The 96th annual Academy Award took place on the 10 March, and we could not NOT talk about it! This year’s ceremony set out to celebrate LGBTQ+ cinema. Amongst the nominees were biopics depicting queer stories like Nyad and Rustin, queer artists featured on some of the highest-grossing films worldwide, as well as queer actors, directors, and writers.
If you want to learn all about the Oscars’ 2024 queer nominees and winners, read on!!!
Barbie
The live-action Barbie film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), and Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera). However, it is queer singer Billie Eilish, alongside her brother Finneas, that took home the Oscar for their original song “What Was I Made For”. At the young age of 22, Billie won her second Oscar, and hopefully not the last.
If you missed this – you can rent it now on Amazon or can catch it on Friday 29th in the UK on Now TV.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Although she did not take the title, home, Lily Gladstone (Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon), who uses she/they pronouns, was one of the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Actress. This is Gladstone’s first-ever Oscar nomination, and It might have been a disappointment to those of you who were rooting for Gladstone, but we truly believe there is more to come in the talented actress’s future.
Nyad
Nyad received two nominations at the 2024 Oscars, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. The film centers around Diana Nyad’s (Annette Bening) goal to achieve a 110-mile non-stop swim from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64.
To accomplish the impossible, Nyad appoints Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster), best friend and former romantic partner, to train her. This is a story about determination and force of will which is centered around the life of two queer women. This was also Jodie Foster fifth nomination for the Oscars, securing her place as one of the most influential lesbian actresses. You must give it a watch.
American Fiction
The film is derived from Percival Everett’s 2001 novel “Erasure,” it centers on a disillusioned novelist-professor who writes a satirical book parodying stereotypical “Black” literature.
However, the book is mistakenly interpreted as serious and profound, leading to its publication, skyrocketing sales, and widespread critical acclaim.
Sterling K. Brown, who played gay character Clifford Ellison in the film, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and queer composer Laura Karpman Best Original Score.
We cannot recommend it any more!
Maestro
The film received seven nominations at the 2024 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Original Screenplay (Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer), Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Sound.
The film focuses on bisexual composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein’s complex love story with actress Felicia Montealegre.
Rustin
The biopic tells the story of activist and political strategist Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo). Rustin devoted his life to relentlessly pursuing racial equality, human rights, and global democracy. However, despite his pivotal role in shaping the civil rights movement, Rustin, an openly gay Black man, was largely marginalized and overlooked from the civil rights movement he helped build.
Not only does the film celebrate the dedication of a black gay man towards equality, but Rustin is played by black gay actor Colman Domingo, who received a nomination for Best Actor for his phenomenal performance.
Rustin was co-written by Julian Breece who was one of the writers for the show When They See Us, and Dustin Lance Black, who received an Oscar for the biopic of gay activist and political figure Harvey Milk.
If you want to learn more about a queer political figure who truly shaped history, we urge you to watch Rustin.
Nimona
Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Nimona takes place in a futuristic medieval world where a knight is falsely accused of a crime and teams up with a peculiar teenage girl named Nimona to prove his innocence. The LGBTQ-inclusive film received a nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Poor Things
Emma Stone won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things. Holly Waddington also won for Best Costume Design.
In Poor Things, Bella Baxter’s most significant relationship is the one she shares with another woman, Toinette (played by Suzy Bemba).
Although the film, is not primarily among a queer story, Bella explores her sexuality, blooming into something which does not need a label.
Anatomy of a fall
Anatomy of a Fall was nominated for five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
The film focuses on the story of Sandra, a woman accused of killing her husband.
Sandra’s sexual orientation is used against her during the trial to delegitimise and undermine her. This film emphasizes the sexism that women often have to face in judicial settings, as well as the stigma placed upon bisexual people. Anatomy of a Fall is a true cinematic masterpiece.
The ABCs of Book Banning
The ABCs of Book Banning was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. The documentary covers the banning of LGBTQ+ books in American schools (USA).
PLEASE give us your opinions on this list, And do not hesitate to recommend queer films which were not nominated this year.
We at Nonchalant urge you to go watch new lesbian road trip comedy Drive-Away Dolls.
Love,
Team Nonchalant x
Last Updated on 24th March 2024 by Nonchalant Magazine
