The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will go down in history as one that celebrated inclusivity as never before.
From an all-black producing team being nominated for Best Picture, to Asian origin actors taking home the trophy, to deaf and mute presenter Marlee Matlin — the Oscars this year made space for life in all its diversity.
The awards themselves held little surprise. Chloe Zhao expectedly won the Best Director honor and her film “Nomadland” won the Best Picture award.
Zhao said: “My entire Nomadland company, what a crazy lifetime journey…”
Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins, who portrayed an ageing man battling dementia in The Father”, won the Best Actor award. The octogenarian was not present at the ceremony or on video, and his award was accepted by the Academy on his behalf. Others nominated in the category were the late Chadwick Boseman, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed, Steven Yeun and Gary Oldman.
“Nomadland” actress Frances McDormand won Best Actress. She was competing against Viola Davis, Andra Day, Vanessa Kirby and Carey Mulligan.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” made history by taking the award for Best Hair and Make-up. The winners, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson, became the first Black woman to win in the category.
The film also took home the Best Costume Design award, for Ann Roth.
Pixar’s “Soul”, toplined by Jamie Foxx, won Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score honor.
South Korean actress Yuh-Jung Youn won the Best Supporting Actress for the film “Minari”. She was called on stage by Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
Last year’s Best Supporting Actress Laura Dern presented the nominees for the Best Supporting Actor, which went to Daniel Kaluuya for “Judas And The Black Messiah”.
David Fincher’s “Mank” took home the honors for Best Production Design and Best Cinematography.
The award for Best Original Screenplay was given to Emerald Fennell for “Promising Young Woman”.
