At the Oscars no woman nominated in the best director category

After months of suspense, the Academy of the Oscars has finally unveiled the list of films nominated for the 95th edition. In 2023, the best-performing category is monopolized by five men and doesn’t include any women.

After being crowned Best Director for Chloe Zhao two years ago, then that of Jane Campion last year, one could believe it that lines had shifted to the very patriarchal world of the Oscars. Unfortunately, the 2023 nominations score a flashback.

3 women nominated since 1929, none in 2023

This year the Academy of the Oscars has decided that no woman would compete in the main category of the ceremony: that of the best achievement.

The five contenders for the prestigious title are all men. In the list of five finalists we find the names of Martin McDonagh to The Banshees of Inisherin, Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan to Everything everywhere all at once, Steven Spielberg with The Fabelmans, Camp Todd to Tar as well as Ruben Östlund, whose film Without filter he already won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

With such a selection, it’s hard to believe the Academy is determined to reverse a gender norm at work since the creation of the Oscars. In fact, ever since 1929alone three women they received the trophy for the best result. Kathryn Bigelow was the first with his film Minesweeper in… 2010, 81 years since the first ceremony. In reverse, 18 directors won the title not once, but twice.

At the Oscars no woman nominated in the best director category — © A24

This year there was no shortage of great films directed by women

Despite this choice of jurors, there was no shortage of legitimate competitors. Where have the excellent ones gone? after sun Of Charlotte Wells, The King Woman Of Gina Prince Bythewood or She saidepic of Maria Schrader has spoken out specifically against patriarchy and rape culture in Hollywood ?

If we can rejoice in thisEverything everywhere all at onceworn by 60-year-old Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, garnered 11 nominations, there are also two notable omissions. Indeed, we regret the absence of the sublime Saint-Omer by Alice Diop e joyland by Saim Sadiq two great feminist films which were not selected in the category of best international feature film.