Oscars 2020 — Most Exciting First-Time Nominee?

Scarlett Johansson

Best Lead Actress, Marriage Story Best Supporting Actress, Jojo Rabbit

First Oscar nominations for Scarlett Johansson in any category.

Bong Joon Ho

Best Film (producing), Parasite Best Director, Parasite Best Writing - Original Screenplay, Parasite Best International Feature Film, Parasite aka Gisaengchung (original title)

First Oscar nominations for Bong Joon Ho in any category.

Cynthia Erivo

Best Lead Actress, Harriet Best Original Song, Harriet (Song: "Stand Up")

First Oscar-nominations for Cynthia Erivo in any category.

*A win in either Oscar category would make her the youngest performer to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award (EGOT).

Hildur Guðnadóttir

Best Original Score, Joker

First Oscar nomination for Hildur Guðnadóttir in any category.

Jonathan Pryce

Best Lead Actor, The Two Popes

First Oscar nomination for Jonathan Pryce in any category.

South Korea Two Films

Best International Feature Film, Parasite (2019) aka '기생충' (original title) Best Documentary Short Subject, In the Absence (2018) aka '부재의 기억' (original title)

These two productions are the first South Korean films to receive Oscar nominations. They garnered eight South Korean nationals their first Oscar nominations in any category and a first South Korea country nomination.

Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Karen O were previous Oscar nominees in the Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song categories for USA-produced film work, both Korean-Americans were born in South Korean.

Antonio Banderas

Best Lead Actor, Pain and Glory aka Dolor y gloria (original title)

First Oscar nomination for Antonio Banderas in any category.

Rian Johnson

Best Writing - Original Screenplay, Knives Out

First Oscar nomination for Rian Johnson in any category.

Florence Pugh

Best Supporting Actress, Little Women

First Oscar nomination for Florence Pugh in any category.

Jérémy Clapin & Marc Du Pontavice

Best Animated Feature Film, I Lost My Body aka J'ai perdu mon corps (original title)

First Oscar nominations for Jérémy Clapin, Marc Du Pontavice and Xilam productions in any category.

Sergio Pablos & Marisa Roman & Jinko Gotoh

Best Animated Feature Film, Klaus

First Oscar nominations for Sergio Pablos, Marisa Roman, Jinko Gotoh and Sergio Pablos Animation Studios in any category. Likewise, as Netflix's first original animated feature it is their Oscar nomination in the category.

Barack Obama & Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions

Best Documentary Feature Film, American Factory

First Oscar nominations for the Obamas' Higher Ground production company in any category. The nomination technically goes to the film's producers Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Jeff Reichert, all who have prior Oscar nominations.

Ljubomir Stefanov & Tamara Kotevska & Atanas Georgiev & 'Honeyland'

Best Documentary Feature Film, Honeyland Best International Feature Film, Honeyland

First Oscar nominations for Ljubomir Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska and Atanas Georgiev in any category. As well as, Honeyland's breakthrough as the first documentary to land a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category.

Waad Al-Kateab & Edward Watts

Best Documentary Feature Film, For Sama

First Oscar nominations for Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts in any category.

Petra Costa & Shane Boris & Tiago Pavan

Best Documentary Feature Film, The Edge of Democracy

First Oscar nominations for Petra Costa, Shane Boris and Tiago Pavan in any category.

Barbara Ling

Best Production Design, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

First Oscar nomination for Barbara Ling in any category.

Vivian Baker & Anne Morgan

Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Bombshell

First Oscar nomination for Vivian Baker (makeup department head) and Anne Morgan (hairstyling department head) in any category.

Bernie Taupin

Best Original Song, Rocketman (Song: "I'm Gonna Love Me Again")

First Oscar nomination for Bernie Taupin in any category.

Joshuah Brian Campbell

Best Original Song, Harriet (Song: "Stand Up")

First Oscar nomination for Joshuah Brian Campbell in any category.

Jinmo Yang

Best Film Editing, Parasite aka Gisaengchung (original title)

First Oscar nomination for Jinmo Yang in any category.

Christopher Peterson

Best Costume Design, The Irishman

First Oscar nomination for Christopher Peterson in any category.

Mayes C. Rubeo

Best Costume Design, JoJo Rabbit

First Oscar nomination for Mayes C. Rubeo in any category.

Lawrence Sher

Best Cinematography, Joker

First Oscar nomination for Lawrence Sher in any category.

Jarin Blaschke

Best Cinematography, The Lighthouse

First Oscar nomination for Jarin Blaschke in any category.

Rosana Sullivan & Kathryn Hendrickson

Best Animated Short Film, Kitbull

First Oscar nominations for Rosana Sullivan and Kathryn Hendrickson in any category.

Matthew A. Cherry & Karen Rupert Toliver

Best Animated Short Film, Hair Love

First Oscar nominations for Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver in any category.

Siqi Song

Best Animated Short Film, Sister aka '妹妹' (Mandarin title)

First Oscar nomination for Siqi Song in any category.

Bruno Collet & Jean-François Le Corre

Best Animated Short Film, Mémorable

First Oscar nominations for Bruno Collet and Jean-François Le Corre in any category.

Delphine Girard

Best Live Action Short Film, A Sister aka Une Soeur (original title)

First Oscar nomination for Delphine Girard in any category.

Carol Dysinger & Elena Andreicheva

Best Documentary Short Subject, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)

First Oscar nominations for Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva in any category.

Seung-jun Yi & Gary Byung-Seok Kam

Best Documentary Short Subject, In the Absence aka '부재의 기억' (original title)

First Oscar nominations for Seung-jun Yi and Gary Byung-Seok Kam Oscar nominations in any category.

Meryam Joobeur

Best Live Action Short Film, Brotherhood

First Oscar nominations for Meryam Joobeur in any category.

Yves Piat & Damien Megherb

Best Live Action Short Film, Nefta Football Club

First Oscar nominations for Yves Piat and Damien Megherb in any category.

Sami Khan & Smriti Mundhra

Best Documentary Short Subject, St. Louis Superman

First Oscar nominations for Sami Khan, Smriti Mundhra and MTV Documentary Films in any category.