Oscar season spotlight shifts to 96th ceremony and the running for best picture
The forthcoming 96th Academy Awards will reveal its nominated projects and honorees this week, forecasting a dramatic battle among the year’s most talked-about films. Pundits in North America expect Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer to top the nomination counts, shaping the tone of the evening as it unfolds across multiple platforms. The Academy’s decision process and the live telecast, which will be streamed through the organization’s official channels from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, will guide audiences through the night’s decisive moments and celebrate a wide array of cinematic achievements.
Two prominent figures, Zazie Beetz from Germany and Jack Quaid from the United States, will present the winners across 23 categories during the live ceremony. Viewers in Canada and the United States can follow the event on the Academy’s digital outlets and the ceremony’s official site, as the organization highlights the stories behind the year’s most acclaimed performances and productions. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
Oppenheimer, the film chronicling physicist Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb, has already earned a string of honors, including recognition at major awards season events. Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s imaginative exploration of Mattel’s iconic toy brand, collected a larger share of nominations across top categories, underscoring a year of bold storytelling and diverse voices in cinema. These two titles are prominently positioned for best picture, best director, and best original screenplay, while key performances from Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer and Margot Robbie in Barbie figure strongly among the best actor and actress contenders. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
Other formidable contenders have emerged from a broad slate of genre and prestige titles. Martin Scorsese’s Moon Killers, Yorgos Lanthimos’s offbeat science-fiction comedy Poor Creatures, and a slate of other feature films have captured critical and industry attention. The comedy Those Who Remain, Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, and the French drama Anatomy of a Fall are also cited as strong possibilities for the best picture prize. The season’s narrative remains open, with surprises common in Oscar history, as films like Ferrari by Michael Mann and Saltburn from Emerald Fennell could alter the race in unexpected ways. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
In addition to the top prizes, veteran stars and notable performances are anticipated to be recognized. Juried acknowledgments may go to actors such as Robert De Niro for his work in Moon Killers, Robert Downey Jr. for the same film, Jodie Foster for Oppenheimer, Nyad, and Julianne Moore for May December. The ceremony often balances celebration of established greatness with fresh talent, offering audiences moments that become part of the annual cinematic conversation. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
Spain and Latin America on the radar
The outlook for Hispanic and Latin American cinema at this year’s awards is cautiously optimistic, buoyed by expectations around Juan Antonio Bayona’s The Snow Society, which already secured several preliminary nominations in December. Penélope Cruz could contend for best supporting actress in Ferrari, while Pedro Almodóvar may earn recognition for a short film with Strange Lifestyle. Rodrigo Prieto, renowned for his photography work, is among the favorites for best cinematography thanks to his contributions to Assassins of the Month and Barbie. Chilean filmmaker Maite Alberdi is also in the running for a documentary that has drawn critical interest. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
The 2024 awards cycle is expected to culminate with the Oscar winners announced at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony, directed by Jimmy Kimmel, will be broadcast on the ABC network and reach viewers in more than 200 territories around the world, with live coverage beginning in the evening local time and extending into the late-night hours. [Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]