The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has finally announced the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards, following multiple delays caused by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Originally slated for January 17, the highly anticipated nominations were revealed during a live-streamed event on January 23 by actor-writer-comedians Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang. This year’s Oscars ceremony is set to take place on March 2 at the iconic Dolby Theatre and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, who personally felt the impact of the wildfires, having lost his Pacific Palisades home in the disaster.
At the forefront of the nominations is Emilia Pérez, which has emerged as a leading contender with a remarkable 13 nominations across multiple categories, including Best Picture and Best Director for Jacques Audiard. The musical adaptation Wicked and the architectural drama The Brutalist follow closely with ten nominations each. Among the significant highlights, the Indian-backed short film Anuja, supported by Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga, and Mindy Kaling, earned a nomination in the Best Live Action Short Film category, marking a proud moment for South Asian cinema.
The Best Picture category features a competitive lineup of films, ranging from the biographical drama A Complete Unknown and Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune: Part Two, to Sean Baker’s emotional drama Anora and the highly anticipated Wicked. In the Best Director category, notable nominees include Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, and Coralie Fargeat for her work on The Substance. Performances were also celebrated, with Adrian Brody (The Brutalist) and Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) earning nominations in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories, respectively.
Technical achievements have also been spotlighted, with Dune: Part Two, Nosferatu, and Wicked receiving nods in categories like Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Production Design. Music has a prominent presence this year as well, with songs such as “El Mal” and “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez vying for Best Original Song alongside tracks from Sing Sing and Elton John: Never Too Late.
This year’s nominations reflect a diverse mix of genres and themes, from the introspective drama Nickel Boys to the imaginative animated feature The Wild Robot. Documentaries like Black Box Diaries and Soundtrack to a Coup d’État also stand out in the Best Documentary Feature category, showcasing the Academy’s continued recognition of non-fiction storytelling.
The wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in recent weeks have cast a somber shadow over this year’s awards season, but they have also highlighted the resilience of the entertainment industry. As the Oscars approach, the focus will remain on celebrating creativity, storytelling, and artistic excellence, even in the face of adversity.
