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'Birdman' Oscar Nominations Shine Spotlight On Mexican Filmmaker

Image: File photo of director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu at the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala
"Birdman" director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, seen receiving the Director of the Year Award at the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California in this January 3, 2015 file photo. DANNY MOLOSHOK / Reuters

Acclaimed Mexican film director Alejandro González Iñárritu has emerged as one of this year's most highly recognized filmmakers, after his movie "Birdman" obtained Oscar nominations in 9 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

Though "Birdman" also garnered a slew of nominations in the Golden Globes, it ended up winning in only two categories, "Best Screenplay" and "Best Actor," and did not win the coveted Best Movie or Best Director awards.

Still, the movie is cementing González Iñárritu's reputations as one of Hollywood's most interesting directors. Along with fellow Mexicans Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro, the Latino director has received wide recognition for his previous movies, which include "Amores Perros," "21 Grams" and "Biutiful," which was nominated for 2 Academy Awards.

González Iñárritu's nominations adds diversity to the list of Oscar nominees; this year actors and actresses of color were absent from the nominations.

But as Showbiz Cafe's Jack Rico points out, several Latino filmmakers were nominated in other prestigious categories. Mexico's Emmanuel Lubezki was nominated for Best Cinematography for Birdman, The Argentinian movie "Wild Tales" ("Relatos Salvajes") was nominated for Best Foreign Film and the Mexican film “The Reaper" (La Parka) was nominated for Best Documentary Short.

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