The 93rd Academy Awards: Nomadland Wins Best Picture and Director

The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, held at Los Angeles’ Union Station, marked a notable event in the film industry, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which necessitated remote feeds and a host-less format. Chloé Zhao's film, Nomadland, received the prestigious Best Picture award, highlighting its critical acclaim and popularity among audiences. This recognition was significant not only for the film itself but also for Zhao, who became the second woman and the first woman of color to win the Best Director award. The competition for Best Picture included several notable films such as The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling and cinematic achievement in that year. In addition to the major awards, the ceremony featured other notable winners. Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for his performance in The Father, overcoming expectations that favored Chadwick Boseman. Frances McDormand, also from Nomadland, secured the Best Actress award, further solidifying the film's impact. Supporting awards went to Daniel Kaluuya for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah and Yuh-Jung Youn for her performance in Minari. The animated feature award was claimed by Pixar’s Soul, which also won for Original Score, while the Danish film Another Round took home the award for International Feature. The ceremony's format emphasized intimate speeches and socially distanced seating, reflecting the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic while celebrating the resilience and creativity of the film industry. • The ceremony had no host. • Best Picture & Director: Chloé Zhao’s road drama Nomadland won Best Picture, and Zhao became the second woman and first woman of colour to win Best Director. Other nominees were The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal and The Trial of the Chicago 7. • Acting awards: Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for The Father, defeating favourite Chadwick Boseman; Frances McDormand won Best Actress for Nomadland. Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah) and Yuh‑Jung Youn (Minari) captured supporting awards. • Other highlights: Pixar’s Soul won Animated Feature and Original Score. Danish film Another Round won International Feature. The ceremony emphasised intimate speeches and socially distanced seating.