This image released by Neon shows Woo-sik Choi, from left, Kang-ho Song, Hye-jin Jang and So-dam Park in a scene from "Parasite." (PHOTO / NEON VIA AP)

SEOUL/LOS ANGELES — Parasite director Bong Joon-ho said he was surprised and overjoyed when the film won six Oscar nominations on Monday, a historic first for South Korea’s film industry and a sign that language is no longer a barrier to global success.

We can say that thanks to the internet, social media & these streaming services, the entire society is experiencing less of these language barriers & perhaps 'Parasite' benefited from that global trend.

Bong Joon-ho, film director

Psychological thriller film Joker led the race for the with 11 nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday.

Parasite, a dark comedy about the vast gap between the rich and poor in South Korea, snagged a coveted best picture nomination, best director for Bong, and best screenplay in addition to its best international feature nomination.

“Every time they announced the new nominations, it was so thrilling, because we didn’t really anticipate any of this,” Bong told Reuters Television in an interview in California.

Bong had previously discussed the challenges of international films breaking the “language barrier” around the world, but said the nominations suggest those barriers may now be falling.

“We can say that thanks to the internet, social media and these streaming services, the entire society is experiencing less of these language barriers and perhaps Parasite benefited from that global trend,” he said.

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Bong Joon Ho, winner of the award for best director for "Parasite", poses in the press room at the 25th annual Critics' Choice Awards, Jan 12, 2020, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, USA. (RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP)

Based on DC Comics characters, Joker is directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. The highest-grossing R-rated film ever follows the devolution of Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill failed stand-up comedian who turns into the killer-clown Joker. The film has been a subject of significant controversy in the United States since it premiered at the Venice and Toronto film festivals last year.

Joker picked up nominations across a series of major categories, including best picture, best actor for Phoenix and best director for Phillips.

Three films were close behind Joker with 10 nominations each: mob drama The Irishman, World War I epic 1917 and comedy drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Joker." (NIKO TAVERNISE / WARNER BROS PICTURES VIA AP)

Parasite, the first South Korean film winning the coveted Palme d'Or at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival last year, is a favorite this Hollywood awards season. It's the first South Korean film nominated for best international feature film Oscar and the sixth film ever to be nominated for both best picture and international feature film. Parasite will compete against Corpus Christi(Poland), Honeyland (North Macedonia), Les Miserables (France) and Pain and Glory (Spain) in the best international feature film category.

Kwak Shin-ae, the CEO of the production company, Barunson E&A, said she was delighted by the first Oscar best picture nomination for a South Korean film but disappointed Song Kang-ho did not get a nod for an acting category despite the crucial role he played in the film.

“Being nominated for more than just the foreign language film category is meaningful because it means the film transcended language and nationally to communicate in the universal language of cinema,” she said.

South Koreans, many of whom have watched the movie more than once, were also proud to share the honor.

Along with Parasite, coming-of-age period drama Little Women, comedy drama Marriage Story and comedy drama Jojo Rabbit, earned six nods respectively.Phillips, Sam Mendes (1917),  Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) were nominated for the Best director award. No female director was nominated in the category once again.

The best actor race is very competitive. Phoenix is widely seen as the front runner after he won his second Golden Globe for best actor at the 77th Golden Globe Awards earlier this month for his portrayal of the killer-clown Joker. He will compete against Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Adam Driver (Marriage Story) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes).

This image released by Universal Pictures shows George MacKay, center, in a scene from "1917," directed by Sam Mendes. (FRANÇOIS DUHAMEL / UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP)

Battle for best actress will be among Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story), Saoirse Ronan (Little Women), Charlize Theron (Bombshell) and Renee Zellweger (Judy). Erivo is the only woman of color nominated for an acting Oscar this year while Zellweger is widely considered a favorite after she took home her fourth Golden Globe for best actress earlier this month.

READ MORE: 'Joker' leads BAFTA nominations with 11 nods

Both Al Pacino and Joe Pesci were nominated for best supporting actor award for The Irishman. They will face off against Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes) and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).

Laura Dern walked away with the award for best supporting actress for her role in "Marriage Story" at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. She will compete against Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell), Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit), Florence Pugh (Little Women) and Margot Robbie (Bombshell) for the best supporting actress Oscar.