The Academy’s official list highlights the historic return of a winning director in a fierce race
The race for the 2026 Oscars (98th ceremony) already has its finalists defined. Following the official announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 22, the Best Director category confirmed only one woman among the five competitors: Chloe Zhaoby period drama Hamnet (Hamnet: A Life Before Hamlet).
Although numerical representation in the main category has decreased compared to previous years, Zhao’s nomination marks a historic feat: she becomes the second woman in history — and the first non-white woman — to be nominated more than once for the Best Director award, repeating the success of Nomadland (2020).
Below, you can find the complete summary about the nominated director, the synopsis of the competing film, the cast and where to watch the highlights directed by women this season.
The only nominee: Chloé Zhao for ‘Hamnet’
While the 2026 dispute brings big names like Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) e Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Chloé Zhao’s sensitive gaze secured her place among the elite of world cinema once again.
Your film, Hamnetis an adaptation of the best-selling book of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell. The work moves away from the “road-movie” style of its previous success to delve into an intimate and devastating period drama set in 16th century England.
Hamnet Plot
Attention: The synopsis below contains the central premise of the plot, based on historical and literary facts.
A plot of Hamnet reimagines the family life of William Shakespeare (who in the film is rarely called by name, being referred to as “the husband” or “the Latin tutor”) and his wife, Agnes (based on the historical figure of Anne Hathaway). The narrative focus is not on the playwright’s fame, but on his home life in Stratford-upon-Avon and, crucially, on the death of his only son, Hamnet, aged 11, a victim of the bubonic plague.
The film explores the overwhelming grief of Agnes — portrayed as a woman with healing gifts and an almost mystical connection to nature — and how this personal tragedy became the silent catalyst for the creation of one of the most famous plays in theater history: Hamlet. It’s a story about loss, marriage, and the human cost behind immortal art.
Cast and characters
The production features acclaimed performances, essential for Zhao’s nomination as director, given his well-known method of extracting naturalistic performances.
- Jessie Buckley as Agnes: The protagonist of the story. Buckley delivers a visceral performance as the grieving mother, also being nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for this role.
- Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare: Agnes’s husband. Mescal plays a young Shakespeare torn between his ambitions in London and the tragedy that befalls his home.
- Joe Alwyn e Emily Watson: They complete the supporting cast, playing family members and figures from the local community who surround the central couple.
Production curiosities
- Historical Record: With this nomination, Chloé Zhao joins Jane Campion as the only women to receive two Best Director nominations in Oscar history.
- Literary Adaptation: Maggie O’Farrell’s book, on which the film is based, was a sales phenomenon and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Zhao was also responsible for adapting the script, in collaboration with the author.
- Style Change: Known for using non-actors and contemporary settings (as in Question or Destiny e Nomadland), this is Zhao’s first major period drama with an entirely professional cast and big-budget production design.
Other directors at the 2026 Oscars
Although the Best Director category only has one female representative, women shine in other important sections of this year’s awards:
- Best Film: Producer Emilie Lesclaux represents Brazil with The Secret Agent (directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho), nominated for the main category.
- Best Photography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by being nominated for her visually stunning work on the film Sinners (Sinners), directed by Ryan Coogler.
- Animation and Documentary: Directors like Domee Shi (Elio) e Charlotte Kaufman (Alabama: Non-System Prisoners) have a strong presence in the feature film categories.
Where to watch
As the ceremony takes place on March 15, 2026, film distribution is in its main phase:
- Hamnet: It is currently showing in cinemas Brazilians. Due to the nominations (Film, Direction, Actress), it is expected to remain on display on major networks until the date of the ceremony.
- Streaming Forecast: Films from Focus Features (distributor of Hamnet) usually arrive on digital platforms (rental and purchase) around 45 days after their release in theaters, with a likely arrival on subscription streaming (such as Prime Video or Max) in the middle of the second half of 2026.
Chloé Zhao’s presence on the 2026 list of directors reaffirms her singular talent for telling universal human stories. Whether in the American deserts or in Elizabethan England, his direction continues to break barriers, keeping the discussion alive about the need for different perspectives in command of major cinematographic productions.
