The Oscars celebrate the best films available in theaters and on streaming platforms. This year marks the 95th edition, and it arrives with more than a few surprises, turning many expectations on their heads. Everything Everywhere All at Once leads the pack with a record number of nominations across the key categories in American cinema.
The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Jimmy Kimmel set to host. This year’s ceremony aims to move past the controversy that followed last year’s incident and to focus on film excellence. In a move to streamline the broadcast, certain categories were announced for removal from the live telecast, including best documentary, best editing, best makeup and hair, best production design, best sound, best animated short, and best original score.
How many categories are there in the Oscars?
There has been a shift in category presentation this year. The wind of change also touched the international scene, as notable outcomes occurred with new voices earning recognition. One notable achievement was Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sánchez winning best animated short for The Windshield Wiper, a moment that sparked strong reactions from industry groups who urged quiet participation or abstention from the ceremony in protest of certain voting and invitation decisions.
In this edition, the Oscars recognize 23 categories overall. The red carpet unfolds in anticipation while guests remain poised for a night of announcements at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The broadcast then moves into a recap of winners and reactions as the awards conclude. The organizers had previously signaled plans in 2018 to move some technical awards off the live telecast, a plan that did not persist after feedback from the cinema community. Other major awards shows, like the Grammys and the Latin Grammys, opt for most technical honors at nontelevised ceremonies, though their category counts are substantially larger to reflect the scope of the musical arts. Across 23 Oscar categories, this ceremony highlights a broad spectrum of achievement in film.