“The Grand Budapest Hotel” topped the field with nine Oscar nominations — in a tie with “Birdman” — as Hollywood unveiled the list of official Academy Award contenders on the morning of Jan. 15.
Tribesmen looking for the Jewish angle noted that “Budapest Hotel” was inspired by the writings of Austrian-Jewish novelist Stefan Zweig (1881-1942), while the film’s Jewish producer, Scott Rudin, shared in the triumph.
As for the rest of the numerous award categories, it was neither the worst nor the best of times for Jewish themes and talent.
Jewish screenwriter Graham Moore got a nod for best adapted screenplay for his work on “The Imitation Game.” The film is No. 2 in nominations, with a total of eight, including a best picture nod.
In the hotly contested foreign-language film category, with entries from 83 countries, Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” had been eliminated in the first round. However, Poland’s “Ida” made the short list of five finalists with the intense story of a young novice about to take her vows as a nun, who discovers that she is the daughter of Jewish parents killed in the Holocaust.
“Ida” is also in the running for best cinematography.
The Argentinian film “Wild Tales” joined “Ida” among the final foreign-language contenders. Directed by Damian Szifron, who is Jewish, the film’s best segment depicts a wedding from hell in which the Jewish bride discovers her husband’s infidelity during their wedding reception.
The Israeli short film “Aya,” by Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun, made the final cut with the encounter at Ben Gurion Airport between a young Israeli woman and an arriving Danish tourist, who mistakes her as his hotel driver.
Finally, veteran composer Hans Zimmer was nominated for his original score in “Interstellar.”
Oscar winners will hoist their trophies on the evening of Feb. 22 in a ceremony televised to 225 countries and territories across the globe.
Best Picture
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
Actor in a Leading Role
Actress in a Leading Role
Actor in a Supporting Role
Actress in a Supporting Role
Directing
Adapted Screenplay
Jason Hall, American Sniper
Graham Moore, The Imitation Game
Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice
Anthony McCarten, The Theory of Everything
Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
Original Screenplay
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Animated Film
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Cinematography
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Mr. Turner
Unbroken
Costume Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner
Documentary Feature
CitizenFour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga
Documentary Short Subject
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper (La Parka)
White Earch
Film Editing
American Sniper
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Whiplash
Foreign Language Film
Ida, Poland
Leviathan, Russia
Tangerines, Estonia
Timbuktu, Mauritania
Wild Tales, Argentina
Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
Music, Original Score
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything
Music, Original Song
“Everything Is Awesome,” The Lego Movie
“Glory,” Selma
“Grateful,” Beyond the Lights
“I'm Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me
“Lost Stars,” Begin Again
Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstella
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner
Short Film, Animated
The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me and My Moulton
A Single Life
Short Film, Live Action
Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)
Parvaneh
The Phone Call
Sound Editing
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken
Sound Mixing
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash
Visual Effects
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past