On February 28
th, 2021, filmmaker Chloé Zhao made history when she won the Golden Globe for Best Director for her third feature-length film.
Nomadland, which follows a woman in her sixties travelling across the USA in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, living out of her van and discovering a nomadic way of life, was nominated for three awards at this year’s Golden Globes.
In a male-dominated industry, the main categories are traditionally awarded to male directors, and the Golden Globes are no exception. Unprecedented success in winning the title of Best Director made Zhao, who grew up in Beijing before moving to the USA, the first Asian woman and the second woman ever to win the award. Nomadland also took the title of Best Motion Picture (Drama) and received a nomination for Best Screenplay.