Oscars 2022: The nominations that broke records

By Aliciamarie Rodriguez
Published
split image of oscar award and troy kotsur accepting his award

With Oscar Sunday still fresh in our minds, the Academy Award winners aren’t the only ones still feeling a bit shocked.

In one of the most memorable Oscar presentations to date, this year’s celebration, which took place on 27 March 2022, honored the best of cinema from 2021 during their 94th award ceremony.

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After going without a host since 2018, when Jimmy Kimmel did the honors, Sunday’s Academy Awards were hosted by three familiar faces: comedians Amy Schumer, Wanda Skyes and actress Regina Hall. 

The ceremony, regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the entertainment industry worldwide, returned to its home at the Dolby Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, California (USA). 

Some of the notable nominees who graced the red carpet included Steven Spielberg (first person to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar in six consecutive decades), Denzel Washington (most Oscar-nominated Black actor), and Kenneth Branagh (first person to receive Oscar nominations in seven different categories).

Yesterday’s event also saw a completely new Guinness World Records title; the first Japanese film to be nominated for Best Picture.

So, sit back, get your popcorn ready and read on to find out who took home the gold and the records. Lights, camera… action!

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First deaf male actor to win Best Supporting Actor

In a night of many firsts, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf male actor to win Best Supporting Actor for his role as Frank Rossi in the comedy-drama CODA. 

As Kotsur walked up to the stage to accept his award, he was met by a standing ovation and a signed applause. In one of the most moving Oscar speeches ever, Kotsur dedicated his win to the deaf, CODA (children of deaf adults), and disabled communities.

It is only the second time a deaf performer has won an Academy Award for acting, coming 35 years after fellow CODA star Marlee Matlin was named best actress for her role as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God.

First Japanese film to be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture

Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s Drive My Car is making headlines in Japan after winning the best international feature Oscar. In a moment that will forever be etched in history, the foreign production became the first Japanese film to be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. 

Two films were nominated ahead of the 79th Academy Awards in 2007 – Letters from Iwo Jima and Babel. Although both featured Japanese dialogue, neither of them were produced in Japan.

After its August release in the U.S., Drive My Car had only earned $250,000 by the end of 2021, despite winning three awards at Cannes. However, after receiving eight prizes at the Japan Academy awards this March, it only made sense that Hamaguchi’s film would take home an Oscar as well.

First animated film to be Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Feature

Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee made Oscar history yesterday as the first animated film to be Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Feature.

Recognized by film festivals such as Sundance and Cannes, the film was Denmark’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. 

The animated film features pseudonymous subject "Amin", who, as he prepares to marry his husband, shares his extraordinary story of escaping Afghanistan as a child refugee.

It wasn’t just Flee’s plot that was impressive. No other movie in the history of the Academy Awards has been nominated for animation, documentary, and international awards simultaneously.

First person to receive Oscar nominations in seven different categories

The coming-of-age drama Belfast, a favorite in the best picture category, landed producer, writer, and director Kenneth Branagh in the record books.

With nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, Branagh is the first person to receive Oscar nominations in seven different categories. His new record surpasses the six nominations that George Clooney held between 2006 and 2013.

First person to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar in six consecutive decades

One of the most prolific directors of our time, Steven Spielberg became the first person to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar in six consecutive decades. Over the years, Spielberg has received a total of eight Oscar nominations in this category. 

In addition to his nomination for West Side Story (2021), Spielberg collected Best Director Oscar nominations for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Schindler’s List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Munich (2005), and Lincoln (2012).

Most Oscar nominations for Best Picture (producer)

Steven Spielberg’s efforts also earned him the most Oscar nominations for Best Picture (producer) for his musical adaptation of West Side Story, bringing his record-breaking total to 11. 

Spielberg's most recent nomination breaks the record he previously held with Martin Scorsese. The talented Hollywood directors had both received Best Director nominations in five different decades.

Most Oscar-nominated Black actor

Denzel Washington is still the most Oscar-nominated Black actor of all time. Breaking his own record, the 67-year-old A-Lister was nominated for his tenth acting award for his role as Macbeth in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth.

His record-setting nomination comes a year after Viola Davis broke her own record for the most Oscar nominations received by a Black actor (female), earning her fourth nomination for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Washington’s nominations have come in the Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture categories and date back to his role as Steve Biko in the 1987 Apartheid-era drama Cry Freedom.

Most Oscar nominations for Best Sound

Also recognized for his work in West Side Story, British rerecording mixer and sound engineer Andy Nelson scored his 22nd Oscar nomination, earning the title for the most Oscar nominations for Best Sound. 

The Academy Award category recognizes the finest sound mixing, recording, sound design, and sound editing. 

"Welp," tweeted Oscar producer Will Packer after the show. "I said it wouldn't be boring."

We couldn't agree more with his statement - we can't wait to see what the 95th Academy Awards will have in store!