The ceremony aired Sunday night, April 25, after being pushed back from its original February date because of COVID-19 precautions. A show, that of the 2021 Oscars, decidedly less “spectacular” and decidedly more genuine that started with a short monologue by Regina King who, in addition to remembering the anti-covid rules of the evening (distancing and masks for those who get up from own chair), he also recalled the recent and dramatic events in Minneapolis which again involved the African American community.
The ceremony immediately went live, without too many frills, with the awarding of the best original screenplay. No clips on the big screen, as the Academies at the Dolby Theater have accustomed us, but a one-to-one presentation of the nominees: a choice perhaps created to lengthen a ceremony that was deprived of a large part of the show and which in any case left more time to each winner for his thanks. Triumphing in the Best Screenplay category was Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman, who received the Oscar 2021 statuette with a completely improvised (or apparently improvised) speech. The second prize, that of the best non-original screenplay, went to Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller for The Father.
It was then Laura Dern who, remembering Fellini and the interpretation of Giulietta Masina in La Strada, presented the Oscar for Best International Film which went to the Danish film Another Round. Laura Dern also announced the award for best supporting actor which was won by the very favorite Daniel Kaluuya for Judas and the Black Messiah who gave a very intense speech according to the rules established by the Academy which he explicitly asked to thank before producers and then the other figures linked to the various films.
Don Cheadle then presented the nominees for best makeup and hairstyle which saw the triumph of the team behind Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom who also won the award for best costumes went to Ann Roth. No victory therefore for Pinocchio di Garrone who arrived with good chances unfortunately disappointed. From a ghostly deserted Dolby Theater, Brian Cranston then announced the Humanitarian Award and passed the floor to Seoul’s Dolby Cinema where Bong Joon-ho revealed the award for best director which went to the all-time favorite Chloé Zhao for Nomadland. The director is the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for directing and the second-ever woman in Academy history. After a parenthesis on sound, best short film and best animated short, it was the turn of the best animated film whose Oscar was won by Soul.
The award for the best special effects was announced by Steven Yeun with yet another monologue linked to his memories related to cinema (a true constant of this edition of the Oscars) and saw the Tenet team triumph.
Below, check out the full list of Oscars 2021 winners, updated throughout the night.
Original screenplay
Winner: Promising Young Woman
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Adapted screenplay
Winner: The Father
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger
International feature film
Winner: Another Round – Denmark
Better Days – Hong Kong
Collective – Romania
The Man Who Sold His Skin – Tunisia
Qu Vadis, Aida? – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Actor in a supporting role
Winner: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Makeup and hairstyling
Winner: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Mank
Pinocchio
Costume design
Winner: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Emma
Mank
Mulan
Pinocchio
Directing
Winner: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Achievement in sound
Winner: Sound of Metal
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Live action short film
Winner: Two Distant Strangers
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
White Eye
Animated short film
Winner: If Anything Happens I Love You
Burrow
Genius Loci
Opera
Yes-People
Animated feature film
Winner: Soul
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Wolfwalkers
Documentary short subject
Winner: Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song For Latasha
Documentary feature
Winner: My Octopus Teacher
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
Time
Visual effects
Winner: Tenet
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Actress in a supporting role
Winner: Youn Yuh-jung, Minari
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Production design
Winner: Mank
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
News of the World
Tenet
Cinematography
Winner: Mank
Judas and the Black Messiah
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Film editing
Winner: Sound of Metal
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Original score
Winner: Soul
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Original song
Winner: “Fight For You” by H.E.R. from Judas and the Black Messiah
“Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
“Speak Now” from One Night in Miami…
Best motion picture
Winner: Nomadland
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best actress in a leading role
Winner: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Best actor in a leading role
Winner: Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari
