Academy Announces 2021 Oscars Shortlists In Nine Categories
This year's Oscars are going to be a strange one. With the pandemic moving most tentpoles from 2020 to 2021, you'd think there would be a shortage of films to make the visual effects shortlist, one of nine shortlists revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ahead of the announcement of the 2021 Oscar nominees on March 15. But the 2021 Oscars shortlist contenders are both expected and unexpected, ranging from Birds of Prey, which Warner Bros. did not campaign for at all, landing on two shortlists, to the Taiwanese underdog A Sun earning a spot on the best international film shortlist after critics' praise for the drama, released quietly on Netflix early in 2020, catapulted it to awards darling.
See nine of the 2021 Oscars shortlists below.
Due to the pandemic, this will be the first year since 2009 that the VFX shortlist doesn't contain at least one Marvel movie. But in a way, it's left room for many unexpected contenders to make it onto the 2021 Oscars shortlists revealed by the Academy (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Films that have made the nine shortlists – which include VFX, documentary, and international features – include The Midnight Sky and Tenet in VFX, Emma. for best make-up, Another Round and A Sun in best international features, Eurovision's "Husavik" landing a spot on the best original song shortlist after being snubbed by the Globes, and Birds of Prey showing up in both the make-up and VFX shortlists.
The 2021 Oscar nominees will be announced on March 15. The 93rd Academy Awards will be presented on April 25, rather than its typical window in February, due to the pandemic.
See the complete shortlists below.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Fifteen films will advance in the Documentary Feature category for the 93rd Academy Awards. Two hundred thirty-eight films were eligible in the category. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
All In: The Fight for DemocracyBoys StateCollectiveCrip CampDick Johnson Is DeadGundaMLK/FBIThe Mole AgentMy Octopus TeacherNotturnoThe Painter and the Thief76 DaysTimeThe Truffle HuntersWelcome to ChechnyaDOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Ten films will advance in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred fourteen films qualified in the category. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
Abortion Helpline, This Is LisaCall Center BluesColetteA Concerto Is a ConversationDo Not SplitHunger WardHysterical GirlA Love Song for LatashaThe Speed CubersWhat Would Sophia Loren Do?INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards. Films from 93 countries were eligible in the category.
Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.
In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Quo Vadis, Aida?
Chile, The Mole Agent
Czech Republic, Charlatan
Denmark, Another Round
France, Two of Us
Guatemala, La Llorona
Hong Kong, Better Days
Iran, Sun Children
Ivory Coast, Night of the Kings
Mexico, I'm No Longer Here
Norway, Hope
Romania, Collective
Russia, Dear Comrades!
Taiwan, A Sun
Tunisia, The Man Who Sold His Skin
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Ten films will advance in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 93rd Academy Awards. All members of the Academy's Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited virtually to view seven-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Branch members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley QuinnEmmaThe GloriasHillbilly ElegyJingle Jangle: A Christmas JourneyThe Little ThingsMa Rainey's Black BottomMankOne Night in MiamiPinocchioMUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Fifteen scores will advance in the Original Score category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred thirty-six scores were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The scores, listed in alphabetical order by film title, are:
AmmoniteBlizzard of SoulsDa 5 BloodsThe Invisible ManJingle Jangle: A Christmas JourneyThe Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)The Little ThingsMankThe Midnight SkyMinariMulanNews of the WorldSoulTenetThe Trial of the Chicago 7MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
Fifteen songs will advance in the Original Song category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred five songs were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
"Turntables" from All In: The Fight for Democracy
"See What You've Done" from Belly of the Beast
"Wuhan Flu" from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
"Husavik" from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
"Never Break" from Giving Voice
"Make It Work" from Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
"Fight For You" from Judas and the Black Messiah
"lo Sì (Seen)" from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
"Rain Song" from Minari
"Show Me Your Soul" from Mr. Soul!
"Loyal Brave True" from Mulan
"Free" from The One and Only Ivan
"Speak Now" from One Night in Miami
"Green" from Sound of Metal
"Hear My Voice" from The Trial of the Chicago 7
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Ten films will advance in the Animated Short Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards. Ninety-six films qualified in the category. Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
BurrowGenius LociIf Anything Happens I Love YouKapaemahuOperaOutThe Snail and the WhaleTo GerardTracesYes-PeopleLIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
Ten films will advance in the Live Action Short Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards. One hundred seventy-four films qualified in the category. Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
BittuDa YieFeeling ThroughThe Human VoiceThe Kicksled ChoirThe Letter RoomThe PresentTwo Distant StrangersThe VanWhite EyeVISUAL EFFECTS
Ten films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 93rd Academy Awards. The Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited virtually to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley QuinnBloodshotLove and MonstersMankThe Midnight SkyMulanThe One and Only IvanSoulTenetWelcome to Chechnya