This outcome did not unfold as hoped for Spain. On this occasion, neither Juan Antonio Bayona nor Pablo Berger managed to secure an Oscar for their efforts. The Snow Society did not triumph in either of its two categories, while Interest claimed the best international feature award in the 2024 ceremony, and Poor Creatures earned recognition for best makeup and hairstyling. Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron did not win the award for best animated feature, and Robot Dreams did not secure a win either. [Citation: Academy Awards 2024 overview]
British director Jonathan Glazer’s film The Zone of Interest took home the best international feature Oscar. The Snow Society, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, represented Spain in this category. [Citation: Oscar results summary]
Glazer remarked after receiving the award, noting that the film contends with dehumanization and its capacity to reveal the worst facets of humanity across past and present events. He referenced the broad scope of violence by highlighting victims of the October 7 Hamas attack and the ongoing Gaza conflict, and he posed a question about resistance in the face of such dehumanization. [Citation: Oscar acceptance excerpts]
Oppenheimer earns the Oscar
The World War II-era narrative The Oppenheimer story joined a competitive field that included Matteo Garrone’s Italian film I Captain, Wim Wenders’s Japanese entry Perfect Days, and İlker Çatak’s German production Teachers’ Room. The film ultimately claimed the award for best picture, signaling a milestone for the storytelling approach it employed in exploring monumental themes. [Citation: Awards recap]
Despite its prominence, Oppenheimer did not win in the makeup and hairstyling category. The makeup and hairstyling team behind The Snow Society—Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí, and Montse Ribé—also contributed to Poor Creatures, as well as Golda, Maestro, and Oppenheimer, underscoring the shared craft across several nominated works. [Citation: Makeup and hair details]
Berger, unrewarded
Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams saw its bid for the best animated feature fall short when The Boy and the Heron secured the prize. The competition in this category also included Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, and Nimona. [Citation: Animated feature results]
First Oscar for Christopher Nolan, director of Oppenheimer: a figure known for pursuing near-impossible tasks
Miyazaki did not attend the premiere, with collaborators explaining that he planned a break after finishing work on the film. The Boy and the Heron follows the story of a 12-year-old orphan who, after moving to a new city, discovers a portal to another dimension and encounters a talking heron that helps him connect with his mother. The film stands as the second non-English-language entry to win the best animated feature award in Oscar history, following Spirited Away (2001), also directed by Miyazaki. [Citation: Film synopsis and historical note]