Awards Season

For the first time in its 93-year-history, two women have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director: Chloé Zhao's Nomadland and Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman. Only five women have ever been nominated for this award.

Zhao is also the first Asian woman nominated for Best Director. She recently made history by being the first Asian woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director. Nomadland is also nominated for five other Oscars, including Actress in a Leading Role (Frances McDormand), Best Screenplay (Chloé Zhao), Cinematography (Joshua James Richards) and Film Editing (Chloé Zhao).

Netflix's Mank – a 2020 biographical drama about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his development of the screenplay for Citizen Kane by David Fincher – has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Directing, Cinematography and Production Design.

Steven Yeun has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Minari – a film about a Korean American family that moves to a farm in Arkansas in search of their American dream. Yeun is the first Asian-American actor to be nominated for the Lead Actor award in the Academy's 93-year-history.

The 63rd annual Grammy Awards aired on Sunday, hosted by Trevor Noah. Billie Eilish's "Everything I Wanted" took home Record of The Year while Taylor Swift's "Folklore" won Album of The Year.

Other winners were: Megan Thee Stallion (Best New Artist), “I Can’t Breathe” by Dernst Emile II, HER & Tiara Thomas (Song of the Year), “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles (Best Pop Solo Performance), “Black Parade” by Beyoncé (Best R&B Performance) and Dua Lipa (Best Pop Vocal Album).

The Cannes Film Festival has confirmed a new set of dates for this year’s event, which has again been postponed due to the pandemic. The initial dates, which were May 11-22, didn’t seem feasible so the festival will run between July 6 and July 17.

The decision was taken following a board meeting on Tuesday.

The 2021 Grammy Awards, initially scheduled for January 31, have been postponed until March due to a steady rise of Covid-19 infections in California.

"The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do," so the Recording Academy and CBS in a statement. "Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show. We want to thank all of the talented artists, the staff, our vendors and especially this year’s nominees for their understanding, patience and willingness to work with us as we navigate these unprecedented times."

The 24-year-old Zendaya won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama for her role as Rue on HBO's "Euphoria", becoming the the youngest actress to win in that category.

"I know this feels like a weird time to be celebrating, but I just want to say there is hope in the young people out there," so Zendaya. "I know our TV show doesn't always feel like a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people, and I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, I see you, I admire you, I thank you."

Canadian comedy show Schitt's Creek won seven Emmys on Sunday night for its sixth and final season, including best comedy series, best actor in a comedy series (Eugene Levy), best actress in a comedy series (Catherine O'Hara) and best contemporary costumes (Darci Cheyne and Debra Hanson). It set the record for most wins in a single season for a comedy.

HBO's family conglomerate drama Succession was won the award for best drama series and outstanding lead actor in a drama series (Jeremy Strong).

HBO's Watchmen wins the award for outstanding limited series, outstanding lead actress in a limited series or TV movie (Regina King) and supporting actor in a limited series or movie (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).

The Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, announced that the performance awards would be defined in a gender-neutral way. Instead of the awards for the Best Actor and the Best Actress, a "Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance" and a "Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance" shall each be awarded on a gender-neutral basis.

The organisers also announced the 2021 edition is planned to happen from February 11 to February 21 as a physical festival "in accordance with the then-applicable rules and regulations, thus ensuring the greatest possible security for all guests."

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and NBC announced next year’s Golden Globes' ceremony would happen on February 28, 2021, the date recently vacated by the Oscars. The event will have Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as hosts.

The organisers also stated in their press release: "To accommodate both domestic and international film and television productions, the HFPA will provide further guidance around eligibility, voting period and revised nominations announcement timing in the coming weeks.".

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 72nd Emmys -- previously he was the host for the 64th and 68th editions. The show is set to take place on September 20 and air on ABC.

"I don't know where we will do this or how we will do this or even why we are doing this, but we are doing it and I am hosting it," Kimmel said in a statement.

The Television Academy will announce nominations for the 72nd Emmy Awards on Tuesday, July 28.

Oscars 2021 has been postponed by two months, from February 28 to April 25.

The organisers of The Academy Awards also announced the eligibility window would be extended until the end of February, as the Covid-19 pandemic halted work on several films due to be released by the end of the year.

This is only the third time the Oscars have been delayed -- in 1938, due to the LA flooding; in 1968 after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Js; and in 1981 after the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan.

The Academy also shared that nominations will be announced on March 15.

Movies that debuted on a streaming service without a theatrical run will be eligible for the Oscars, but only for the 2021 awards season, announced The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

"Until further notice, and for the 93rd Awards year only, films that had a previously planned theatrical release but are initially made available on commercial streaming or VOD service may qualify in the Best Picture, general entry and specialty categories for the 93rd Academy Awards," the board said in a statement.