Rami Malek, Lupita Nyong'o and more react to their 2019 Oscar nominations

Nominations for the 91st Oscars were announced on Tuesday morning by Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis Ross, and the full list of nominees included multiple nods for movies such as Black Panther, A Star Is Born, and Vice. The Favourite and Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma led the pack with 10 nominations each, including Best Picture.

After the names were read out, stars reacted to their nominations with a mix of excitement, disbelief, and gratitude. Read below to see a selection of nominee responses:

Rami Malek, who was nominated for Best Actor for portraying Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, spoke to EW about his nomination:

“It’s just something you never expect to happen,” he told EW. “It’s like a distant dream that actors have and hope for to some degree. But it’s never really felt in the realm of possibilities — it’s a pretty joyous occasion to say the least. I’m always so thankful that I get to be a working actor. The percentage of people who get to do this is so small that getting accolades like this seems so distant always, whether you’ve received awards in the past or not. But I think perhaps after getting the Globe, it seemed more attainable — but there’s something about hearing the words that you’re an Oscar nominated actor that are still going to be incredibly shocking. It’s a profoundly humbling moment for me.”

Barry Jenkins’ movie If Beale Street Could Talk was nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score categories (Nicholas Britell). Regina King was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. Jenkins shared his sweet response on Twitter:

As well as his excitement for fellow nominee Spike Lee:

Jenkins later released an official statement on his nomination:

“It’s such an honor to be in the company of peers and legends I admire,” he said. “And even more, it fills my heart to have James Baldwin’s name and work associated with the Academy I’m proud to be a member of. On behalf of the Beale Street family, my endless thanks to the Academy for once again acknowledging me, my friends and James Baldwin.”

Regina King, who was nominated as an actress in a supporting role said:

“Wow, wow, wow. The word I keep coming back to is proud. Proud of our cast and crew with all the work we put into this amazing, yet still timely story. I’m grateful to Barry Jenkins for creating this beautiful role out of the great James Baldwin’s words. Collaborating with Barry has been a highlight of my career and this recognition is icing on the cake! And thank you to The Academy!”

While composer Nicholas Britell added:

“I am so thrilled to be nominated for the score of If Beale Street Could Talk. It is also a true honor to be nominated along with Barry Jenkins and Regina King. I am filled with so much gratitude to Barry and to our whole Beale Street team. It has been such a profound experience to work on this film and to be a part of bringing James Baldwin’s novel to the screen. I am truly overwhelmed by this and can’t express enough how humbled I am by this nomination!”

Bradley Cooper, whose directorial debut A Star Is Born was nominated for Best Picture and as well as in 6 other categories (including Best Actor for Cooper), expressed his gratitude:

“Everyone who worked on this film truly risked putting themselves out there — in the hope that in doing so people will connect and feel something deep and personal — the way films have made me feel since I was a kid. When I got this opportunity I knew I had to risk it all because I may never get another chance — so to be here today in a place where people who have seen the film are talking about how it makes them feel, something deep — that simple human thing — that we need each other — and the Academy to recognize that this morning — I just am so grateful.”

Lady Gaga also tweeted about the great honor:

Richard E. Grant was overjoyed at his nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in Can You Ever Forgive Me:

“For a boy growing up in Swaziland, the smallest country in the southern hemisphere, becoming an actor seemed an impossible dream, let alone being nominated for an Oscar. Am literally levitating!!”

The movie’s screenwriter Jeff Whitty, was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and shared his excitement:

“I’m going to say it now in case this is my only chance: I would like to thank the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I never dared or even dreamed of an Oscar nomination for my first produced screenplay that I share with my incredible co-writer Nicole Holofcener. I think I have what is known as beginner’s luck … I won a Tony for my first musical AVENUE Q. I share this nomination with our fearless leader, Marielle Heller. Congratulations to Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant on their well-deserved nominations and cheers to you, Lee Israel. ”

Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o couldn’t believe her movie’s seven nominations, including Best Picture:

Black Panther actress Letitia Wright also shared her gratitude:

The movie was also nominated for Best Original Score and composer Ludwig Göransson responded with elation:

“It is an overwhelming privilege to be nominated by the Academy for my work on Black Panther,” he said. “I share this honor with the brilliant musicians across the globe who performed on the score. My deepest thanks go to Ryan Coogler, a true visionary and great friend, who created one of the most unique and important films of our time. He encouraged me to venture into uncharted musical territories and to combine diverse worlds of sound into a score that pushed my creative limits.”

As did costume designer Ruth Carter for her Black Panther nomination:

“I am so incredibly honored that our work in Black Panther is recognized by the Academy,” she said. “Especially for this film. The film meant so much to so many people who are not members of the Academy. Those were not only the Marvel fans but also the people of Africa and African Americans. It’s wonderful to know that the costumes were appreciated everywhere.”

Production designer Hannah Beachler was overwhelmed with her nomination for Best Production Design for her work on Black Panther:

“It’s like the night before Christmas when I was a kid,” said Beachler. “I feel crazy because of my friend Carol. She died too young and I’m thinking of her. I’m thinking of my son and being a single mom and all the struggle. And thinking of Ryan who changed everything about my life. He changed everything for me. My great crew who HEARD what I was trying to do. I feel everything … I’m crying my eyes out now.”

Glenn Close was overjoyed with her Best Actress nomination for The Wife:

“Everything to do with this movie has been a total joy,” she said. “Bjorn Runge is a great director! Jonathan Pryce is an inspired partner. I’m so proud to be in a little film that has such great resonance with so many people. I’m especially proud to have shared the creation of this character with my beloved daughter Annie. So grateful!”

Yalitza Aparicio who was nominated in the Best Actress category for her performance in Roma shared:

“From the very first casting call to this morning, my Roma journey has been extraordinary,” she wrote. “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. 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.”

She also told EW:

“It’s so exciting. I’m so happy and I’m amazed for this nomination from the Academy Awards. I am so happy for Roma to receive that many nominations, and for my country, so happy.”

Aparicio’s costar Marina De Tavira, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Roma, shared:

“I’m so honored with this nomination, thank you to the Academy for this breathtaking recognition.Forever grateful to Afonso Cuarón for trusting me with this beautiful character and thank you to Netflix for making this movie visible throughout the world. I share this with Yalitza and with all of the incredible team that worked on Roma.”

While their director Alfonso Cuaron, nominated for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography for Roma expressed his gratitude:

“Thank you to the Academy for recognizing Roma across these categories,” he said. “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.”

BlacKkKlansman producers Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele reacted to their Best Motion Picture nomination:

“We are honored by the Academy’s recognition for BlacKkKlansman and the work Spike, Adam Driver, Terence Blanchard, Barry Alexander Brown and our entire cast and crew gave in bringing Ron Stallworth’s life to screen. More than 40 years later, this story of courage in the face of hatred is sadly still relevant today. Because of this, we knew from the very beginning that there was only one person who could helm this film: Spike Lee. It’s hard to believe this is the first time Spike’s brilliant work has been nominated for directing and best picture, but at this moment in our history, it seems fitting the spotlight is on Spike Lee.”

Terence Blanchard also responded to his nomination for Original Score for BlacKkKlansman:

“Today is a humbling moment in time for me,” he said. “To be recognized by your peers with an Oscar nomination and to share that blessing with family and friends is moving beyond belief. I’m so grateful to my brother Spike Lee for having faith and giving me the chance to expand and grow as an artist. BlacKkKlansman has been the result of 30 years of collaboration between Spike, Barry Alexander Brown, and myself and it’s a true honor to share this moment with them. I’m also very thankful for the team of folks who stand behind me, lift me up and have been there through it all – Robin Burgess, Marvin Morris, Howard Drossin Greg Hayes, Brad Ritchie and my band the E Collective -Oscar Seaton, Charles Altura, David Ginyard and Fabian Almazan. Thanks to the Academy for this honor. Humbled Truly.”

Film editor Barry Brown also responded to his nomination for BlacKkKlansman:

“This is an overwhelmingly fabulous honor which I believe everybody must feel after receiving an Oscar Nomination. When we were working on the film a year ago, it never occurred to us that we were making a movie that would get so many Academy considerations. I’ve heard Spike say many, many times over the years ‘It’s all about the work.’ And this is awfully nice to get such acknowledgement for that work from my peers. When you see that the film got nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, it is very obvious that I could not have gotten this honor without the amazing talent and work of the others who created BlacKkKlansman – with a special shout out to John David Washington who is there in each and every one of these nominations.”

Adam Driver’s also responded to his nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

“It’s surreal to say the least. I’m humbled and thankful to the Academy and feel very privileged to represent this film in a setting such as this; especially with Spike Lee, Barry Brown, and Terence Blanchard. Three people whose past collaborations have been an inspiration in my life. I’m so grateful to the crew, the cast, especially my friend John David Washington, and Spike for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a film that is equal parts joy and primal scream. Getting to work with people you admire and respect is a miracle in and of itself, but when it connects on a larger scale like this it’s hard to articulate.”

E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, co-directors of Free Solo, shared their excitement for their Best Documentary nomination:

“We are grateful for this recognition and humbled to be in the company of these extraordinary filmmakers during such an incredible year for documentary filmmaking,” they said in a joint written statement. “Thank you to our crew who took on the great responsibility of committing to Alex Honnold throughout his journey, and who trained tirelessly and meticulously for years chasing Alex up and down the mountain to make this film come to life. We would also like to thank Alex for trusting us to tell his story and share it with audiences. He has taught us all many lessons but most notably he has inspired a hope that you can achieve your dreams, no matter how great, through dedication, passion and hard work. We hope that this acknowledgement leads to more people sharing in Alex’s inspiration.”

Subject of the documentary, Alex Honnold, also shared his appreciation:

“I’m so grateful to Chai and Jimmy and the whole team that worked so hard to help capture the experience of free soloing El Cap,” he wrote. “The climb was a lifelong dream that I’m excited to be able to share and I hope that it continues to inspire audiences.”Rayka Zehtabchi director of Best Documentary Short nominee Period. End of Sentence. was the only woman nominated in the category:“The Period. End of Sentence. team is beyond proud of this honor, and we’re even prouder knowing that halfway around the world, tucked away in a rural Indian village, there’s a group of determined women still working to change the way their culture thinks about menstruation, one pad at a time,” she wrote. “This moment is for them, and for any woman who’s ever been shamed for bleeding.”

The Favourite producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures were ecstatic, if sleepy, over their 10 Oscar nominations:“We are in LA and jet lagged, so we were wide awake and ready to watch the nominations at whatever ungodly hour it was,” they wrote in a joint statement. “It’s incredible to get this recognition – maybe because the film has been so challenging to pull together over such a long time it’s all the sweeter. Huge congratulations to all the nominees, and we are especially delighted that Yorgos got the nod for director – more than with most movies, it’s all down to him. We are dying to get back to Dublin to celebrate with our gang at Element who have all been such brilliant fellow travellers on the journey. And of course, huge gratitude to Fox Searchlight, Film4 and Waypoint.”The movie’s producer Ceci Dempsey also chimed in:“It is the honor of a lifetime for The Favourite to be nominated in the Best Picture category and to share this with fellow nominees Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday and Yorgos Lanthimos,” she said. “None of this could have been achieved without the unwavering support of Film 4, Waypoint Entertainment and Fox Searchlight. You couldn’t ask for more exquisite performances from Olivia, Emma and Rachel for these flawed and fascinating characters. After 20 years in the making, it is wonderful to see Yorgos’s unique filmmaking gain such monumental recognition.”As did co-writer Tony McNamara:

“As a small boy in a country town in Australia, whose first movie experience was Herbie goes Bananas, I never dreamed I would be the recipient of an Oscar nomination,” he said. “It’s a thrill to be in a category with so many amazing writers. My thanks to my friend and collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos for his brilliance.”The movie’s production designer Fiona Crombie also received a nomination for Best Production Design:

“I didn’t expect the film would resonate the way it has,” said Crombie who was making lunch with set decorator Alice Felton and nearly missed the announcement at the time. “Being invited to the Oscar table is historic. Being included with my fellow nominees makes me feel included and so excited. I can’t wait to tell my kids when I get home!”

Adding a joint-statement with co-production designer Alice Felton:

“Being invited to the Oscar table is an absolute honour. We are thrilled for Yorgos and the entire team that The Favourite has resonated strongly with audiences and been recognised by AMPAS voters. We cannot wait to celebrate with our fellow nominees!”

The Favourite‘s co-writer Deborah Davis also commented:

“How can I describe the joy and excitement of being nominated by the Academy Awards for my first screenplay? Impossible! When I wake up tomorrow my first thought will be that I must have been dreaming!”

Director and producer Yorgos Lanthimos said:

“I would like to thank The Academy for honoring The Favourite so generously today. Having felt a bit like an outsider looking in, I am truly humbled about this morning’s nominations. They are a meaningful tribute to every person involved in the making of The Favourite — my talented collaborators and sublime cast, led by Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.”

While star Emma Stone, who was nominated in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category added:

“Working on The Favourite alongside my brilliant friends Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and the whole cast was nothing short of incredible. I was grateful every day and am honored by this nomination. Yorgos created a palace for us all to play in. I am forever indebted to him and the whole team that brought this insane vision to life. Thank you to Fox Searchlight for their invaluable support and thank you to the Academy for recognizing our work.”

Her costar Rachel Weisz, also nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role field, commented:

“Thank you to The Academy for recognizing The Favourite in so many categories,” she said. “I’m immensely proud to be part of it and to be nominated in the company of such talented women. Congratulations to my incredible fellow actors Emma and Olivia, our brilliant director Yorgos, and to everyone who participated in the making of this extraordinary film. Thank you to Fox Searchlight for their unwavering support and for having the guts to make a film with three complex female protagonists.”

The movie’s editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis chimed in too for his nomination:

“It is a huge honour to receive an Oscar nomination for the editing in The Favourite,” he said. “It is an indescribably elevating experience to someone like me who comes from a small country such as Greece, that seldom receives nominations (especially in the technical departments). Of course the biggest honour of all, and my sincere congratulations, goes to my friend and long-time collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos. It was an honour to cut a film with such wonderful actresses that are so deserving of these nominations. I would like to commend all fellow nominees in The Favourite, as well as the entire crew and cast. It was a big pleasure working with you all! Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees, it is my honour to be recognized alongside the world’s best in every craft in the most prestigious ceremony of the entire planet.”

Chris Miller was nominated in the Best Animated Feature Film category for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and responded appropriately and followed up with a separate tweet to pay tribute to other members of the team not named during the broadcast:

Miller also released a statement alongside producer Phil Lord:

“This is an incredible honor,” they said. “We’re grateful to the Academy for recognizing the work of more than 800 artists and filmmakers who came together to tell the extraordinary story of Miles Morales in a groundbreaking way. In the last few months we’ve heard countless stories about parents whose children looked up at them while watching the film and said “he looks like me,” or “they speak Spanish like us,” or “I want to grow up and be like her.” It’s such a simple concept but that is the reason so many people worked so hard – to make a movie that was worthy of Miles and makes everyone feel powerful and seen. Now more than ever, the world needs everyday superheroes and we are counting on everyone.”

Directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman added:

“Although we flew under the radar for years, we always felt that Into the Spider-Verse could be something special,” they said. “We never dreamed, though, that it would have the effect it has had on the diverse, passionate audience it has attracted. While making our movie we tried to push through every boundary we could that dictates what a popular movie can look like — all in the service of a story about finding common ground between different people from different worlds. To be nominated for an Academy Award is a huge honor, and means our movie will continue to reach more people around the world and inspire work that pushes far beyond us. We thank the Academy, our talented colleagues, and the vocal, dedicated audiences who advocated for us and carried us here.”

Mark Ronson, who co-wrote “Shallow” alongside Lady Gaga, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt, for the movie A Star Is Born, was honored to be nominated in the Best Original Song category:

“Such an honour to be nominated for an Oscar,” said Ronson in a written statement. “And it makes it even more special to be nominated as part of this incredible film where the music is so powerful and emotional. Bradley Cooper got right what is nearly impossible in film, to show inside the creative process and make it feel honest and believable. And Lady Gaga’s empowers that vision in the most beautiful and compelling way.”

Rob Bredow, visual effects supervisor on Solo: A Star Wars Story, shared an apt response on Twitter:

Adam McKay, producer, director and writer of Vice, which was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, shared his gratitude:

“My sincere thanks to the Academy for recognizing our incredible cast and crew, who worked so tirelessly on this movie that spans five decades,” he wrote. “I’m just thrilled, flabbergasted and excited!”

His fellow producer, Kevin Messick added:

“We couldn’t be more proud of our fearless leader Adam McKay and our incredible cast and crew for Vice. We’re grateful for this morning’s nominations and couldn’t be happier!”

While star Sam Rockwell weighed in on his nomination for best actor in a supporting role:

“Hot damn!” he said. “I am so truly honored to be recognized by the Academy again this year. Vice is such a special and important film to be a part of and I’m thrilled for Adam, Christian, Amy and Hank, as well as all of the cast and crew.”

As did Amy Adams for her nomination for best actress in a supporting role for Vice:

“Thank you so much to the Academy for this recognition,” she said. “It is an honor to be nominated for a film that I loved making. I am grateful to Adam for writing such rich material and for creating such a wonderful work environment. I also want to congratulate the other nominees, my cast members, the crew and everyone who worked so hard on this film!”

Cold War director Paweł Pawlikowski, who was nominated for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film (the film also received a nomination for Best Cinematography for Łukasz Żal) shared how honored and grateful he felt:

“It is an incredible honor to be included amid this group of filmmakers, and I’m so grateful to the Academy,” he said in a statement. “Sharing this very personal film with the world over the last year has been an unforgettable journey. I couldn’t have done it without my producers Tanya Seghatchian and Ewa Puszczyńska, my luminous star Joanna Kulig, as well the support of Amazon Studios, which brought this film to the US. And a special congratulations to Łukasz Żal, whose brilliant lighting brought the film to life.”

Mirai’s directer and writter Mamoru Hosoda was surprised to be nominated in the Best Animated Feature category:

“I have just received word that Mirai has been nominated for the 91st Academy Awards,” he said. “I am really surprised and also deeply honored. This film is about the everyday life and growth of a young child, depicted in a matter-of-fact way. The fact that it has been chosen with the other films about heroes is very meaningful and significant to me. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for selecting this film.”

Jeremy Dawson, producer of Isle of Dogs expressed his joy at being nominated for Best Animated Feature:

“Thanks to the Academy for recognizing Isle of Dogs with a nomination for Best Animated Feature,” he said. “Our very large crew of talented actors, artisans, animators and their various four-legged friends are very excited for this honor. And congratulations to Alexandre Desplat as well on his nomination for his wonderful score!”

While composer Alexandre Desplat shared his joy at his Best Original Score nod:

“I am speechless, grateful and honored that the music branch has chosen me for yet another fantastic collaboration with Wes Anderson. Wes is a wonderful artist and composing for his films always challenges me, taking me far from any expectations. Congratulations to Fox Searchlight and to my fellow nominees.”End Game directors/producers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman were humbled by their nomination for Documentary Short:

“We’re honored and humbled by this recognition. We are thinking of all the beautiful people who invited us into their lives at their most difficult moments. We hope viewers find comfort and empathy in these acts of kindness. Thanks for our doc branch members and to Netflix for bringing this to a global audience.”

Green Book screenwriters Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly thanked the Academy for the honor of their nomination:

“We thank the Academy for honoring us with this nomination,” they said. “It is all the more life-changing as it comes from our peers, who themselves work to create memorable stories from blank pages. This is the highlight of the journey we have taken with Tony and Dr. Shirley, and we’ll forever relive this moment. We want to thank our partners Participant Media, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, our wonderful actors Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini, and the rest of our incredible cast for bringing their characters to vibrant life.”

The movie’s star Mahershala Ali, nominated for Best Supporting Actor also reacted to the news:

“I’d like to thank the Academy for recognizing my work along with the extraordinary performances of my fellow nominees,” he said. “I was so fortunate to have collaborators in Viggo Mortensen and Peter Farrelly and I’d like to congratulate them on their nominations. Through Dr. Donald Shirley, I had the gift of navigating circumstances as a profound, gifted, complicated genius. A man who had experiences and a combination of qualities that I had yet to see on film. I’m tremendously grateful for the lessons I learned through both his struggles and successes. I sincerely hope Dr. Shirley’s music and his unique contribution to our culture continues to be discovered, shared and appreciated.”

Göran Lundström, nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work on Border, shared:“Wow, what a surprise. How wonderful! We are so honored to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 2019 Oscars. We are so incredibly grateful to the Academy for recognizing our work. Being chosen by our peers is truly amazing. This was a team effort involving a group of makeup artists and craftsmen/crafts women under our supervision. We want to thank all the team who worked on creating the make ups…! Special thanks to the on set team and team behind the prosthetics, and a big thank you to Eva Melander and Eero Milanoff for being so incredibly patient through hours of make up application and, together with us, bringing the make up to life.”

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck was very excited for his nomination for Never Look Away in the Best Foreign Language Film category:

“This is a film with a very timely story about how Art is still the best weapon we have against political extremism. It is something my actors and I believe in deeply,” he said. “We are thrilled that more people are going to get to see Never Look Away because of this Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. The nomination and win for The Lives of Others certainly helped us get the film shown around the globe. And I am very excited that Caleb Deschanel is nominated for his photography on Never Look Away. It was through his films Black Stallion, The Natural and The Right Stuff that I came to understand that cinematography is one of the great art forms. And his work on the upcoming The Lion King shows what an incredible master he is on a technical level, too. It was a thrill and a great joy to work him.”

Caleb Deschanel was “floored” by nomination for Best Cinematography in Never Look Away:

“I am really floored and humbled by the nomination — I thought nobody had seen the movie!?” he said. “So all the better and unexpected. I am lucky to be in such wonderful company with so many great movies this year. But I am especially excited that Never Look Away has gotten a foreign language nomination, so more people will want to see Florian’s powerful film.”

Hulu CEO Randy Freer weighed in to share his excitement for Minding the Gap earning a nomination for Best Documentary Feature:

“Hulu is honored to work with groundbreaking documentary filmmakers like Bing Liu to bring their creative vision to life,” he said. “The moment we saw Minding the Gap we knew we wanted to share his deeply personal and culturally relevant story about young men navigating race, class, and the transition into adulthood, and weare proud that it has resonated with so many people. Congratulations to Bing, Diane Quon, and all those involved, and thank you to the Academy for recognizing their powerful film.”

Producer Diane Quon added:

“I am still in shock from the wonderful honor of Minding the Gap being nominated! It is so true that making a film takes a village, and I cannot thank everyone enough – our participants, our family and friends, and all the partners who got us where we are today: Kartemquin, ITVS, POV, Sundance Institute, and Hulu. But nothing would have been possible without Bing. I’m grateful to have been on this journey with him, and thankful to all the other filmmakers of 2018 documentaries, who make me so proud to do this work.”

While director Bing Liu fought delirium to comprehend the news:

“I’ve been bedridden with a feverish flu the past couple of days, so waking up to this news this morning in the middle of my delirium made it all seem that much more unreal. I’m so thankful for the loving and caring people I’ve gotten the chance to work with and know over the years and over this past year especially. Honored to be amongst a crop of amazing films and filmmakers; thanks to the Academy for getting even more eyes on Minding the Gap!”

Sandy Powell, double nominee, for Best Costume Design on The Favourite and Mary Poppins Returns shared:

“All I can think of to say is I’m extremely grateful and proud and huge thanks to all my talented teams on both films without whom I would not be in this position right now.”

John Myhre and Gordon Sim, who are nominated for Best Production Design for their work on Mary Poppins Returns said:

“We are thrilled to be part of Rob Marshall’s magical Mary Poppins Returns. From 1930’s London streets to animated music halls to Topsy turvy upside down rooms, it was the most challenging film that we have ever done. It is such an honor to be recognized by the Academy.”

The movie’s score was also nominated and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman shared a joint statement:

“Sailing on Emily Blunt’s kite strings, we are over the moon to be recognized by our peers and to represent the musical side of Mary Poppins Returns. We were thrilled to create an original movie musical with the brilliant Rob Marshall, and we have had the most glorious three years on this project, writing something all new that was also a love letter to The Sherman Brothers and Irwin Kostal, whose work on the first film served as the musical education of our dreams. The entire experience has been like a dream and we are extremely grateful.”

Ralph Breaks the Internet directors Rich Moore, Phil Johnston and producer Clark Spencer were honored and humbled by their nomination:

“To be recognized by the Academy in such an incredible year for animated films is deeply humbling. We are honored to represent the wonderful artists and technicians at Walt Disney Animation Studios whose artistry and passion brought this story of a friendship put to the test to life.”

Shoplifters director Hirokazu Koreeda’s nomination in the Best Foreign Language category was the first Asian film nominated since Departures was ten years ago. Koreeda commented:

“I want to thank The Academy for the nomination of Shoplifters in the Foreign Language Film category,” he said. “The other four nominated titles in the category are absolutely amazing and strong, and I’m proud that Shoplifters has been selected among them. I never expected that this film about the meaning of family would resonate from Cannes to Los Angeles — and so I’m very grateful. Thank you very much.”

RaMell Ross director of Hale County This Morning, This Evening and nominated for Best Documentary Feature, said:

“I’m so excited be nominated in what has been such a great year for documentary as a form. I’m really thrilled for the communities around this film, and could not be more proud of our team who believed. The attention it’s bringing to Hale County Alabama and the contemporary South, centralizing the Black experience in documentary, and documentary film as place to imagine, all are being celebrated! I spoke to Quincy (Bryant one of the participants in the film) this morning and he’s just amazed, he never imagined people seeing folks in the Black Belt outside of music and sports and violence. I’m looking forward to talking to Daniel [Collins, another participant] too later.”

Incredibles 2 writer/director Brad Bird commented on his nomination for Best Animated Feature:

“We made a film about the most mysterious and important superpower of all — family. I’m very grateful to the Academy for honoring the large and talented team behind Incredibles 2 with a nomination. And to anyone contemplating making a movie sequel, I strongly recommend waiting 14 years between installments.”

Alexandra Byrne commented on her nomination for Costume Design for her work on Mary Queen of Scots:

“I would like to thank the Academy for my nomination — I thrilled to share this with Sandy, Mary and Ruth, and for the recognition it brings to my team for their talent and stamina!”

Nadine Labaki, the director of Capernaum who was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, spoke of her pride in being nominated:

“I’m truly proud and happy for this amazing reward,” she said. “This is a huge victory for every one of us who worked so hard on this life changing adventure. I’m proud of my crew, my beautiful soldiers. I’m proud of my husband, Khaled Mouzanar, producer and music composer of this homemade film, who gave and sacrificed a lot in order for this story to see the light. I’m proud of my actors, each one of them. They are all a miracle of resilience and perseverance no matter how hard their life was and still is. All of them non-actors, all of them trying to survive in a world that is not even allowing them to exist. I truly believe in the power of cinema to achieve change and this recognition is shedding more light on their situation. I truly hope that this will allow a change for the better in their lives. This film was meant to be their plea. Thanks to this recognition they are less invisible today and their voices are resonating a little louder. I’m proud for my country and thinking about each Lebanese person cheering for us today, happy that their country is recognized for something other than political conflicts and turmoil.”

Related content:

• See the full list of 2019 Oscar nominations
• The Awardist: Ambitious tales dominate the Best Director race
• The Awardist podcast chats with Vice director Adam McKay