LOS ANGELES: The 2025 Academy Award nominations were officially unveiled, concluding a delay caused by the devastating wildfires across southern California.
Despite ongoing wildfires, including the recent Hughes Fire in the north of Los Angeles, the nominations proceeded as planned on Thursday.
Leading the charge this year is the experimental Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez, which broke records with 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Transgender representation in acting
In a groundbreaking moment, Emilia Perez’s lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon has become the first transgender woman ever to be nominated in the Best Actress category.
Gascon's performance, portraying a cartel boss who undergoes gender-affirming surgery and reinvents herself as a humanitarian, has resonated deeply with both critics and audiences alike. This nomination makes history, further underlining the growing inclusivity within the Academy.
Hot contenders in the Acting categories
The Best Actress category is set to be fiercely competitive. Gascon faces stiff competition from Cynthia Erivo of Wicked, Mikey Madison of Anora, and Demi Moore of The Substance. Meanwhile, Fernanda Torres of I’m Still Here and Emilia Perez’s Zoe Saldana are also in the mix for recognition in the supporting actress category.
In the Best Actor category, newcomers such as Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of Donald Trump in The Apprentice stand out alongside seasoned performers like Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing). Supporting Actor nominations are equally strong, with Yura Borisov (Anora) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) among the frontrunners.
Top films in the running for Best Picture
This year’s Best Picture race sees a diverse collection of films vying for the prestigious title. Emilia Perez stands tall with 13 nominations, closely followed by The Brutalist and Wicked, both of which scored 10 nominations. Other notable films competing for Best Picture include Conclave, A Complete Unknown, Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Anora, and I’m Still Here.
Nominations breakdown:
Best Director: The list of nominees includes Sean Baker for Anora, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, Jacques Audiard for Emilia Perez, Coralie Fargeat for The Substance, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
Best Supporting Actor: Yura Borisov (Anora), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice).
Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).
Best Supporting Actress: Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez).
Best Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay
The Original Screenplay nominations include Anora, The Brutalist, A Real Pain, September 5, and The Substance. Adapted Screenplay contenders include A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing.
International and Animated Features
This year's Best International Feature Film category includes films like I’m Still Here (Brazil), The Girl with the Needle (Denmark), Emilia Perez (France), The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), and Flow (Latvia).
Meanwhile, the Best Animated Feature nominees include Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and The Wild Robot.
Key Film craft nominations
The cinematography category is packed with talent, including The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Maria, and Nosferatu. Meanwhile, Costume Design sees nominations for A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Gladiator II, Nosferatu, and Wicked.
Music, Sound, and Visual Effects
Music enthusiasts will be watching the Original Score category closely, with nominations for The Brutalist, Conclave, Emilia Perez, Wicked, and The Wild Robot. The Best Original Song category is equally diverse, featuring songs like "El Mal" from Emilia Perez, "The Journey" from The Six Triple Eight, "Like a Bird" from Sing Sing, "Mi Camino" from Emilia Perez, and "Never Too Late" from Elton John: Never Too Late.
In terms of sound, A Complete Unknown, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Wicked, and The Wild Robot are among the nominees. The Visual Effects category includes Alien: Romulus, Better Man, Dune: Part Two, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Wicked.
Documentary and Short Film categories
The Best Documentary Feature Film category includes films like Black Box Diaries, No Other Land, Porcelain War, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, and Sugarcane. For Best Documentary Short Film, the nominees are Death by Numbers, I Am Ready, Warden, Incident, Instruments of a Beating Heart, and The Only Girl in the Orchestra.
Best Short Films and more
For Best Live Action Short Film, the nominees include Alien, Anuja, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, and The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. The Best Animated Short Film category sees films like Beautiful Men, In the Shadow of the Cypress, Magic Candies, Wander to Wonder, and Yuck! competing for the award.