The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists for nine Oscar categories.
And guess who is dominating the list? Black Panther.
The movie made the shortlist in three categories; visual effects, makeup and hair styling.
The film has been widely praised as the first superhero movie to feature a majority black cast, and for its positive portrayals of its black characters.
Oprah Winfrey told an audience of 100 members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at a special pre-Oscar screening of the film at Los Angeles’ London West Hollywood Hotel:
“I just wanted to say that when I first saw Black Panther, I sent an email to my friend Bobby and said, ‘Hi Bobby! Just saw it. It’s worth everything I’ve heard and more. A phenomenon in every way, on every level. Makes me tear up to think that little black children will grow up with ‘Wakanda forever.’ It’s game-changing, it’s pride-making, it’s dazzling, it’s phenomenal.’ That was my personal review.” Winfrey continued: “I also know that throngs and throngs and so many people came, and came with their families, and then they went back and they got more family members, and then they went back and told their co-workers and their friends, because everybody recognized that something bigger than a movie was happening up on that screen. We all knew — those of us who have come from the culture and the history — how lit it was. It just gave us life! It gave us life! But it was so affirming for everyone who saw it because you knew that it was bigger than this moment — it was a cultural happening — and just to be in the theatre was to be a part of all of that.”
The 91st Annual Academy Awards ceremony will be aired on February 24.