Italy joins the Oscar race thanks to Laura Pausini and Pinocchio.

The Oscar 2021 nominations have been announced and Italy's hopes are pinned on Io sì (Seen) sung by Laura Pausini and the Pinocchio movie directed by Matteo Garrone.

Io Sì (Seen), a power ballad from the soundtrack to the movie The Life Ahead or La vita davanti a sé, scooped a Golden Globe award on 28 February.

• Golden Globes: Laura Pausini wins for Italy

The original English-language version of the track was written by Diane Warren, specifically for The Life Ahead, with Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi composing the Italian version.

Pinocchio, Garrone's magical retelling of the Italian classic fairytale, has received two Oscar nominations: one for costumes, the other for make up.

There was disappointment for Gianfranco Rosi whose film Notturno had been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination but failed to make the final cut.

• Pinocchio in Italian cinemas for Christmas

News of Italy's Oscar hopes came a week after the announcement that the Oscar-winning Italian actress Sophia Loren is to be honoured by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The long-awaited Los Angeles venue, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, is set to open in late September after numerous delays due to the covid-19 crisis.

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A talking point this year is the Oscar nomination of two women directors for the first time in almost a century of the Academy Awards.

They are Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell, respectively for Nomadland and Promising Young Woman.

• Sophia Loren to get award from Oscar Academy Museum

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who died prematurely of cancer last year, has earned a posthumous Oscar nomination for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

• Lady Gaga starts filming Gucci movie in Italy

The 93rd edition of the Oscars award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Hollywood on 25 April.