Oscar Nominations: Foreign-Language Films Surprise in Major Categories
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Mexico’s “Roma,” Poland’s “Cold War,” and Germany’s “Never Look Away” provided a powerful showing for foreign-language films with a combined 15 nominations across several categories for the 91st Academy Awards .
The director category featured a number of foreign-born filmmakers: Alfonso Cuaron for “,” Pawel Pawlikowski for “,” and Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos for “The Favourite.” Cuaron won the category in 2013 for “Gravity.” Cuaron and Lanthimos also received best picture nominations.
Foreign-language titles also dominated in the cinematography category with Cuaron tapped for “Roma,” Lukasz Zai for “Cold War,” and Caleb Deschanel for German drama “Never Look Away.” It was Deschanel’s sixth Oscar nomination.
Not only was it the first time in more than three decades that two foreign-language movies were nominated for best director, it was also the first time since the Academy eliminated the black-and-white cinematography category in 1967 that two black-and-white movies were nominated.
Japan’s family drama “Mirai” earned a nomination in the animated film category for Mamoru Hosoda and Yuichiro Saito. It’s the first nomination for both.
“Roma,” “Cold War,” and “Never Look Away” also scored nominations in the foreign-language category along with Lebanon’s “Capernaum” and Japan’s “Shoplifters.” “Capernaum” director Nadine Labaki was the only female director to be recognized between the director, best picture and foreign film categories.
“Roma” took a total of 10 nominations Tuesday, tying “The Favourite” for the most Oscar nods this year. Yalitza Aparicio was nominated for lead actress while Marina de Tavira earned a nod in the supporting actress category — the first nominations for both. It was Aparicio’s first-ever film or TV appearance, while de Tavira is a veteran of Mexican television and film.
Cuaron received a total of four nominations for “Roma” as producer of the best picture, director, cinematographer, and writer in the original screenplay category. He was nominated in the same category for “Y Tu Mamá También” in 2002 and for adapted screenplay for “Children of Men” in 2006.
“Roma” was also nominated in production design for Eugenio Caballero and Barbara Enriquez; and in sound editing and sound mixing. “Roma” is the 11th foreign-language film to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. In the past 20 years, foreign-language films “Life Is Beautiful,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Letters From Iwo Jima,” “Babel,” and “Amour” have all scored a best picture nod.
