Kenneth Branagh has today become the first person to be nominated in seven different Academy Awards categories, making Oscars history, thanks in large part to his film "Belfast."
Branagh, a native of Belfast, has broken the record that was held by George Clooney, Alfonso Cuarón, and Walt Disney, who were each nominated in six different Oscars categories. He additionally joins Clooney and Warren Beatty as the only people to be nominated in every eligible major category — picture, director, lead or supporting acting, and both original and adapted screenplay.
Branagh's semi-autobiographical "Belfast" has been nominated in seven different categories for the 2022 Academy Awards, the nominations for which were announced earlier today, February 8. The film's seven nominations are level with "West Side Story," but both of those films were outnumbered by "The Power of the Dog," which grabbed 12 nominations, and "Dune," which landed ten nods.
"Belfast" has been nominated in the following categories: Best Picture, Best Director (Kenneth Branagh), Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Best Supporting Actor (Ciarán Hinds), Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Branagh), and Best Original Song (“Down to Joy” — music and lyrics by Van Morrison).
#BELFAST is nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, Kenneth Branagh! #Oscars
So proud of our entire #BELFAST family 💛 pic.twitter.com/09gXK0gaFk
— Belfast (@BelfastMovie) February 8, 2022
"It's a long way from the streets of Belfast to the Academy Awards," Branagh said in a statement after the nominations were announced. "Today, I think of my mother and father, and my grandparents — how proud they were to be Irish, how much this city meant to them. They would have been overwhelmed by this incredible honor — as am I. Given a story as personal as this one, it's a hell of a day for my family, and the family of our film."
Hinds, himself a native of Belfast, said today: "Having worked in this industry for nearly 50 years, I thought there wasn't much that could surprise me still. Today, I can honestly say, I am astounded, thrilled, and deeply grateful."
"Belfast" wasn't the only Irish talent landing coveted Academy Award nominations today - Co Kerry native Jessie Buckley says she's in "shock" to have been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her turn in the film "The Lost Daughter," which also landed Olivia Colman a nomination in the Best Actress category and Maggie Gyllenhaal a nod in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
"I am in complete shock!" Buckley said on Tuesday. "'The Lost Daughter' is so special to me. To be recognized for anything connected to it is just a wild dream come true."
While Buckley landed a "surprise" nomination today, two Irish actresses were noticeably snubbed - Caitríona Balfe for her role in "Belfast," and Ruth Negga for her role in "Passing."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated the Irish Oscar nominees on Twitter today, hailing the nominations as “an amazing success for Irish cinema:”
Congratulations to Jessie Buckley, Kenneth Branagh, Ciarán Hinds and Van Morrison leading Irish nominations at the #Oscars today.
An amazing success for Irish cinema - and fantastic recognition for #Belfast with seven nominations overall. pic.twitter.com/sznuF9sigY
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 8, 2022
The 94th Oscars will air live on ABC in the US on Sunday, March 27, 2022.
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