Chloe Zhao made history when she won Best Director at the Academy Awards on Sunday (25.04.21).
The Chinese filmmaker became the first woman of colour and only the second female ever to take home the Oscar thanks to her work on ‘Nomadland’, and after paying tribute to her “brilliant” fellow nominees – David Fincher (‘Mank’), Emerald Fennell (‘Promising Young Woman’), Lee Isaac Chung (‘Minari’), and Thomas Vinterberg (‘Another Round’), she thanked everyone who worked on the movie.
She said: “Oh man. Thank you to the Academy, to my brilliant, brilliant fellow nominees. My entire ‘Nomadland’ company, what crazy once-in-a-lifetime journey we went on together, thank you so much, I’m so grateful to you.”
Chloe also reflected on a lesson she learned in childhood that has stayed with her throughout her life.
She said: ” When I was growing up in China, my dad and I would play this game and memorise classic poems and texts. We’d recite them together and try and finish each other’s sentences.
“[One said] ‘People at birth are inherently good’ , and that had such impact on me when I was a kid and I still believe in that today. Even though the opposite may seem true, I have always found goodness for the people I met, so this is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold out for the goodness in themselves and each other.
“This is for you, you inspire me and keep me going, so thank you.”
‘Nomadland’ was the big winner at Sunday’s Academy Awards, taking home three prizes.
Sir Anthony Hopkins was a surprise winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role for ‘The Father’, with the accolade having been widely expected to go to the late Chadwick Boseman for his work on his final film, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’.
