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Oscar nominations set to unveil today
The Academy Awards nominations will be announced at 13:30 GMT, with Leonardo DiCaprio's political thriller One Battle After Another tipped as the frontrunner. Comedian Conan O'Brien will host this year's ceremony on 15 March.
Top contenders and snubs
One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is expected to lead the nominations after a strong awards season showing. The film, which follows a former revolutionary rescuing his daughter from a white supremacist group, could secure nods for DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro.
Horror film Sinners is also in contention, with British actress Wunmi Mosaku among the few UK hopefuls. Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are predicted to secure nominations for their roles in Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's novel.
Other films likely to feature prominently include Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Bugonia, and The Secret Agent.
Blockbusters fall short
Despite strong box office performances, sequels Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ash are expected to receive fewer nominations than their predecessors. Director James Cameron dismissed Oscar campaigning, stating, "You can play the awards game, or you can play the game I like to play and that's to make movies people actually go to."
British and Irish talent in focus
This year marks a weaker showing for British actors, with only Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) considered a serious contender. If no UK actors secure nominations, it will be the first time since 1986 that Britain is absent from the acting categories.
In contrast, Irish talent is thriving. Jessie Buckley is the favourite for Best Actress for Hamnet, while Paul Mescal is likely to earn a supporting actor nomination.
First-time nominees and veteran hopefuls
Several actors could receive their first Oscar nominations, including Chase Infiniti (25), Elle Fanning (27), and Jacob Elordi (28). Established stars like Rose Byrne (46), Wagner Moura (49), and Stellan Skarsgård (74) are also in the running after never being nominated before.
Adam Sandler, a Razzie regular with nine wins, could earn his first Academy nod for Jay Kelly, reflecting his late-career reinvention. Other veterans like Kate Hudson and Benicio Del Toro are also hoping for recognition.
New categories and rule changes
The Academy is introducing a Best Casting award this year, with frontrunners like One Battle After Another expected to feature. From 2028, a Best Stunt Design category will be added, following the Actor Awards (formerly SAG).
To address concerns over voters not watching all nominated films, the Academy will require members to either stream films on its platform or provide details of cinema screenings they attended. Enforcement remains uncertain.
Animated and musical categories
Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film about a girl group battling demons, is the frontrunner for Best Animated Feature, surpassing Zootopia 2. Its original song Golden is also expected to win in the Best Original Song category.
How to watch the nominations
The nominations will be announced by Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) and Lewis Pullman (Thunderbolts, Top Gun: Maverick) over a 20-minute broadcast starting at 13:30 GMT. The event will stream live on the Academy's website, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, as well as the BBC News website.
