Kenneth Branagh’s directing debut, Belfast has been tipped for an award since before it hit cinemas, and since it’s release has been a resounding success as well as winning multiple awards at The Golden Globes already.
It seems The Academy are as impressed with the film as movie-goers, as it’s been nominated for an incredible seven Oscars.
Here’s what the film is up for;
Actress in a Supporting Role – Judie Dench, Belfast
Actor in a Supporting Role – Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Best Sound – Belfast
Best Original Screenplay – Belfast, written by Kenneth Branagh
Best Director – Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Best Picture – Belfast
Best Song – ‘Down to Joy’ by Van Morrison
Set in the 1960’s, the film follows a young boy and his family in Belfast navigating the turmoil that has taken over the city and deciding whether to wait it out or look for a fresh start.
Kenneth previously told Vanity Fair that he remembers the troubles in Northern Ireland growing up which is what inspired this semi-autobiographical film; “It’s something I’ve been trying to understand, as I grow older, that it was a moment when the world tried to insist that you put away childish things, and demanded that you are dragged into this perilous adulthood.”
Speaking to film students at the QFT last year during the Belfast Media Festival Branagh said, “It’s a very personal film, set partly in Belfast and partly elsewhere, partly set in the past and partly set in the present. I hope that there is humour and I hope that it’s emotional. It’s a look at a people and a place in tumult through the eyes of a nine-year old movie-mad kid.”
Despite the incredible amount of nominations for the film, many fans were disappointed not to see Dublin actress, Caitríona Balfe up for Best Supporting Actress. She was tipped to be nominated especially after being nominated for a BAFTA award for her role in the film just last week.
Many fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment at not seeing her amongst those nominated;
HOW ON EARTH HAVE THEY SNUBBED CATRIONA BALFE?! Preposterous! https://t.co/0QAaSkL4DH
— Ria Basu (@Riab1994) February 8, 2022
Catriona Balfe got nominated in Golden Globes, SAG, Critics choice, BAFTAS and not in Oscars just like Gaga 😭 why did you do that to them ??
#OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/qbKiOymP4L— Sophia Gait (@SophiaGait) February 8, 2022
Congratulations “Belfast” with all the nominations disappointed for Catriona Balfe she deserved to be there!
— Ron (@dubstarry) February 8, 2022
#OscarNoms
How on earth is Catriona Balfe not nominated for best supporting actress.— Catherine Fitzgerald (@CathFitzG) February 8, 2022
an absolute win for the jessie buckley hive, but really wanted a nomination for ruth negga as well as being SHOCKED that catriona balfe was excluded https://t.co/05P6JKdVf0
— sophie (@sopheyquinn) February 8, 2022
