Women achieve historic wins at 2021 Academy Awards
“Nomadland’s” Chloe Zhao was named best director, becoming just the second woman (after “The Hurt Locker’s” Kathryn Bigelow) and the first woman of color to garner the best director Oscar.
Read MoreOscars make history by nominating two women for best director in the same year
Prior to this year, only five women had been nominated for best director: Lina Wertmüller, in 1976 for “Seven Beauties”; Jane Campion, in 1993 for “The Piano”; Sofia Coppola, in 2003 for “Lost in Translation”; Kathryn Bigelow, in 2009 for “The Hurt Locker”; and Greta Gerwig, in 2017 for “Lady Bird.”
Read MoreRegina King, Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell make Golden Globes history with best director nominations
The Globes have a wretched track record for nominating women directors. At the 2018 ceremony, Natalie Portman called out the HFPA while presenting the best director prize by quipping “Here are all the male nominees.”
Read MoreChloe Zhao becomes first woman to receive Palm Springs International Film Awards’ Director of the Year
The “Nomadland” helmer is the first female director to receive the Director of the Year honor in the 32-year history of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, according to Variety.
Read MoreGotham Awards nominations: All nominees for best feature come from women directors
In the best feature category, all five nominated films come from women directors: “The Assistant” from Kitty Green, “First Cow” from Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” from Eliza Hittman, “Nomadland” from Chloé Zhao and “Relic” from Natalie Erika James.
Read More‘Nomadland’ premieres as Centerpiece film at New York Film Festival after winning at Toronto and Venice
The film follows Fern (McDormand), a woman in her 60s who loses everything in the Great Recession. Following the economic collapse of her company town in rural Nevada, she packs her van and sets off to try a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.
Read MoreChloe Zhao to direct Marvel’s ‘The Eternals’
Chloe Zhao will direct Marvel’s next potential franchise, the “The Eternals,” about a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations. Jack Kirby created “The Eternals” in 1976 during his cosmic hero phase and was influenced by such works as Erich von Däniken’ 1968 book “Chariots of the Gods,” which explored the notion of ancient gods as aliens.
Read MoreWelcome to The Week In Women, an AWFJ Network Blog authored by Brandy McDonnell
An Alliance of Women Film Journalists blog.