For the past few years, we had grown used to seeing numerous nominations for Latin American talent, particularly for Mexican filmmakers. In the past six years, three Mexican directors won five times the Oscar for Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity in 2014 and Roma in 2019; Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman in 2015 and for The Revenant in 2016; and Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water in 2018.
This year, only three Latin American individuals, from Brazil and Mexico, received nominations for the 92nd annual Academy Awards. Headlining this year’s nominees is the Brazilian film The Edge of Democracy / Democracia em Vertigem by Petra Costa, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. The film follows the political past of the filmmaker in a personal and intimate way, in context with the first term of President Lula until the events leading to the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, analyzing the rise and fall of both presidents and the consequent sociopolitical crisis that swept the country.
Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto has earned his third Oscar nomination—after Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Silence in 2016—for Best Achievement in Cinematography for his work in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Also from Mexico, the Mayes C. Rubeo has been nominated for Best Costume Design for her work in Jaika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit.
The winners of the 92nd Academy Awards will be announced this evening from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
