The 2019 Oscar nominations were just announced, and as Variety reported, Debra Granik, director of 2018’s “Leave No Trace”, was one of several worthy women filmmakers “shut out” of the Best Director category. The Academy’s snub comes despite the early Oscars’ buzz and critical acclaim that’s been swirling around Granik and her latest film since its June 2018 release. Nevertheless, she persists in scoring other 2019 awards season nominations and wins for both directing and screenwriting. So if you don’t know Debra Granik, you should… and this is the official trailer for her “Leave No Trace”.
Granik, an independent film and documentary film director and screenwriter, is best known for “Down to the Bone” (2004, starring Vera Farmiga), and “Winter’s Bone” (2010, starring Jennifer Lawrence), the latter of which Granik was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition to directing 2018’s “Leave No Trace”, Granik co-wrote the screenplay with Anne Rosellini, which is based on the novel My Abandonment by Peter Rock. The film is also produced by women: Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, and Anne Rosellini.
Official film synopsis: Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland.
“Leave No Trace” is available to buy or rent on iTunes and Fandango now.
Did you know?
In the 90 year history of the Academy Awards, only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director: Lina Wertmüller, “Seven Beauties” in 1977, Jane Campion, “The Piano” in 1994, Sofia Coppola, “Lost in Translation” in 2004, Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker” in 2010, and Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” in 2018. Kathryn Bigelow is the only woman to have ever won Best Director at the Oscars.