Despite the debate over whether the big show should go on amid the devastation in Los Angeles from the wildfires, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pressed ahead and the Academy Award nominees for 2025 were announced on Jan. 23.
The Oscar nominations were originally set to take place on Jan. 17, but they were postponed twice due to the Los Angeles County wildfires. A series of fires broke out beginning on Jan. 7, leaving at least 27 people dead and destroying more than 16,000 structures. Many productions and events were postponed or canceled.
While some actors, including Jean Smart, called for awards season to be canceled, with networks donating to fire victims instead, the Academy announced that the show would go on. Many people in the industry expressed the importance of getting back to work.
Rachel Sennott (Saturday Night, Shiva Baby) and Bowen Yang (Wicked, Saturday Night Live) helmed the early morning nominations ceremony at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, to announce the 23 categories. The presentation was livestreamed on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s social media accounts, and aired on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Emilia Pérez led with the most nominations, 13, including Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard) Best Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón) and Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña). That was followed by The Brutalist and Wicked, which both had 10 nominations.
At the top of the show, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang acknowledged that it had been a difficult time amid the wildfires.
“During this year’s ceremony, we will honor the talented filmmakers nominated today, pay tribute to our brave first responders and celebrate the enduring spirit of Los Angeles and the film industry,” Kramer said.
The show is set to take place on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Conan O’Brien will host.
And the nominees are…
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Best Director
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
Animated Feature Film
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Production Design
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Wicked
Costume Design
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu
Wicked
Cinematography
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Film Editing
Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Makeup and Hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance
Wicked
Sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Music (Original Song)
“El Mal” from Emilia Pérez
“The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight
“Like A Bird” from Sing Sing
“Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez
“Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late
Music (Original Score)
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Documentary Feature Film
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane
International Feature Film
I’m Still Here (Brazil)
The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
Emilia Pérez (France)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Flow (Latvia)
Animated Short Film
Beautiful Men
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Documentary Short Film
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Live Action Short Film
Anuja
I’m Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
A Lien
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
In December, the shortlist of Oscar contenders was revealed. Emilia Pérez led the films with potential nominations in six categories, while Wicked had four.
The 97th Oscars will air on Sunday, March 2, on ABC and Hulu.
