What the 2020 Oscar nominations could mean for this year’s Academy Awards
January 15, 2020
The 92nd Annual Oscar Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The awards will be televised live on ABC Television Network. On Jan. 13, the 2020 nominations were officially announced. Here’s a look at what to expect for this year’s Academy Awards.
For the “Best Picture” category, nine films have been nominated. They are “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” “Marriage Story,” “Parasite” and “1917.” However, only five directors were nominated for the “Director” category. They include Martin Scorsese for “The Irishman,” Quentin Tarantino for “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” Bong Joon-ho for “Parasite,” Sam Mendes for “1917” and Todd Phillips for “Joker.” Having nominated just one male director of color and not a single female director has sparked some upset among those in the industry and fans at home.
The recognition of Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” in several major categories including “Best Picture,” while also excluding Gerwig from the directing category has raised some questions about this year’s nominations. It is expected that winners’ speeches may touch upon racial and gender equality in the film industry and beyond.
Back in 2018 when the Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment was founded, many winners at the Academy Awards spoke about the movement in their speeches using the hashtag MeToo. As of December 2018, the movement has raised more than $22 million for its legal defense fund, gathered nearly 800 volunteer lawyers and has increased awareness in the industry.
For the second year in a row, two films in the “Best Picture” category — “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story” — were produced by Netflix. Even though these films were released in theaters, their box-office numbers haven’t been publicized. This year’s Academy Awards may focus on the industry’s crisis as streaming platforms become more prominent while fewer people go to theaters to see feature length films.
Earlier this month, “Parasite” became the first Korean film to win a Golden Globe award, and has now become the first Korean film to be nominated for an Oscar.
“I hope this serves as an inspiration for young filmmakers in Korea,” director Bong Joon-ho said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I think it’s great that a film I created for personal reasons ends up contributing to the entire industry.”
Awards like the Oscars tend to shed light on issues across the country and the globe. Those with large followings take the stage and speak on behalf of those who may not have a voice. Stay with Q30 Entertainment as the Oscars take place to see who walks away with awards and what topics get brought up and discussed.
