This summer, when her film “The Hurt Locker” was just beginning to make waves, alum Kathryn Bigelow (SOA ‘81) discussed the gender gap in cinema with the Spectator: “If the politics of gender are at work, I am not dignifying them or acquiescing to them—I’m just moving forward at what seems right.” Bigelow, whose film was nominated for an impressive 9 golden statues this morning,  is certainly moving forward — if she wins Best Director during this year’s telecast, she will be the first woman to ever win the statue.

The Hurt Locker, which follows an explosives tech squad in war-torn Iraq whose main goal is to deactivate enemy bombs, has been shocking and exciting audiences since its summer release, and hasn’t let go of the critics’ hearts since. Aside from the directing honor, The Hurt Locker has been nominated for Best Picture, Actor (the fantastically understated Jeremy Renner), Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Score, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

Her road to the nomination has been long, but since her win at the Director’s Guild Awards last week, her position as a front runner has been solidified. Other nominees in the category, one of the most diverse Best Director spreads to date, include Lee Daniels (Precious), Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air), and her Na’avi-obsessed ex-husband James Cameron (Avatar).

Watch the telecast March 7th at 8pm, on ABC to see if Bigelow’s critically applauded film is truly the Best, and if Bigelow herself can make history.