This morning the Academy revealed the 2017 Oscar Nominations, and there were some key differences from the Golden Globe Awards. Both Fences and Hidden Figures received nominations for Best Picture. This difference is likely related to the Golden Globes having 5 nominations for Best Picture for 2 categories, drama and musical or comedy; whereas the Oscars have included nine nominations for one category of Best Picture that is not broken down by drama or musical/comedy. The Golden Globes has a category for Best Screenplay, but not Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay like the Oscars. While Moonlight received a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes, for the Oscars Moonlight, Fences, and Hidden Figures are nominated for Adapted Screenplay. Also, while Moonlight and Hidden Figures both received Golden Globe nominations for Original Score, only Moonlight received this nomination for the Oscars. In addition, Moonlight received additional nominations in categories that are not included in the Golden Globes, Cinematography and Film Editing. Of note, 1 of the 2 editors for Moonlight, Joi McMillon, is the first African-American woman to be nominated in the Film Editing category. #BlackGirlMagic
Though BMRC does not review documentaries, I cannot write this without mentioning the Best Documentary Feature nominations for 13th, OJ: Made in America and I Am Not Your Negro!
For a full list of Black films, actors, and actresses nominated see the lists below:
BY CATEGORY
Best Picture
Lead Actor
- Denzel Washington, Fences
Lead Actress
- Ruth Negga, Loving
Supporting Actor
- Mahershala Ali - Moonlight
Supporting Actress
- Viola Davis - Fences*
- Naomie Harris - Moonlight
- Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures
Best Director
- Barry Jenkins - Moonlight
Adapted Screenplay
Cinematography
- Moonlight, James Laxton
Film Editing
- Moonlight - Joi McMillon (first African-American woman nominated in this category) and Nat Sanders
Original Score
- Moonlight - Nicholas Brittell
Best Documentary Feature
- 13th, Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, and Howard Barish
- I Am Not Your Negro, Raoul Peck, Remi Grellety, and Hebert Peck
- OJ: Made in America, Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow
BY FILM
- Best Picture
- Lead Actor - Denzel Washington
- Supporting Actress - Viola Davis*
- Adapted Screenplay
- Best Picture
- Supporting Actress - Octavia Spencer
- Adapted Screenplay
- Lead Actress - Ruth Negga
- Best Picture*
- Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali
- Supporting Actress - Naomie Harris
- Best Director - Barry Jenkins
- Adapted Screenplay
- Cinematography - James Laxton
- Film Editing - Joi McMillon (first African-American woman nominated in this category) and Nat Sanders
- Original Score - Nicholas Brittell
* Won 2017 Golden Globes in same category