14 January 2016•Update: 16 January 2016
NEW YORK
Turkish filmmaker Deniz Gamze Erguven scooped an Academy Award nomination in the best foreign language category for her debut motion picture “Mustang", Hollywood announced Thursday.
The French-produced coming-of-age drama will compete with Embrace of the Serpent from Colombia, Son of Saul from Hungary, Theeb from Jordan and A War from Denmark at the 88th Academy Awards.
Set in a remote village in Turkey, Mustang tells the story of five close-knit orphaned sisters and their fight for independence from societal restrictions.
The 37-year-old female director’s work was France's official submission to the award.
Meanwhile, The Revenant topped all films with 12 nominations, including best picture.
The gritty frontier epic also earned nominations for its director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, among others.
Set in early 19th century America, the film depicts the survival story of frontiersman and fur trapper Hugh Glass.
Last week, the film won three top Golden Globe honors, including best motion picture drama, best director and best actor.
Mad Max: Fury Road followed with 10 nominations, including picks for best picture, director and editing honors.
Six other films are in competition for best picture prize: Spotlight; The Big Short; The Martian; Brooklyn; Bridge of Spies and Room.
The Martian scooped seven nominations, while Spotlight, Bridge of Spies and Carol received six nods each.
In addition to Inarritu, the nominees for best director are Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Adam McKay (The Big Short) and Lenny Abrahamson (Room).
Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) and Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) rounded up the best actor category, alongside DiCaprio.
The nominees for best actress include Cate Blanchett (Carol), Brie Larson (Room), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Jennifer Lawrence (Joy) and Charlotte Rampling (45 Years).
One of the highlights of the nominations is Sylvester Stallone, who was picked for best supporting actor for his classic role of Rocky Balboa in the sports drama Creed. The no-name boxer who overcame all obstacles to become a champion became a part of the American cultural lexicon.
Awards will be presented Feb. 28 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Nominees in some other fan favorite categories include:
Best supporting actor: Christian Bale (The Big Short); Tom Hardy (The Revenant); Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight); Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) and Stallone
Best supporting actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight); Rooney Mara (Carol); Rachel McAdams (Spotlight); Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina); Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
Best animated film: Anomalisa; Boy and the World; Inside Out; Shaun the Sheep Movie; When Marnie Was There
Best documentary feature: Amy; Cartel Land; The Look of Silence; What Happened, Miss Simone?; Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
Best original score: Thomas Newman (Bridge of Spies); Carter Burwell (Carol); Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight); Johann Johannsson (Sicario); John Williams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
