As the award season comes to a close, we finish out with the long-awaited Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts & Science, or simply The Oscars. Initially pushed back to better align with COVID-19 protocols, film experts and movie fans alike are looking forward to seeing who will be awarded as the "best of the best" this year. The Academy has notoriously highlighted the highest caliber of cinematic achievement for 93 years. As art imitates life, we have witnessed stellar performances over the last year from some of our community’s brightest stars. These performances have distinctly mirrored necessary social commentary, historical occurrences, and societal critique. Simultaneously, the Oscars have served as an outlet for celebrities to make political statements through this art form and their appearances by expressing grievances in the world of Hollywood. This has been especially true over the past few seasons with the establishment of #OscarsSoWhite. With this in mind, here is a compilation of nominees from our community who are up for an Oscar this year.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
CHADWICK BOSEMAN: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
DANIEL KALUUYA: Judas and the Black Messiah
LESLIE ODOM, JR.: One Night in Miami...
LAKEITH STANFIELD: Judas and the Black Messiah
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
VIOLA DAVIS: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
ANDRA DAY: The United States vs. Billie Holiday
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
SOUL: Pete Docter and Dana Murray
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH: Sean Bobbitt
COSTUME DESIGN
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM: Ann Roth
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA : Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
FILM EDITING
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: Alan Baumgarten
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM: Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
FIGHT FOR YOU : from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
HEAR MY VOICE: from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
SPEAK NOW: from One Night in Miami...; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
BEST PICTURE
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH: Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 : Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers
PRODUCTION DESIGN
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM: Producton Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara and Diana Stoughton
SOUND
SOUL: Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI...: Screenplay by Kemp Powers
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH: Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 : Written by Aaron Sorkin
