Rachel Morrison just made history.
The “Mudbound” cinematographer became the first woman ever nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar when the contenders were announced on Tuesday. It also marks the last of any non-gender specific categories to nominate a woman in the awards show’s 90-year history.
The recognition for the film, which was directed by Dee Rees and featured women in key roles behind the camera, follows a breakout year for female filmmakers.
Patty Jenkins broke records with “Wonder Woman,” while Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” became a front-runner at this year’s Oscars. Female storytellers dominated the 2017 Emmys, with Reed Morano, and Ava DuVernay taking home directing awards. After her 1991 film “Daughters of Dust” was heavily sourced in Beyonce’s Lemonade, Julie Dash re-emerged with an episode of DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar.” As for DuVernay, she finished production of Disney’s upcoming “A Wrinkle in Time,” becoming the first woman of colour to helm a $100 million movie. Sofia Coppola became the second woman ever to win the Cannes Film Festival prize for Best Director for “The Beguiled.”
“It’s very empowering. I feel like I’m part of something so incredible right now because we’re taking our place in the world,” “Mudbound” star Mary J. Blige told ET about working on a set led by women.
Morrison, who previously worked on “The Hills,” has since handled cinematography for “Fruitvale Station,” “Cake,” “Dope” and HBO’s “Confirmation.” She was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy in 2005 for “Rikers High” and a 2016 Primetime Emmy for “What Happened, Miss Simone?” The Oscar nomination for “Mudbound” kicks off a high-profile year for Morrison, whose next film is Marvel’s “Black Panther.”
The 90th annual Academy Awards will be hosted live by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 4 starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.
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