The highly anticipated 2025 Oscars ceremony is here, bringing excitement and tension as Hollywood prepares to honor its cinematic finest. Today, March 2, 2025, marks the 97th Academy Awards, and all eyes are turned to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles where the winners of this year’s prestigious awards will be revealed. Given the recent devastating wildfires impacting the state, the announcement of the nominations was delayed from its initial January 17 date to January 23.
This year, the ceremony will witness Conan O'Brien stepping up as host, promising to infuse humor and charm to the event. Among the films vying for the coveted title of Best Picture, Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez holds the lead with an impressive 13 nominations. Following closely are Wicked and The Brutalist, each garnering 10 nominations. Remarkably, if Emilia Pérez triumphs, it will be recognized as the non-English film with the most nominations ever, surpassing earlier titles like Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, both of which had reached 10 nominations.
Despite its accomplishments, Emilia Pérez hasn’t been without controversy. Lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón found herself under scrutiny due to past tweets containing discriminatory sentiments against various groups, including Islam and the Chinese community, along with provocative comments about George Floyd and the Oscars themselves. Although Gascón has issued public apologies, the backlash prompted Netflix to withdraw their promotional support for the film initially, eliminating her promotional posters and halting expenses related to her presence. Fortunately, the situation has normalized, allowing Gascón to attend the ceremony, with Netflix eventually covering her costs. A potential win for Gascón would mark her as the first transgender actress to take home the Oscar.
Anticipation runs high as predictions for this year’s winners circulate among movie-goers and analysts alike. The Oscar broadcast can be seen live on Rai 1 and streaming on Rai Play, with red carpet coverage kicking off at 11:30 PM Italian time, followed by the main event starting at 1 AM. This year's festivities are marked by uncertainty and fierce competition, sparking debates on potential frontrunners.
Anora, directed by Sean Baker, is regarded as the odds-on favorite to capture three of the prestigious Big Five Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Such achievement would mean the record of winning all five major categories (Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Lead Actor, and Lead Actress), which last happened with The Silence of the Lambs back in 1992, remains unbroken this year. Unlike previous years, there isn't one dominant film across the board, which adds intrigue.
After numerous awards, Anora offers compelling narratives and strong performances, pushing other competitors like The Brutalist and its lead Adrien Brody to also be heavyweights, possibly taking home awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score as well.
But what about Emilia Pérez? Early momentum had suggested strong showings, yet the controversies surrounding Gascón seem to have clouded its prospects. Currently, the film is expected to win only one Oscar—likely for Zoe Saldaña's performance—while also competing for Best Song with El Mal, sung by Saldaña herself. With the competition so tight, the International Feature award had also recently shifted from Emilia Pérez to I'm Still Here, Walter Salles' touching Brazilian film, which continues to gain traction.
The Best Picture race poses the most thrills, with Anora and Conclave leading the charge. While audiences might favor one over the other based on personal taste, industry buzz heavily weighs toward Baker’s tale of modern struggle mixed with romance. Meanwhile, Conclave’s adept storytelling resonates deeply, adding to the excitement. Jacqueline Coley from Rotten Tomatoes aptly states, “This one could go down to the wire—if Conclave doesn’t clinch it, Anora will surely take the prize.”
Further complicity lies in the awards around directing, where Baker and Brady Corbet seem poised for contention, each bringing exceptional narratives to the forefront. Both have won numerous preliminary awards including the DGA and PGA, yet there’s always the chance for surprise winners. Likewise, All eyes are on the screenplay categories with Conclave considered the sure bet for Best Adapted Screenplay, but the competition for Best Original, with titles like Anora and A Real Pain battling it out, leaves room for suspense.
This year also sees nominations widening, with standout performances from Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin expected for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. Their prior wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAS, and SAG awards bolster their chances for triumph.
Just hours before the curtain rises, anticipation melds with speculation—encouraging fans and observers alike to join the conversation. While predictions run firm based on previous wins, the unpredictability of events ensures sharp debates among fans. Who will claim the coveted statues tonight? Will Anora or Conclave emerge victorious? Each year the Oscars bring uncertainties and surprises, adding to the allure of Hollywood’s biggest night.
The winding stories and emotional investments lead audiences directly to the heart of cinema, offering layers of experiences intertwined across genres, personalities and histories. The 97th Academy Awards promises to uphold these traditions, reminding everyone why they cherish the magic of film.