This is the first step on the road to winning and queer films are leading the way
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGES BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND NETFLIX
It’s getting closer to the most wonderful time of year – not Christmas, awards season! As nominations start rolling in to celebrate the year’s best film, we all wait to see who will take away Hollywood’s biggest prize of all, an Oscar.
The shortlists are the first step on the road to the Academy Awards. In the lead up to the awards, they will be voted on by experts until only a few are left, making up that category’s nominations. The initial shortlists for 10 awards have been announced. This year, two queer films stand out, being Emilia Pérez landing six nominations and Wicked landing four.
Emilia Pérez, a movie musical about a cartel leader’s transition, has been shortlisted for makeup, sound, original score, international feature and twice for original song. It is expected to be nominated for best actress as well, as Karla Sofía Gascón won in the same category at Cannes and the European Film Awards, both key indicators for European films.
Wicked has also received a number of mentions. The adaptation of the Broadway musical was shortlisted for makeup, sound, visual effects and original score. Though the film itself does not include a queer storyline, it resonates with queer audiences and features several LGBTQIA people in the cast.
Several other films with queer actors in prominent roles have been shortlisted, including Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Maria, Nosferatu and Joker: Folie A Deux. Powerful trans documentary Will & Harper has also been mentioned, in the categories of documentary and original song.
The voting begins in the new year and the final list of nominations will be announced on 17 January. The awards will take place on 2 March.
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
