Alfonso Cuarón, Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Gabriela Rodriguez react to Roma’s Oscar nominations
David Farnor | On 23, Jan 2019
This week, Netflix’s Roma made history by racking up a not inconsiderable 10 Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Leading Actress for Yalitza Aparicio, Best Supporting Actress for Marina de Tavira, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Design, Best Sound Mixing and Best Original Screenplay.
Cuarón made Oscar history by becoming the first person to earn Best Cinematography and Best Director nominations in the same year for the same movie, while producer Gabriela Rodriguez has become the first Hispanic woman to ever receive a best picture Oscar nomination. Yalitza Aparicio is only the second actress nominated for a debut performance in a spoken language other than English and Cuarón is the fourth person ever to receive four nominations in four different award categories for the same film.
With all 10 nominations, Roma has tied the record held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) for the most nominations received by a foreign language film. It is also the 10th foreign language film to be nominated for Best Picture and the fifth film to be nominated for both Foreign Language Film and Best Picture in the same year.
“Thank you to the Academy for recognizing Roma across these categories,” said Cuarón in a statement today. “Human experience is one in the same, and it’s so gratifying that a black and white film about life in Mexico is being celebrated around the world. We are living a great moment in cinema where diversity is embraced by audiences. This kind of visibility pushes our industry forward and creates more opportunity for new voices and perspectives to emerge. It is a testament of how late we’re arriving to this moment, in which stories of the invisible among us — the domestic workers and indigenous women — are put at the center of our narratives. I share this with my cast, crew, producers, and most importantly, with my family and Mexico.”
“As a daughter of a domestic worker and an indigenous woman myself, I am proud this movie will help those of us who feel invisible be seen,” added Yalitza Aparicio. “I am eternally grateful to the Academy for recognizing Roma and am honored to be part of Alfonso’s vision. Congratulations to Alfonso, the entire cast and crew, and my dear friend Marina De Tavira. I am so humbled and honored. Thank You.”
“Thank you to The Academy for recognizing Roma, a project that was personal to not only Alfonso, but our entire cast and crew. I am incredibly honored to have been part of such an amazing production team alongside Alfonso Cuarón and Nicolás Celis. We poured our hearts into making this movie, and the fact that it is resonating with people around the world is beyond gratifying. I’m so thrilled to share this moment with Yalitza, Marina and our entire team,” commented Gabriela Rodriguez.
Marina said: “I’m so honored with this nomination, thank you to The Academy for this breathtaking recognition. Forever grateful to Alfonso Cuarón for trusting me with this beautiful character and thank you to Netflix for making this movie visible throughout the world.”
“I’m very happy to be recognized by our colleagues and the Academy, truly a great honor!” Skip Lievsay, Nominee for Best Sound Editing & Best Sound Mixing, also responded. “I’m thrilled for my crew- Craig Henighan and Sergio Diaz, Alfonso Cuarón and the entire Roma team. People are seeing the film in Dolby Atmos, and it’s gratifying that it is being received so well by audiences. Thank you.”
The film, which is available now to watch online now worldwide, will set records if it wins in any of its categories, with Netflix only having previously won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and Best Short Documentary. Read our five-star review from the film’s world premiere here.
Roma is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.