10 interesting facts about this year's Oscar nominations

For starters, Greta Gerwig is the first woman in eight years to be nominated for the best director award

This year, Greta Gerwig has become the fifth woman to ever have been nominated for best director. Yes, only the fifth. Mike Nelson / EPA

The nominations for the 90th Oscars were announced Tuesday, with The Shape of Water, Dunkirk and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leading the pack.

But the statistical quirks that the annual event throws up can be as intriguing as tracking which movies get the most nods. Here are some interesting facts and figures from this year's list of nominees:

Female filmmakers (finally) recognised 

The 7,000-plus voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences managed to remember this year that women make movies too.

1. Greta Gerwig, recognized for Lady Bird, is only the fifth female best director nominee, and the first since Kathryn Bigelow won for The Hurt Locker in 2010.

2. Rachel Morrison, the director of photography on Mudbound, is the first woman to receive a nomination for cinematography.

Long live Queen Meryl

3. Meryl Streep increases her lead as the most nominated performer in history with her 21st nod for Steven Spielberg's The Post. Her three wins were for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Sophie's Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011).

All hail the maestro

4. John Williams adds to his record number of music scoring nominations with his 46th for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

5. His overall total of 51 nominations -- including five for original song -- is the most for any living person, and second only to Walt Disney at 59.

Kobe Bryant: Oscars MVP?

6. Basketballer Kobe Bryant, an 18-time NBA all-star, is an Oscar nominee thanks to his collaboration with artist Glen Keane and composer John Williams for the short Dear Basketball.

"What?? This is beyond the realm of imagination," Bryant, 39, tweeted following the announcement.

But not everyone will be delighted with the nod.

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, it will be a reminder that the Los Angeles Lakers legend was arrested over the suspected rape of a 19-year-old hotel worker in Colorado in 2003.

Bryant admitted to a sexual encounter, but insisted it was consensual. The criminal case was dropped when the accuser refused to testify, but Bryant faced a civil suit.

As part of an out-of-court settlement, he publicly apologised to his accuser, but admitted no guilt.

Snubs and surprises

7. Among this year's big snubs were Golden Globes nominees Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name) and Hong Chau (Downsizing), as well as Wonder Woman, which didn't get a single nomination.

8. Mudbound and The Big Sick were conspicuously absent from the best picture category, though they received other nominations.

9. Steven Spielberg (The Post) and Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards) were both left out of the best director category, despite helming two of the most acclaimed movies of the year.

10. On the other side of the coin, Denzel Washington picked up a surprise 8th nomination for acting, expanding his own record as the most-nominated black actor in Oscars history. He has won twice, for Glory and Training Day. Washington also has a nomination for best picture for Fences, which he directed and co-produced.

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