Oscar-Winning Films by Asian Cinematic ArtistsLike this list

49 items

• Doraibu Mai Kā

  Drive My Car

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  This introspective Japanese drama was nominated for Best International Feature Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director at the 2021 Academy Awards. Won Best International Feature Film.

• Minari

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  Youn Yuh-jung recently became the first South Korean actress to win an Academy Award for her supporting role in Minari, which was filmed in Tulsa.

• Nomadland

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  Chloe Zhao is the first Asian woman and woman of color to be nominated and to win for Best Director. She is also the second female to ever win this award.

• Judas and the Black Messiah

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  Singer/song-writer H.E.R., an American of Filipino descent, won Best Original Song for "Fighting for You."

• Kisaengch'ung

  Parasite

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  Bong Joon-ho and Kwak Sin-ae became the first Asians to win Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film in the same year. "Parasite" is the first Foreign Language film to win this award. Bong Joon-ho is also the first South Korean to be nominated…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bombshell

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  This 2019 film is Kazu Hiro's second win and fourth nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

• Darkest Hour

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  Kazu Hiro is the only Asian to be nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling of which he has been nominated four times. "Darkest Hour" was his first win in 2017.

• The Shape of Water

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  Paul Denham Austerberry, a Canadian of English/Filipino descent won for Best Production Design.

• Coco

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  The song "Remember Me" is Robert Lopez's second win for Best Original Song, which he also shares with his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

• The salesman

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  Asghar Farhadi won his second Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017 but did not attend the 89th Academy Awards ceremony in protest of the U.S. Executive Order 13769.

• Whiplash

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  In 2014, Tom Cross became the first and so far only Vietnamese American to win an Academy Award for Best Film Editing.

• Frozen

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  Robert Lopez, who is part Filipino, is the first American of Asian descent to win for the Best Original Song "Let It Go," an award he shares with his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez

• Gravity

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  Niv Adiri won in 2013 for Best Sound Mixing.

• Life of Pi

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  Seven years after his historical win for Best Director in 2005, Ang Lee won again for "Life of Pi" in 2012.

• Jodái-e Náder az Simin

  A separation

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  In 2011, Asghar Farhadi became the first Iranian to win for Best Foreign Language Film. This is also the first Iranian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

• Black Swan

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  Born in Israel, Natalie Portman has dual Israeli and US citizenship. She is the first Asian to win Best Actress.

• Departures

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  Yōjirō Takita won for Best International Foreign Film in 2008.

• Slumdog Millionaire

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  R. A. Rahman is the first Indian to win two Oscars in one night, Best Original Score and Best Original Song. He and Gulzar also shared the honor of being the first Asians to win Best Original Song for "Jai Ho."

• Brokeback Mountain

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  Not only is Ang Lee the first Asian to win Best Director in 2005, he is also the first ever person of color to win the award.

• Spirited Away

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  Hayao Miyazaki is the first Asian to be nominated for Best Animated Feature and won in 2002 for "Spirited Away."