By Wafir Salih, Staff Writer

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced the nominees for this year’s 90th Oscar Awards.

The eight films nominated for best picture include Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Shape Of Water” with 13 nominations, followed by “Dunkirk” with eight nominations and Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” with seven nominations.

Jordan Peele is making history as the fifth black director ever nominated for Best Director with his breakout horror film, “Get Out.” The movie shocked moviegoers last year with its depiction of modern racism. Many fans are holding out hope that “Get Out” wins best picture. The last and only horror film to win that Oscar was “The Silence of The Lambs” in 1991.

Greta Gerwig, director of “Lady Bird,” also made history as the fifth woman to ever be nominated for Best Director. “Lady Bird” won the golden globe for “Best motion picture.”

In a surprising twist, James Franco was not nominated for best leading actor in “The Disaster Artist”. A nomination seemed guaranteed, especially after all the accolades he received this awards season. Franco won Best Actor at the Golden Globes and at the Critics Choice Awards, and those award shows typically provide a glimpse into who the Academy nominates.

However, after a number of sexual assault allegations and with the growing influence of the #MeToo movement, it seems the Oscars made a conscious choice not to nominate him. This decision is definitely an interesting one, given that Casey Affleck was nominated by the Academy for best actor last year and won despite facing similar allegations at the time.

The Oscars – hosted by Jimmy Kimmel – will be televised March 4 on ABC.

Graphic by Ally McAlpine