The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled its shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the potential nominees vying for Oscars glory. These shortlists, encompassing ten crucial categories, serve as a vital barometer of which films are garnering momentum in the awards race ahead of the official nominations announcement in January and the grand ceremony in March. French crime musical “Emilia Pérez” emerged as an early frontrunner, securing a remarkable six shortlist mentions, while the highly anticipated “Wicked” trailed closely behind with four. This initial stage of the Oscar race highlights films gaining traction and sets the stage for potential surprises and snubs as the competition intensifies.
“Emilia Pérez” dominated the shortlists, appearing in International Feature Film (as France’s official submission), Original Score, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, and boasting two Original Song contenders. This strong showing signals the film’s broad appeal and technical prowess, positioning it as a strong Oscar contender. “Wicked,” with its four mentions, also solidified its position as a major player in the upcoming awards season. Several other films earned three shortlist mentions, including “Dune: Part Two,” “Alien: Romulus,” “Gladiator II,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Blitz,” suggesting a robust and competitive field of contenders vying for recognition across various categories.
The Academy’s shortlist process serves as a crucial winnowing stage, narrowing down the pool of eligible contenders in specific categories before the final nominations are revealed. The shortlists cover a wide array of technical and artistic achievements, including Visual Effects, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Original Song, Sound, Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, and International Feature Film. These shortlists offer valuable insights into which films are resonating with Academy members and generating buzz within the industry.
While the shortlists provide a preview of potential nominees in certain categories, it’s important to note that major categories such as Best Picture, acting, screenplay, and directing do not have a shortlist phase. For these categories, Academy members vote directly from the complete list of eligible submissions, making the eventual nominations announcement all the more anticipated. The absence of shortlists for these prominent categories adds an element of suspense and unpredictability to the awards race, leaving room for both established favorites and unexpected dark horses to emerge as nominees.
The shortlists often serve as early indicators of which films are gaining momentum and which might fall short of expectations. A strong showing on the shortlists can suggest a film’s broad appeal and potential for multiple nominations, while a snub can signal a lack of support or a challenging path to an Oscar nomination. However, the shortlists are not always a perfect predictor of eventual success. Last year, “Barbie” led the shortlists with five mentions but ultimately secured only one win out of eight nominations, while “Oppenheimer,” despite fewer shortlist mentions, garnered seven wins from thirteen nominations. These cases demonstrate that the shortlists, while informative, are not definitive and that the Oscar race remains unpredictable until the final awards are presented.
The Academy Awards journey continues with the highly anticipated nominations announcement on January 17th, followed by the grand ceremony airing on ABC and Hulu on March 2nd. However, the awards season calendar is packed with other prestigious events that will influence the Oscar race. The Golden Globes, held on January 5th, and the Critics Choice Awards on January 12th, will provide further insights into which films are capturing the attention of critics and industry professionals. The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), with their longlists, nominations, and awards ceremony throughout January and February, will also play a significant role in shaping the narrative of the awards season. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, honoring outstanding performances in film and television, will contribute to the overall momentum leading up to the Oscars. These precursor awards ceremonies offer valuable opportunities for films to garner recognition and build momentum as they vie for the coveted Oscar statuette.
