated for a leading actor Oscar
Riz Ahmed, who was nominated for his stellar performance in the Amazon Sound of Metal film, is the first Muslim actor to be nominated in the Best Actor category. He is also the first actor of Pakistani descent to compete in the aforementioned category.
Steven Yeun is the first Asian American to be nominated for Best Actor
Steven Yeun is the first Asian-American actor to be nominated in that category. Interestingly, this is also the first time that two men of Asian descent have been fighting for the Oscar for Best Actor, the other nominee Riz Ahmed.
Chloe Zhao nomination for Best Director
Chloe Zhao is the first black woman to be nominated in the direction category. In addition, she and the Promising Young director, Emerald Fennell, are among the rare ‘women’ nominated for the Best Director category. In addition, Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland and Lee Issac Chung’s Minari mark the first time that two Asian artists’ direction ventures have been nominated for Best Picture.
Lee Issac Chung and Chloe Zhao were also the first two Asian directors to compete with each other in the direction category.
Viola Davis is the most nominated black actress in Oscar history
Viola Davis’ nomination in the Best Actress category for her role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is revolutionary in more ways than one. See, this is not the first time Davis has been nominated for an Oscar. This is the fourth nomination of the actor, which makes her even more the most nominated black actress in the history of the Oscars!
Youn Yuh-jung’s nomination
Youn’s 73-year-old performance at Minari impressed many, and it resulted in Youn getting her first Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category, making her the only Korean woman to be nominated for an Oscar!
All of these changes, especially the marked change in the increase in Asian nominations, are also important because of the increase in hate crimes that have been perpetrated in the United States recently against the community. Riz Ahmed shared his joy by sharing an Instagram post about the achievement. The actor thanked the collaborators and wrote: “Wow! I am honored to be nominated by my fellow actors alongside such inspiring performances and I am grateful to the Academy for its support and encouragement. I am equally moved by our visionary writer and director Darius Marder and brilliant Paul Raci, as well as by our editor Mikkel, sound designer Nicolas and co-writer Abe Marder. These nominations represent the time, generosity and talent of so many – all of our incredible cast, staff, producers and, in particular, I would like to thank my mentors in the drum, recovery and addiction and deaf communities. “
“Sound of Metal is about how a health crisis can isolate you from your life and loved ones, and force you to grow in unexpected ways. In a challenging year for so many, I hope that this story can inspire us to establish new and deeper connections with us and with others ”, concluded Riz.
Promised Young director Emerald Fennell posted that she ‘will never stop crying’. While Viola Davis shared a post that said: “Absolutely moved !! Congratulations to the entire Ma Rainey team. They deserved it! “
The 2021 Oscar will be held on April 25, GMT at the Los Angeles Dolby Theater.