In response to the destructive wildfires that have impacted Los Angeles and affected the filmmaking community, Hollywood rallied around the Netflix musical “Emilia Pérez,” which depicts trans identity, as it received an array of prestigious Oscar nominations on Thursday.
Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” a Spanish-language film produced in France, led the nominations with a count of 13, including best picture and best actress for Karla Sofía Gascón. This noteworthy nomination makes Gascón the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Oscar. The film also earned nominations for directing, original screenplay, two of its songs, and recognized Zoe Saldaña for her performance.
Despite its influential presence in the film industry, Netflix has yet to secure a best picture award, with previous contenders like “Mank,” “The Irishman,” and “Roma” receiving multiple nominations but ultimately winning only a few accolades. However, “Emilia Pérez” could be the platform’s best opportunity to clinch the award yet. It has broken the record for the most nominations received by a non-English language film, edging past Netflix’s own “Roma,” which garnered 10 nominations. Only three films in Academy Awards history—“All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land”—have received more nominations than “Emilia Pérez.”
Another musical adaptation, “Wicked,” based on a successful Broadway show, also made a significant impact with 10 nominations, including best picture and acting nods for its leading stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Additionally, A24’s “The Brutalist,” directed by Brady Corbet, earned a robust 10 nominations, covering key categories such as best picture, best director, and acting nominations for Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones.
The best picture nominees list features: “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance,” and “Wicked.” Last year’s ceremony saw “Oppenheimer” shine; however, this year presents a more open field.
In this unpredictable Oscar season, the leading films—“Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked,” “The Brutalist,” alongside contenders “Anora” and “Conclave,” both securing eight nominations—have proven to meet expectations. Notable surprises came from the Brazilian movie “I’m Still Here,” which highlights political dissent during Brazil’s military regime, earning a best actress nomination for Fernanda Torres, and the unique perspective film “Nickel Boys” directed by RaMell Ross, which challenges the portrayal of Black life and struggles on screen.
Feeling excited about the nominations, Ross shared his thoughts after watching the announcements, stating that his film prompts essential conversations about its themes. He emphasized that the project urges audiences to articulate their feelings and encourages necessary discourse. While some anticipated nominees like “Sing Sing,” “September 5,” and “A Real Pain” faced challenges to compete in the best picture category, they fared well in other nominations.
One unexpected entry in this year’s roster is “The Apprentice,” which dramatizes the early years of former President Donald Trump, with performances by Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong earning them nominations. Trump’s negative remarks about the film’s participants made waves, with Strong acknowledging the complexity of playing such a controversial character while also expressing his joy over receiving a nomination.
In the competitive best actor category, Stan and Brody join Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), and Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”). A notable absence in the nominations is Daniel Craig, widely praised for his unconventional role in “Queer.” The best actress category brings together Demi Moore, Gascón, Torres, Erivo, and Mikey Madison from “Anora,” with the latter expressing her mixed emotions about the ongoing devastation in LA while celebrating her nomination alongside her peers.
In the directing category, Coralie Fargeat made history as the sole female nominee, competing against males such as Sean Baker, Corbet, Audiard, and James Mangold, with expectations running high for Edward Berger’s direction of “Conclave.” Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin is favored for his supporting actor nomination in “A Real Pain,” alongside Yura Borisov, Guy Pearce, Edward Norton, and Strong. Supporting actress nominations feature Grande, Saldaña, Jones, Monica Barbaro, and Isabella Rossellini.
Despite the initial plan to announce nominations on January 17, the timeline shifted as wildfires devastated various areas, prompting the academy to extend its voting period. With this in mind, the nominees’ announcement was made by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott amid ongoing challenges in the area.
The academy initially faced calls to cancel the ceremony due to the wildfires, but leaders are steadfast in their decision to move forward on March 2, framing it as a significant event for Los Angeles’ economy and resilience. They promised that this year’s awards would not only reflect recent adversities but also highlight the community’s strength and creativity.
This year, the typical awards season excitement has been notably diminished by the wildfires’ aftermath. Various traditional events, including the nominees luncheon, have been canceled or scaled back, while this year, performances of original song nominees will not take place. Conan O’Brien has stepped up to host the ceremony, as his home was spared from the fires.
The Oscar nominations occur in a year marked by numerous challenges for Hollywood, including post-strike delays and a rise in unemployment due to industry-wide disruptions. Amid a tumultuous environment, successful films like “Wicked” and several Walt Disney productions achieved commercial acclaim; however, the Oscar nominations spread across a diverse range of films, from commercially prominent to lesser-known titles.
Unlike last year’s strong consensus on a frontrunner, this year’s nominations present a more fragmented picture with at least four or five contenders—“The Brutalist,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Anora,” “Conclave,” and “Wicked”—all vying for the coveted best picture award.
