The Hollywood Academy marks a milestone as Hollywood’s 95th awards ceremony unfolds in the early hours of March 13 in Spain, honoring the best of cinema. In Los Angeles, the Dolby Theatre gathers a global community of filmmakers, actors, and technicians who helped shape another year of film excellence. A clear frontrunner emerges: Everything Everywhere All at Once, a film that has sparked widespread conversation and earned its place at the top of many critics’ and fans’ lists for the year.
The film landscape features Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as the Daniels, whose independent project has drawn significant attention because of its ambition and craft. Over recent months it has racked up prestigious nominations and accolades, signaling a strong frontrunner position for the awards season while underscoring the Academy’s interest in distinctive storytelling from independent cinema.
The race includes multiple contenders with similar momentum. Ninety-something nominations for Everything Everywhere All at Once are echoed by strong showings for The Banshees of Inisherin by Martin McDonagh, and All Quiet on the Western Front by Edward Berger, each with a notable tally of nominations. Other respected contenders include Elvis by Baz Luhrmann, which holds a substantial number of nominations, and The Fabelmans by Steven Spielberg, which also commands a robust presence on the ballot. Less than far behind is Top Gun: Maverick, a blockbuster that has earned its own slate of nominations across categories.
Everything Everywhere All at Once centers on Evelyn, a Chinese American immigrant navigating a universe of possibilities as a sudden interdimensional rift reshapes reality. The film blends science fiction with intimate drama, taking viewers through a multiverse of choices and consequences that illuminate themes of family, identity, and resilience. Although the core premise is fantastical, the emotional core remains grounded in human experience and relationships, making for a narrative that resonates with diverse audiences.
In terms of recognition, the Daniels are likely contenders for Best Picture and Best Director, with acting nominations for Michelle Yeoh in Best Actress, Ke Huy Quan in Best Supporting Actor, and Jamie Lee Curtis alongside Stephanie Hsu in Best Supporting Actress. Technical categories reflect the film’s broad range of strengths, including production design, editing, costume design, soundtrack, original song, and original screenplay. The breadth of nominations underscores the film’s creative reach across the cinematic craft spectrum.
Within the broader field, Spielberg’s name is again prominent, marking his continued impact across the industry. McDonagh’s Inisherin and Berger’s interpretation of a global conflict in All Quiet on the Western Front also feature prominently, with Ruben Östlund’s The Triangle of Sadness and Todd Field’s Tár among the directors acknowledged for their distinctive visions. Other strong contenders include Avatar: The Way of Water and the enduring blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, along with several other notable titles that have sparked important conversations about filmmaking and storytelling in contemporary cinema. This mix demonstrates the Academy’s ongoing dialogue with both intimate, character-driven stories and large-scale, crowd-pleasing spectacles.
Everything Everywhere All at Once has been celebrated for its inventive approach and performance-led storytelling, with Evelyn’s journey acting as a vehicle for exploring identity, generational dynamics, and the immigrant experience in modern America. The film’s originality, emotional depth, and creative risk-taking have helped it stand apart in a year filled with ambitious projects, contributing to its strong visibility in discussions about the best of cinema. The nominations reflect a broader appreciation for work that blends genre elements with heartfelt, character-focused storytelling, inviting audiences to engage with complex ideas through accessible, entertaining cinema.
As the ceremony approaches, analysts and fans alike anticipate a night that could crown a film that defies traditional boundaries while still delivering universal resonance. The diversity of nominees and the caliber of performances showcased across the slate suggest a memorable celebration of film that honors both bold innovation and enduring craftsmanship. The awards season continues to highlight how creative teams merge vision with execution to produce works that endure beyond the screen, sparking conversations across continents and cultures, including audiences in Canada and the United States who follow every development with keen interest. At the end of the night, the winners will add another chapter to the evolving story of contemporary cinema, a story that remains deeply rooted in shared human experiences and the power of storytelling to connect people around the world.