Chloe Zhao makes Oscars history as first Asian woman to win best director

Chinese-born filmmaker Zhao is only the second woman to win the award in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards. Photo: AFP

Chinese-born filmmaker Chloe Zhao, who told the story of financially stretched van dwellers in U.S. recession-era tale Nomadland, became the first Asian woman and second woman ever to win best director at the Academy Awards.

It was the first Oscar for Zhao, 39, who featured real-life nomads alongside actress Frances McDormand to show the lives of older Americans who travel from job to job to try and scrape together a living.