The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced shortlists in consideration for the Oscars and some of our favorites have made it to the next round.
In the Original Song category, Beyoncé’s “Spirit” from The Lion King remake was shortlisted alongside songs from Netflix’s The Black Godfather and Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am.
In the International Feature film category, Senegalese entry, Atlantics, has been shortlisted alongside nine other globally released films. Directed by French-Senegalese actress and director Mati Diop, who became the first Black woman to be included the Cannes Film Festival’s competition section, and the first Black women to win the Grand Prix.
Dolemite Is My Name was shortlisted in the Makeup and Hairstyling category. The Netflix film stars Eddie Murphy as blaxploitation star Rudy Ray Moore.
Jordan Peele’s Us was recognized in the Original Score category. After the film generated $70 million in its first weekend, Us reportedly became the best opening weekend for an original horror movie ever, according to Variety. It also became the best opening for an original R-rated movie.
The horror flick tells the story of Gabe (Winston Duke) and Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o, who has secured a Screen Actors Guild nod), who take their kids on a family trip to Adelaide’s old childhood beach house. Soon, the vacation becomes a nightmare when Adelaide becomes increasingly paranoid that something will happen to her family.
And Hair Love was shortlisted in the animated Short Film category. Written by former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry, the six-minute animated film tells the story about a father learning to do his daughter’s afro textured hair for the first time in the absence of her mother.
You can check out the other shortlisted selections from all the categories here.