Chinese director Chloe Zhao and Fox Searchlight Co-Chairman Stephen Gilula attend the drive-in premiere of her film Nomadland on Friday in Pasadena, California. Photo: AFP

 
Chinese female director Chloe Zhao won the Golden Globe for best director in a motion picture for her feature film "Nomadland" on Sunday night, becoming the first Chinese woman and woman of Asian descent to win the trophy in the category in history.

Run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards honored the best in American television of 2020, as well as film in 2020 and early 2021.

As the first major show of this Hollywood awards season, the virtual ceremony, which was postponed for nearly two months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, took place live from both New York City and Los Angeles.