Oscars 2018: 8 Most Game-Changing Nominations

5. Rachel Morrison - Best Cinematography

Mudbound Rachel Morrison
Netflix

A breakthrough for Netflix isn't the only way Mudbound is making waves this year, with its DP Rachel Morrison picking up a (deserved) nod for Best Cinematography. Morrison has been doing some excellent work for a while now, especially in her collaborations with Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, while Black Panther looks phenomenal), but what's more surprising is that she's the first female to be nominated in this category, well, ever.

Those who can feel unlucky to have been overlooked in recent years include Maryse Alberti, who also did some stunning work with Coogler (Creed), Mandy Walker (Tracks, Australia), and Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), but Morrison's nomination is a step in the right direction.

The bigger picture issue isn't so much those names being overlooked, but rather those candidates have been few and far between over the years, with a 2016 study showing only 5% of cinematographers were female. With Morrison getting an Oscar nomination, and that itself getting plenty of positive attention, it's potentially the first step towards a real change on that front.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.