16 first-time Oscar nominees in 2017

The film “Lion” is based on the nonfiction book “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose, with its screenplay adapted by Luke Davies. Also a poet and novelist, Davies’ previous screenwriting experience includes the feature films “Candy” (2006), “Reclaim” (2014) and “Life” (2015).

After writing and/or producing numerous shorts, Theodore Melfi wrote and directed his first feature film, “St. Vincent” (starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts), in 2014. The movie saw moderate success but nowhere near the level of his most recent project, “Hidden Figures,” which Melfi directed, produced and co-wrote with Allison Schroeder. Thus, if the film wins an Oscar for Best Picture or Best Adapted Screenplay (the film is based on the book “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly), Melfi will take home a gold statuette.

As previously mentioned, Allison Schroeder co-wrote “Hidden Figures,” so she’ll also deservingly take home a statue if the film wins Best Adapted Screenplay. Schroeder’s previous writing credits include “Mean Girls 2” and several episodes of the TV series “Side Effects.”

If the dramatic film “Fences,” directed by Denzel Washington, wins Best Adapted Screenplay, the Academy Award will go to playwright August Wilson, even though Wilson has been dead for over a decade. That’s because Wilson wrote the script ages ago but insisted on finding an African-American to direct it, which turned out to be a fruitless search during his lifetime. The story has, however, won both a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Play back in 1987. The film “Fences” has also earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Washington) and Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis).

After writing mostly horror film prequels, sequels and reboots (such as 2010’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” 2011’s “Final Destination 5” and 2016’s “Lights Out”), Eric Heisserer tried his hand at adapting a short story, and it was a resounding success. His film, “Arrival,” was already selected by the American Film Institute and National Board of Review as one of the top 10 films of 2016, in addition to earning Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director (Denis Villeneuve).

Mike Mills’ body of work includes everything from TV commercials and music videos to short films, documentaries and indie movies. However, Mills also found success writing and directing the features “Thumbsucker” (2005) and “Beginners” (2010), before making “20th Century Women,” which currently boasts an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

The dark dystopian comedy “The Lobster” was directed, co-written and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, who previously earned a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination for 2009’s “Dogtooth.” However, his “Lobster” co-writer, Efthymis Filippou, has never been recognized by the Academy and currently shares the nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Filippou also co-wrote “Dogtooth” with Lanthimos.

After beginning his Hollywood career as an actor (you might recognize him as Deputy Chief David Hale from “Sons of Anarchy”), Taylor Sheridan moved briefly to directing (2011’s “Vile”) and then screenwriting, where he earned acclaim for the 2015 film “Sicario.” Proving it was no fluke, Sheridan’s next film, “Hell or High Water,” has already earned numerous awards, including Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges) and Best Film Editing.

Believe it or not, “Moonlight” is actually only the second feature-length film directed by Barry Jenkins, after 2008’s “Medicine for Melancholy.” Although that film was heavily praised, it didn’t receive nearly as much exposure or award nominations as “Moonlight,” which has already won a Golden Globe for Best Picture (Drama) and numerous other awards, in addition to over a dozen nominations.

Between her roles as the voodoo witch in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Selena in “28 Days Later” or Miss Moneypenny in the last two James Bond films, you’ll likely recognize Naomie Harris from somewhere. Despite strong performances in these and other films, Harris didn’t receive widespread critical acclaim until the release of “Moonlight,” for which she received her first Academy Award nomination.

After being denied any Oscar or Golden Globe nominations for his acclaimed role in 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” 26-year-old Dev Patel flew under the radar for a bit (unless you’re a fan of HBO’s “The Newsroom,” that is, as he was a regular on the show). Now Patel is set to become a household name after his role in “Lion” has earned him a veritable truckload of nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for the 89th Academy Awards.

Although Lucas Hedges was likely lost in the star-studded casts of films such as “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Arthur Newman” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” you can’t miss him in “Manchester by the Sea.” His outstanding performance as Patrick Chandler, the 16-year-old left under the watch of Casey Affleck’s character, has already earned Hedges more nominations than we could possibly list here, including Best Supporting Actor for the Academy Awards, as well as BAFTA, SAG and Critics’ Choice nods.

Fans of TV’s “Crossing Jordan,” “The 4400” and “House of Cards” are already familiar with 42-year-old actor Mahershala Ali, and others might recognize him from the films “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008), “The Place Beyond the Pines” (2012), “Free State of Jones” (2016) and the last two “Hunger Games” movies. If not, his role as a crack dealer in “Moonlight” can’t be missed, as it has already earned Ali Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG and Critics’ Choice award nominations (and a win, in the case of the last) for Best Supporting Actor.

Unless you’re into foreign films or the TV shows “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Preacher,” you may not have heard of 35-year-old Ruth Negga prior to her role in the 2016 film “Loving.” Now that she’s earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination — as well as nods from the Golden Globes, the Independent Spirit Awards, BAFTA and the Critics' Choice Awards — you won’t soon forget her name.

It may be “Elle” star Isabelle Huppert’s first Academy Award nomination, but she’s no newcomer. The 63-year-old French actress has already appeared in over 100 films and TV shows, including roles in the English-language films “Heaven’s Gate” (1980), “I Heart Huckabees” (2004), “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” (2013) and “Louder Than Bombs” (2015). She has already won countless awards from critic groups, festivals and award shows, such as the Cesar Awards, where she won Best Actress for 1996’s “La Cérémonie.”

After previously receiving a Golden Globe nomination for “The Social Network” in 2011 and a Tony nomination for “Death of a Salesman” in 2012, 33-year-old actor Andrew Garfield earned his first Academy Award nomination this year (for Best Actor) for “Hacksaw Ridge.” Garfield’s role as Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to earn a Medal of Honor, also earned him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nods.