2020–2021 Film Awards and Nominees

The following women have received awards or nominations for their work in cinema throughout the 2020–2021 awards season. List updated regularly.

April 25, 2021: 93rd Academy Awards NOMINATIONS

  • Best Picture: Nomadland – Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao, Producers
  • Directing: Nomadland – Chloé Zhao
  • Actress in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand – Nomadland
  • Actress in a Supporting Role: Yuh-Jung Youn – Minari
  • Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman – Written by Emerald Fennell
  • Documentary Feature: My Octopus Teacher – Pippa Ehrlich
  • Animated Feature: Soul – Dana Murray
  • Documentary Short: Colette – Alice Doyard
  • Production Design: Mank – Jan Pascale
  • Costume Design: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Ann Roth
  • Makeup and Hairstyling: Mank – Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri, Colleen LaBaff
  • Sound: Sound of Metal – Michelle Couttolenc
  • Original Song: “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah – H.E.R., Tiara Thomas

April 22, 2021: Film Independent Spirit Awards NOMINATIONS

  • Best Feature: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director/producer; Mollye Asher, Frances McDorman, producers
  • Best First Feature: Sound of Metal, Kathy Benz, producer
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Screenplay: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Female Lead: Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Documentary: Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, director/producer; Sara Bolder
  • Best Supporting Female: Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
  • Best International Film: Quo Vadis, Aida?, Jasmila Žbanić, director (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Best Editing: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Robert Altman Award: One Night in Miami, Regina King, director; Kimberly R. Hardin, casting director
  • Someone to Watch Award: Ekwa Msangi

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

April 18, 2021: 35th American Society of Cinematographers ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards

No women winners in either film or television categories.

April 17, 2021: 57th Cinema Audio Society Awards

  • Live Action: Sound of Metal, Re-Recording Mixer Michelle Couttolenc

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

April 16, 2021: 48th Annie Awards

  • Best Feature: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Best Indie Feature: Wolfwalkers, Nora Twomey, producer
  • Best FX for Feature: Soul, Kylie Wijsmuller
  • Best Production Design – Feature: Wolfwalkers, María Pareja
  • Best Voice Acting – Feature: Wolfwalkers, Eva Whittaker

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

April 13, 2021: 23rd Costume Designers Guild Awards

  • Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Mulan, Bina Daigeler
  • Excellence in Contemporary Film: Promising Young Woman, Nancy Steiner
  • Excellence in Period Film: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

April 11, 2021: 11th Guild of Music Supervisors Awards

  • Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $25 Million: Dawn Sutter Madell, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $10 Million: Susan Jacobs, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $5 Million: Dondrea Erauw, The Cuban
  • Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film: Celeste Waite, Alison Litton, “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7

[Full list of winners, including for television and advertising categories, available here.]

April 10–11, 2021: British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards

  • Best Film: Nomadland, Mollye Asher, Frances McDormand, Chloé Zhao
  • Outstanding British Film: Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell, Ashley Fox, Josey McNamara
  • Film Not in the English Language: Another Round, Sisse Graum Jørgensen
  • Documentary: My Octopus Teacher, Pippa Ehrlich
  • Animated Film: Soul, Dana Murray
  • Director: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao
  • Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell
  • Leading Actress: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
  • Supporting Actress: Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
  • Casting: Rocks, Lucy Pardee
  • Production Design: Mank, Jan Pascale
  • Costume Design: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth
  • Makeup & Hair: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal
  • Sound: Sound of Metal, Michelle Couttolenc
  • British Short Animation: The Owl and the Pussycat, Laura Duncalf

April 10, 2021: 73rd Directors Guild of America Awards

  • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
    • Unit Production Manager, First Assistant Director: Mary Kerrigan
  • Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director: Sound of Metal
    • Unit Production Manager: Amy Greene

[Full list of winners, including for television and commercial categories, available here.]

April 10, 2021: 25th Art Directors Guild Awards

No women winners in the film categories. Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.

April 8, 2021: 32nd GLAAD Media Awards

  • Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Happiest Season, Clea DuVall, director/writer
  • Outstanding Film – Limited Release: The Boys in the Band, Alexis Martin Woodall, producer
  • Outstanding Documentary: Disclosure, Amy Scholder, producer

[Full list of winners, including for television, music, journalism, and Spanish-language categories, available here.]

April 7, 2021: 12th African American Film Critics Association Awards

  • Innovator Award: Mariah Carey
  • Icon Award: Viola Davis
  • Best Director: Regina King, One Night in Miami…
  • Best Actress: Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
  • Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Best Documentary: All In: The Fight for Democracy, Lisa Cortes & Liz Garbus (directors/producers), Stacey Abrams, producer
  • Best Animation: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Breakout Performance: Radha Blank

April 6, 2021: 19th Visual Effects Society Awards

  • Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature: Soul, Dana Murray
  • Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature: The One and Only Ivan (Ivan), Valentina Rosselli
  • Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature: Soul (You Seminar), Sungyeon Joh
  • Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature: Project Power, Michelle Lee
  • Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature: Soul, Aimei Kutt, Melissa Tseng
  • Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project: Migrants, Zoé Devise

[Full list of winners, including for television, game, and commercial categories, available here.]

April 4, 2021: 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

March 27, 2021: 52nd NAACP Image Awards

  • Social Justice Impact: Stacey Abrams
  • Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Phylicia Rashad, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
  • Outstanding International Motion Picture: Night of the Kings, Delphine Jaquet, producer
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture: Madalen Mills, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
  • Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Viola Davis
  • Outstanding Animated Motion Picture: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Outstanding Short Form (Live Action): Black Boy Joy, Martina Mossell Lee, director; Jhanvi Motla, producer
  • Outstanding Short Form (Animated): Canvas, Paige Johnstone, producer
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Creative: Nadia Hallgren, Becoming
  • Outstanding Documentary Film: John Lewis: Good Trouble, Dawn Porter, director/producer; Erika Alexander, Laura Michalchyshyn, producers
  • Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture: Radha Blank, The Forty-Year-Old Version
  • Outstanding Writing in a Documentary: Melissa Haizlip, Mr. Soul!
  • Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture: Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard

[Full list of winners, including for television, recording, and literary categories, available here.]

March 24, 2021: 32nd Producers Guild of America Awards

  • Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: Nomadland, Mollye Asher, Frances McDormand, Chloé Zhao
  • Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: Soul, Dana Murray

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

March 21, 2021: Writers Guild Awards

  • Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell
  • Adapted Screenplay: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Screenply by Erica Rivinoja & Jena Friedman; Story by Nina Pedrad

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

March 12, 2021: César Awards

  • Best Actress: Laure Calamy, Antoinette Dans Les Cévennes
  • Best Supporting Actress: Emilie Dequenne, Les Choses Qu’On Dir, Les Choses Qu’On Fait
  • Best Editing: Tina Baz, Adolescentes
  • Best Costume Design: Madeline Fontaine, La Bonne Épouse
  • Best Sound: Adolescentes, Yolande Decarsin, Jeanne Delplanco, Fanny Martin
  • Best Animated Short: L’Heure De L’Ours, dir: Agnès Patron
  • Best Short Film: Qu’Importe Si Les Bêtes Meurent, dir: Sofia Alaoui
  • Best Female Newcomer: Fathia Youssouf, Cuties

March 7, 2021: 26th Critics Choice Awards

  • Best Picture: Nomadland, Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao
  • Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Supporting Actress: Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Original Screenplay: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Adapted Screenplay: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Production Design: Mank, Jan Pascale
  • Best Costume Design: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth
  • Best Hair and Makeup: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal, Sian Richards, Deidra Dixon, Jamika Wilson
  • Best Comedy: Palm Springs, Becky Sloviter
  • Best Foreign Language Film: Minari, Dede Gardner, Christina Oh

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

February 28, 2021: Golden Globe Awards

  • Best Motion Picture – Drama: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director/writer/producer/editor; Mollye Asher, Frances McDormand, producers
  • Best Motion Picture – Comedy: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Monica Levinson, producer
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Actress – Motion Picture – Drama: Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
  • Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy: Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma.
  • Best Supporting Actress: Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian
  • Best Picture – Animated: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Best Picture – Foreign Language: Minari (USA), Dede Gardner, Christina Oh, producers
  • Best Song: “Io Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead
  • Cecil B. deMille Award: Jane Fonda

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

February 13, 2021: AMPAS Scientific & Technical Awards

  • Technical Achievement Awards
    • Hayley Iben, for the Taz Hair Simulation System
    • Kelly Ward Hammel and Maryann Simmons, for the Walt Disney Animation Studios Hair Simulation System

January 26, 2021: National Board of Review Awards

  • Best Film: Da 5 Bloods, Beatriz Levin, producer
  • Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
  • Best Supporting Actress; Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari
  • Breakthrough Performance: Sidney Flanigan, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Best Directorial Debut: Channing Godfrey Peoples, Miss Juneteenth
  • Best Animated Feature: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Best Documentary: Time, Garrett Bradley, director/producer; Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn, producers
  • NBR Freedom of Expression Award: One Night in Miami, Regina King, director; Jess Wu Calder, producer
  • NBR Spotlight Award: Radha Blank for writing, directing, producing, and starring in The Forty-Year-Old Version
  • Top Films (in alphabetical order)
    • First Cow, Kelly Reichardt, director/writer/editor
    • The Forty-Year-Old Version, Radha Blank, director/writer/producer; Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jennifer Semler, Lena Waithe, producers
    • Minari, Dede Gardner, Christina Oh, producers
    • News of the World, Gail Mutrux, producer
    • Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director/writer/producer/editor; Mollye Asher, Frances McDormand, producers
    • Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell, director/writer/producer; Ashley Fox, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie, producers
    • Soul, Dana Murray, producer
    • Sound of Metal, Kathy Benz, producer
  • Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
    • Collective (Romania), Hanka Kastelicová, Bianca Oana, producers
    • The Mole Agent (Chile), Maite Alberdi, director/writer; Marcela Santibanez, producer
    • Night of the Kings (Ivory Coast), Delphine Jaquet, producer
  • Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
    • All In: The Fight for Democracy, Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus, directors/producers; Stacey Abrams, producer
    • Boys State, Amanda McBaine, co-director/producer
    • Dick Johnson Is Dead, Kirsten Johnson, director/writer/producer; Katy Chevigny, Marilyn Ness, producers
    • Miss Americana, Lana Wilson, director; Christine O’Malley, Caitrin Rogers, producers
  • Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
    • Driveways, Celine Rattray, producer
    • Farewell Amor, Ekwa Msangi, director/writer/producer; Huriyyah Muhammad, producer
    • Miss Juneteenth, Channing Godfrey Peoples, director/writer; Jeanie Igoe, Theresa Steele Page, producers
    • The Nest, Rose Garnett, Amy Jackson, Christina Piovesan, Derrin Schlesinger, producers
    • Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Eliza Hittman, director/writer; Lia Buman, Rose Garnett, Sara Murphy, Elika Portnoy, Adele Romanski, producers
    • Relic, Natalie Erika James, director/writer; Riva Marker, Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw, producers
    • Wolfwalkers, Nora Twomey, producer

January 16, 2021: 36th IDA Documentary Awards

  • Best Feature: Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, director/producer; Sara Bolder, producer
  • Best Music Documentary: Universe, Esther Dere, Leah Natasha Thomas, producers
  • Best Writing: Kirsten Johnson, Dick Johnson is Dead
  • Pare Lorentz Award: My Octopus Teacher, Pippa Ehrlich, director
    • Honorable Mention: Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, director/producer; Sara Bolder, producer
  • ABC News VideoSource Award: Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, director/producer; Sara Bolder, producer
  • Honorary Awards:
    • Amicus Award: Regina S. Scully
    • Courage Under Fire Award, Olga Baranova and the filmmakers and activists from Welcome to Chechnya
    • Truth to Power Award: Maria Ressa

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

January 11, 2021: 30th IFP Gotham Awards

  • Best Feature: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director; Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao, producers
  • Best Documentary (TIE):
    • A Thousand Cuts: Ramona S. Diaz, director; Ramona S. Diaz, Leah Marino, Julie Goldman, Carolyn Hepburn, producers
    • Time: Garrett Bradley, director/producer; Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn, producers
  • Best International Feature: Identifying Features, Fernanda Valadez, director; Astrid Rondero, producer
  • Best Screenplay (TIED): The Forty-Year-Old Version, Radha Blank
  • Best Actress: Nicole Beharie, Miss Juneteenth
  • Actress Tribute: Viola Davis
  • Ensemble Tribute: The cast of The Trial of the Chicago 7, including Caitlin Fitzgerald and Alice Kremelberg
  • Gotham Audience Award: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director; Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao, producers

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

January 10, 2021: Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards

  • Best Action Movie: Da 5 Bloods, Beatriz Levin, producer
  • Best Actress in an Action Movie: Betty Gilpin, The Hunt
  • Best Animated Movie: Soul, Dana Murray, producer
  • Best Voice Actress in an Animated Movie: Tina Fey, Soul
  • Best Superhero Movie: The Old Guard, Gina Prince-Bythewood, director; Dana Goldberg, Beth Kono, Charlize Theron, producers
  • Best Actress in a Superhero Movie: Margot Robbie, Birds of Prey
  • Best Horror Movie: The Invisible Man, Kylie Du Fresne, producer
  • Best Actress in a Horror Movie: Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man
  • Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie: Palm Springs, Becky Sloviter, producer
  • Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie: Cristin Milioti, Palm Springs

[Full list of winners, including for television categories, available here.]

January 9, 2021: 55th National Society of Film Critics Awards

  • Best Picture: Nomadland: Chloé Zhao, director, Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao, producers
    • Runner-up: First Cow, Kelly Reichardt, director
    • Runner-up: Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Eliza Hittman, director; Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, producers
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
    • Runner-up: Kelly Reichardt, First Cow
  • Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
    • Runner-up: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
    • Runner-up: Sidney Flanigan, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Best Supporting Actress: Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
    • Runner-up: Amanda Seyfried, Mank
    • Runner-up: Youn Yuh-jung, Minari
  • Best Screenplay: Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
    • Runner-up: Kelly Reichardt, First Cow
  • Best Foreign-Language Film: Collective, Hanka Kastelicová, Biana Oana, producers
    • Runner-up: Bacurau, Emilie Lesclaux, producer
    • Runner-up: Beanpole, Natalia Gorina, Ellen Rodnianski, producers
  • Best Non-Fiction Film: Time, Garrett Bradley, director/producer; Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn, producers
    • Runner-up: City Hall, Karen Konicek, producer
    • Runner-up: Collective, Hanka Kastelicová, Biana Oana, producers

December 20, 2020: 46th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

  • Best Picture
    • Runner-up: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao, director; Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao, producers
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
    • Runner-up: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari
    • Runner-up: Amanda Seyfried, Mank
  • Best Screenplay: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
    • Runner-up: Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Best Documentary/Nonfiction Film: Time, director/producer Garret Bradley; producer: Lauren Domino
    • Runner-up: Collective, producers: Bianca Oana, Hanka Kastelicová; writer: Antoaneta Opris
  • Best Animation: Wolfwalkers, producer: Nora Twomey
    • Runner-up: Soul, producer: Dana Leigh Murray
  • New Generation Award: Radha Blank, The 40-Year-Old Version

December 18, 2020: New York Film Critics Circle Awards

  • Best Picture: First Cow, directed and written by Kelly Reichardt
  • Best Director: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Best Screenplay: Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Best Actress: Sidney Flanigan, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Best Supporting Actress: Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  • Best Animated Film: Wolfwalkers, produced by Nora Twomey
  • Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): Time, directed/produced by Garrett Bradley; produced by Lauren Domino
  • Best First Film: Radha Blank, The 40-Year-Old Version

December 12, 2020: European Film Awards

  • European Discovery – Prix Fipresci: Sole, written by Giulia Moriggi
  • European Documentary: One Night in Miami, written by Antoaneta Opris
  • European Actress: Paula Beer, Undine
  • European Editing: Maria Fantastica Valmori, Once More Unto the Breach / Il Varco
  • European Production Design: Cristina Casali, The Personal History of David Copperfield
  • European Costume Design: Ursula Patzak, Hidden Away / Volevo Nascondermi
  • European Make-Up & Hair: Yolanda Piña, The Endless Trench / La Trinchera Infinita
  • European Original Score: Dascha Dauenhauer, Berlin Alexanderplatz
  • European Sound: Yolande Decarsin, Little Girl / Petite Fille
  • European University Film Award: Saudi Runway, directed & written by Susanne Regina Meures

December 9, 2020: SFFILM Awards

  • SFFILM Award for Acting: Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
  • Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

September 20, 2020: 45th Toronto International Film Festival Awards

  • People’s Choice Award: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao
    • People’s Choice Award, First Runner Up: One Night in Miami, Regina King
    • People’s Choice Award, Second Runner Up: Beans, Tracey Deer
    • People’s Choice Award, Documentaries: Inconvenient Indian, Michelle Latimer
    • People’s Choice Award, Midnight Madness: Shadow in the Cloud, Roseanne Liang
  • Best Canadian Feature Film: Inconvenient Indian, Michelle Latimer
  • Best International Short Film: Dustin, Naïla Guiguet
  • FIPRESCI Award: Beginning (Dasatskisi), Dea Kulumbegashvili
  • Changemaker Award: Black Bodies, Kelly Fyffe-Marshall
  • Share Her Journey: Sing Me a Lullaby, Tiffany Hsiung
  • TIFF Tribute Awards: Chloé Zhao, Mira Nair, and Kate Winslet

September 12, 2020: 77th Venice International Film Festival Awards

  • Golden Lion: Nomadland, Chloé Zhao
  • Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman
  • Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Ann Hui and Tilda Swinton