Director Chole Zhao makes history as the first woman of Asian descent to win the Best Director Award in the Golden Globes.
Zhao accepted the award Sunday night during the live NBC broadcast of 2021’s 78th Golden Globes. Zhao won the award for her movie “Nomadland.”
“This award belongs to the whole ‘Nomadland’ team,” Zhao said in her speech. ” Thank you, everyone, who made it possible for me to do what I love.”
Zhao is the second woman ever to win the award as best director, following Barbra Streisand. Streisand received the award in 1978.
Zhao went up against Emerald Fennel for Promising Young Woman, Regina King for One Night in Miami, David Fincher for Mank, and Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Before her win, Zhao, along with King and Fenell, made history as the first time the award show has nominated more than one woman for the category.
During her acceptance speech, Zhao thanked the real-life nomads who shared their stories with her.
“I especially want to thank the nomads who shared their stories with us,” she continues, referencing a quote about compassion. “Compassion is the breakdown of all barriers between us. A heart-to-heart bonding. Your pain is my pain. It’s mingled and shared between us.”
Zhao explains that this “bond” she referenced in her speech is where her passion for filmmaker derives.
“Now, this is why I fell in love with making movies and telling stories.” She says. “Because it gives us a chance to laugh and cry together. And it gives us to learn from each other and have more compassion for each other.”
Watch Zhao’s historic win below.
