The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the shortlists for ten different categories for the upcoming Oscars ceremony, showing strong competition among this year’s film releases.
Leading the pack is Emilia Pérez, which bagged six mentions across various categories including makeup, sound, original score, and international feature. The film not only excelled with technical categories but is also likely to shine with its original songs, "El Mal" and "Mi Camino." Meanwhile, Wicked, from Universal Pictures, followed closely with four nominations.
The Academy has made it clear what films will advance during this preliminary voting phase, which includes categories such as animated short films, live action short films, and documentary features.
Regarding the Documentary Feature Film category, fifteen films emerged as contenders from the initial pool of 169 eligible entries. Some notable films advancing are:
- The Bibi Files
- Daughters
- Hollywoodgate
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
- Porcelain War
- Union
The Documentary Short Film category also saw fifteen films progress from 104 entries:
- Chasing Roo
- Eternal Father
- The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Planetwalker
- Until He’s Back
Meanwhile, International Feature Film is one of the most competitive areas, with films from 85 different countries considered. The shortlisted films include:
- Brazil, I’m Still Here
- France, Emilia Pérez
- Iceland, Touch
- United Kingdom, Santosh
- Senegal, Dahomey
For the Makeup and Hairstyling category, members will review excerpts from:
- Dune: Part Two
- Maria
- Wicked
The Music (Original Score) category sees twenty scores moving forward, with notable mentions such as:
- Inside Out 2
- Wicked
- Emilia Pérez
Fifteen songs will also be competing for Music (Original Song), with entries like:
- El Mal from Emilia Pérez
- Winter Coat from Blitz
- Never Too Late from Elton John: Never Too Late
For the Animated Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories, both see fifteen titles shortlisted with the leaders including:
- Au Revoir Mon Monde
- Crust
- Edge of Space
Ten films remain vying for the prestigious Sound category:
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Dune: Part Two
- Wicked
Finally, the shortlist for Visual Effects includes contenders engaging audiences across categories:
- Gladiator II
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- Twisters
Nominations voting opens from January 8 to January 12, 2025, with the final nominations for the 97th Academy Awards being announced on January 17, 2025. The ceremony itself is scheduled for March 2, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, and will be broadcasted live on ABC. Fans around the globe will also have access through streaming on Hulu, ensuring the year’s biggest night in film can be viewed by millions.
