Key Takeaways
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released shortlists for 12 categories, including best song, score, international and documentary film, cinematography, and casting.
- "Sinners" and "Wicked: For Good" received the most shortlist mentions with eight each, including makeup and hair, sound, visual effects, score, casting, and cinematography.
- The shortlists will narrow to five when final nominations are announced on January 22, and the 98th Oscars will air live on ABC on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET.
- Notable films and artists that made the shortlists include "KPop Demon Hunters," Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Miley Cyrus.
- The new award for casting shortlisted 10 films, including "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," and "Wicked: For Good."
Introduction to the Oscars Shortlists
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken a significant step towards the 98th Oscars by releasing shortlists for 12 categories. These categories include best song, score, international and documentary film, cinematography, and the new prize for casting. The shortlists are a crucial part of the Oscar nomination process, as they narrow down the pool of eligible films and artists to a more manageable number. The lists will eventually be whittled down to five nominees in each category, which will be announced on January 22. The 98th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on ABC on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET.
Notable Films and Artists
Some of the most notable films and artists that made the shortlists include "Sinners" and "Wicked: For Good," which received eight shortlist mentions each. These films were recognized in categories such as makeup and hair, sound, visual effects, score, casting, and cinematography. Both films also had two original songs advance to the next round, with "Wicked: For Good" featuring Stephen Schwartz’s "The Girl in the Bubble" and "No Place Like Home," and "Sinners" featuring Ludwig Göransson, Miles Caton, and Alice Smith’s "Last Time (I Seen the Sun)" and Göransson and Raphael Saadiq’s "I Lied to You." Other notable artists who made the shortlists include Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner for "Train Dreams," John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Blake Slatkin for the "F1" song "Drive," and Miley Cyrus, Simon Franglen, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt for "Dream as One" from "Avatar: Fire and Ash."
International Feature Films
The best international feature category is one of the most highly anticipated and competitive categories in the Oscars. This year, 15 films were shortlisted, including "Sentimental Value" (Norway), "Sirât" (Spain), "No Other Choice" (South Korea), "The Secret Agent" (Brazil), "It Was Just an Accident" (France), "The Voice of Hind Rajab" (Tunisia), "Sound of Falling" (Germany), and "The President’s Cake" (Iraq). These films represent some of the best cinema from around the world and will compete for one of the five nomination slots in this category.
Documentary Films
The documentary film category is another highly competitive category, with 15 films shortlisted this year. Some of the notable documentaries that made the cut include "My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow," "The Perfect Neighbor," "The Alabama Solution," "Come See Me in the Good Light," "Cover-Up," and Mstyslav Chernov’s "2000 Meters to Andriivka," a co-production between The Associated Press and PBS Frontline. These documentaries tackle a range of topics and issues, from social justice to environmental concerns, and will compete for one of the five nomination slots in this category.
Casting and Score
The new award for casting has shortlisted 10 films, including "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," "One Battle After Another," "The Secret Agent," "Sentimental Value," "Sinners," "Sirāt," "Weapons," and "Wicked: For Good." Notably, "Jay Kelly" and "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" did not make the list. The best score category has also shortlisted some notable composers, including Ludwig Göransson for "Sinners," Johnny Greenwood for "One Battle After Another," Max Richter for "Hamnet," Alexandre Desplat for "Frankenstein," and Kangding Ray for "Sirāt."
Conclusion and Next Steps
The release of the shortlists marks an important milestone in the Oscar nomination process. The lists will narrow to five when final nominations are announced on January 22, and the 98th Oscars will air live on ABC on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET. As the competition heats up, film fans and industry professionals alike will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the final nominees and the eventual winners. With a range of talented films and artists in the running, this year’s Oscars are shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable event.