The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning, January 25, 2025, by comedians Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Los Angeles. This year's announcement came after two delays caused by severe wildfires affecting the area, underscoring the importance of community resilience during challenging times.
Leading the nominations is Emilia Pérez, which made history with 13 nominations, marking it as the non-English language film with the most nods ever received by such a movie. This surpasses the previous record of ten nominations held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Roma (2018). Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, is followed closely by The Brutalist and Wicked, each garnering ten nominations.
Among the pivotal nominations, the Academy celebrated the groundbreaking recognition of Karla Sofía Gascón, who became the first transgender performer nominated for Best Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez. The film's success continues, as it sets the stage not only for potential accolades but also for conversations around representation within the industry.
The list of Best Picture nominees is diverse and includes Anora, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, and The Substance, alongside the aforementioned titles. Each of these films has made its mark over the past year, but the competition is particularly fierce this time around due to the high caliber of storytelling and performances.
Turning to the acting categories, the race for Best Actor sees strong contenders including Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes for Conclave, and Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice. The lineup is particularly notable for featuring multiple first-time nominees, which signals exciting fresh talent making waves within Hollywood.
Meanwhile, the Best Actress category showcases Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here) competing against Gascón. Award shows often highlight first-time nominations, and this year features 13 individuals competing for their maiden Oscar nods, such as Zoe Saldaña and Ariana Grande.
On the directorial front, Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) are among the nominees, showcasing the breadth of storytelling perspectives offered this year. Each brings distinctive styles and narratives to their films, highlighting the ever-evolving craft of filmmaking.
Original screenwriting will be contested by talents like Sean Baker for Anora and Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, creating anticipation for which screenplay will be honored. The adapted screenplay category will see competition among notable adaptations, including A Complete Unknown and Conclave.
The ceremony is set for Sunday, March 2, 2025, and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, with live broadcasts available on ABC and streaming on Hulu. The Academy has also announced plans to honor frontline workers who have aided with the wildfires, underscoring their commitment to community support and recognition of resilience amid adversity.
The importance of the Oscars goes beyond simply awarding outstanding performances; it is also about fostering community spirit and recognizing those who contribute positively during difficult times. Academy President Janet Yang highlighted this, stating, "Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community" during this crisis.
With months of anticipation leading to this moment, the 2025 Academy Awards promise to be engaging not only for film lovers but also for those interested in the stories and struggles behind the nominations. This celebration of creativity, talent, and resilience will shine brightly, reflecting the heart of the film industry.