Oscar Nominations Announced:The Brutalist ‘Emilia Pérez’ leads the nominations with 13, followed by ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Wicked’ with 10 apiece.

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Oscar Nominations Announced: Diverse and Bold Choices Take Center Stage

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 97th Oscars, highlighting films with bold themes and diverse stories. Among the top contenders are “Emilia Pérez”, a musical about trans identity, and “The Brutalist”, a deep look at immigrant struggles and antisemitism. These films received 13 and 10 nominations respectively, with “Emilia Pérez” earning the most nods this year.

Top Contenders and Surprises
While big-budget films like “Wicked” also performed well with 10 nominations, it missed key categories like Best Director and Screenplay. The Best Picture category includes a mix of genres, such as:

  • “Conclave”: A Vatican thriller about identity politics.
  • “The Substance”: A feminist body-horror film.
  • “Nickel Boys”: A historical drama about a racist reform school.
  • “Anora”: A Cinderella-like story of a sex worker and a wealthy Russian heir.
  • “I’m Still Here”: A Brazilian family drama.
  • “A Complete Unknown”: A Bob Dylan biopic.
    Blockbusters like “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two” also made the list.

First-Time Nominees Shine
This year, 13 of the 20 acting nominees are first-timers, showcasing the academy’s ongoing efforts to include diverse voices. Notable nominees include:

  • Best Actor: Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), and Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”).
  • Best Actress: Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), and Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”), the first openly trans actress to earn an Oscar nomination.
  • Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”) and Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice”).
  • Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (“Emilia Pérez”) and Ariana Grande (“Wicked”).

Diversity in Direction
In the Best Director category, nominees include Sean Baker (“Anora”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), and Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”). Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”) became only the 10th woman to receive a Best Director nomination.

Netflix and A24 Lead the Way
Netflix had a strong showing with 16 nominations, including a record-breaking 13 for “Emilia Pérez.” A24 also performed well with films like “The Brutalist.”

The Ceremony and Challenges
This year’s Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on March 2. The show has been adjusted to reflect recent challenges, such as wildfires in Los Angeles County, with plans to tone down live performances and include tributes to those affected.

To attract younger audiences, the Oscars will stream online for the first time via Hulu, in addition to ABC’s broadcast. Last year’s viewership was 20 million, significantly lower than peaks in past years. The academy hopes these changes will make the event more appealing and relevant.

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