Teresa Valente
Chloé Zhao has made history at the 93rd Academy Awards as the first Asian-American woman and first woman of colour to win Best Director. She won for Nomadland, which Zhao also edited, produced, and adapted as a screenplay (from the book by Jessica Bruder).
This was one of a trifecta of above-the-line prizes that went to women. Fennell won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman and Zhao for Best Picture.
Emerald Fennell, winner of the award for best original screenplay for Promising Young Woman, enters the press room. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Women were also celebrated in technical areas where sexism and gender disparity are even more entrenched.
Michelle Couttolenc won an award for Best Sound (Sound of Metal) and Jan Pascale for Best Set Decoration (Mank). Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson made history as the first African-American winners in the category of makeup and hairstyling (with Sergio Lopez-Rivera) for their contributions to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Women also accepted awards as film producers: Dana Murray won Best Animated Feature with Pete Docter (Soul), Alice Doyard won Best Documentary Short with Anthony Giacchino (Collette) and Pippa Ehrlich won Best Documentary Feature with James Reed (My Octopus Teacher).
by Julia Erhart
Read the full article at https://theconversation.com/oscars-2021-5-experts-on-the-wins-the-words-the-wearable-art-and-a-big-year-for-women-159697
Photo: Emerald Fennell, winner of the award for best original screenplay for Promising Young Woman, enters the press room. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello