It’s Oscar buzz around these parts! Everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting to hear how Selma would perform. Welp, its official, Selma, the $20 million independently financed production, has been nominated for 2 Oscars! Selma received 2 nominations for Best Picture & Best Song “Glory”.
The question I have about the nomination is, how can a picture be nominated for an Oscar without considering the main actors or the director of the film. Many people believe Selma is a victim of the Oscar snub!
Selma’s director is Ava DuVernay, (whose First Critically Acclaimed Film Middle of Nowhere, is now available on DVD), is believed to be absent from the five contenders nominated for Best Director. Ms. DuVernay has been celebrated for months leading up to the Oscars for directing one of the years best films in addition to taking this film on when 3 other directors before her turned down the project. Maybe Hollywood feels they are letting us get a small piece of the pie with black filmmakers like Lee Daniels and Steve McQueen already making very important movies about our Black History. Every one of the fifteen writers nominated in the screenplay categories this year is a man, so is this a sexist or racist decision? Or both?
Here’s a quick video of Common’s perspective:
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The fact that Ava DuVernay didn’t get a Best Director nomination doesn’t make the film any less great, but it does effect the opportunities that might or might not come her way in the future. We wish her much success and will keep our eyes out for her next project.
BWMK, did you see Selma? Do you think Ava DuVernay should have been nominated for best director?