3 Female Directors Set New Records In The 2021 Golden Globe Nomination Lineup

Regina King (Instagram @itsreginaking)

JAKARTA - The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the complete nominations for the Golden Globe, an award given to films and television shows broadcast throughout 2020 on February 3. This moment is always inseparable from controversy and surprise.

One of them is when I May Destroy You from the BBC who did not get a nomination despite the positive response this film received. Netizens compared I May Destroy You with Emily in Paris from Netflix who won two nominations. Recently, the series writer Emily in Paris also stated that I May Destroy You is more deserving of a nomination.

There are many surprises that have colored the announcement of the nominations for the Golden Globe 2021. In the nominations for "Best Director - Motion Picture", there are three female directors. This is the first time since 1944 that many women have been nominated for best director.

They are Regina King with One Night in Miami, Chloe Zhao with Nomadland, and Emerald Fennell with Promising Young Woman. Other nominees include David Fincher with Mank and Aaron Sorkin with The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Congratulations to all the @goldenglobes nominees. And big ups to all the artists who found their voice and made it heard during these unprecedented times.

— Regina King (@ReginaKing) February 3, 2021

Emerald Fennell, who stole the audience's attention through her role as Camilla in the series The Crown, did not get a nomination for her acting. However, he got his first nomination as director. Director Chloe Zhao became the first Asian woman to compete in the "Best Director" nomination thanks to Nomadland.

2021 will be a shocking year for female filmmakers. The last female director to be nominated was Ava DuVernay for the 2014 film Selma, while the only female director to ever win this category was Barbra Streisand for Yentl in 1984.

Through their work, directors can convey films with social ideas or portray life through their stories. These five films received good criticism so that regardless of gender, their works deserve to be side by side in a prestigious event like this.

Natalie Portman's Loud Sarcasm

Several years ago, the Golden Globe received the nickname misogynist award. The reason is, they always put the name of a female director in the nominations for the director.

In celebration of 2018, the Golden Globe did not place a female director in the nomination for "Best Director". Actress Natalie Portman who read out the nominations and winners said, "These are all-male nominees."

Amid the industry's awareness of the #MeToo campaign, the Golden Globe doesn't realize that female directors have the same qualities as male directors. It is known that Portman teased director Greta Gerwig who did not get a "Best Director" nomination with her work Lady Bird.

It is brief but the insinuation conveyed by Portman is real. Male directors have more opportunities than female directors.

Citing TIME, a study conducted by the Celluloid Ceiling Study from San Diego State University, only 18 percent of women consisting of directors, writers, producers, editors worked for the 250 highest earning films in 2017. This percentage increased by one percent after 1998.

Many people still think that female directors do not have the experience and expertise of male directors. In fact, most of the women directors do not only direct but also write and become cinematographers of the films they make.

Racism Circles

As well as praise for the three female directors, HFPA was also criticized for not giving appreciation to the work of black or non-white people. Television series such as I May Destroy You, The Good Lord Bird, and Bridgerton had stories related to racism and gender but none of them bagged a nomination.

Likewise in the film category, namely Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Judas and the Black Messiah, One Night in Miami, and Da 5 Bloods. Not a single film about black skin has been nominated in the main nomination row.

But in the individual category, many black actors have received recognition. The late Chadwick Boseman was nominated for his great performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. There is also Daniel Kaluuya for the film Judas and the Black Messiah, Leslie Odom Jr. for One Night in Miami, Viola Davis for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

However, I May Destroy You's 'defeat' became a major public disappointment with HFPA. The series, written by Michaela Coel, did not get a single place in the nominations.

"Sometimes racism is the only explanation," said Honey Boy director, Alma Har'el about no nominations for I May Destroy You.

Sometimes racism is the only explanation.

— Alma Har'el🌪 עלמה (@Almaharel) February 3, 2021

The BBC's Small Axe is the only black-themed series to be nominated. Its main character John Boyega also earned a nomination for his performance.

Judging from a number of problems in the nomination ranks, it shows that HFPA is still unable to give a balanced appreciation. Although all the nominations present quality, HFPA should realize that it is not only white people who deserve to be nominated.

Especially at this time, the "Black Lives Matter" campaign has grown enormously around the world. One aspect that becomes the learning material is films and series that tell the life of black people.

The 2021 Golden Globe award ceremony will be held virtually on Sunday, February 28th. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will be the presenters of this event. They will announce the winners from two different places.