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 The anticipation is over! The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards, setting the stage for a night of glitz, glamour, and recognition of cinematic excellence.  Mark your calendars for March 3rd, 2025, as the stars descend upon the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles, for a ceremony hosted by the inimitable Conan O'Brien.

This year's nominees represent a diverse range of films, from thought-provoking dramas to groundbreaking animation, showcasing the power of storytelling in all its forms.  Let's dive into the key categories and the contenders vying for the coveted golden statuette:

Best Picture: The race for Best Picture is fierce, with ten exceptional films capturing the hearts and minds of audiences and critics alike. "Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown," "Conclave," "Dune: Part Two," "Emilia Pérez," "I'm Still Here," "Nickel Boys," "The Substance," and "Wicked" will battle it out for the top prize.

Best Director:  A quintet of visionary directors are nominated for their masterful work behind the camera. Sean Baker ("Anora"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown"), Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Pérez"), and Coralie Fargeat ("The Substance") have each delivered unique and compelling cinematic visions.

Best Leading Actor:  The Best Leading Actor category features a powerhouse lineup of talent. Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Timothée Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown"), Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave"), and Sebastian Stan ("The Apprentice") deliver captivating performances that embody the essence of their characters.

Best Leading Actress:  A diverse group of actresses are vying for the Best Leading Actress award, showcasing the depth and range of female talent in the industry. Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked"), Karla Sofía Gascón ("Emilia Pérez"), Mikey Madison ("Anora"), Demi Moore ("The Substance"), and Fernanda Torres ("I'm Still Here") deliver powerful and nuanced performances that resonate with audiences.

Best Supporting Actor and Actress: The supporting categories are equally competitive, with talented actors and actresses recognized for their contributions to the nominated films.  Yura Borisov ("Anora"), Kieran Culkin ("A Real Pain"), Edward Norton ("A Complete Unknown"), Guy Pearce ("The Brutalist"), and Jeremy Strong ("The Apprentice") are nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Monica Barbaro ("A Complete Unknown"), Ariana Grande ("Wicked"), Felicity Jones ("The Brutalist"), Isabella Rossellini ("Conclave"), and Zoe Saldaña ("Emilia Pérez") are recognized in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Music, Animation, and Visual Effects:  The Academy Awards also celebrate the artistry behind the scenes, recognizing achievements in music, animation, and visual effects.  From the enchanting scores of "Conclave," "The Brutalist," and "Emilia Pérez" to the captivating animation of "The Wild Robot" and the stunning visual effects of "Dune: Part Two" and "Wicked," these categories highlight the collaborative efforts that bring cinematic worlds to life.

Screenwriting, International Films, and Documentaries:  The awards recognize excellence in screenwriting, with nominations for both adapted and original screenplays.  International films like "I'm Still Here" (Brazil), "Emilia Pérez" (France), and "Flow" (Latvia) are celebrated for their unique perspectives and cultural contributions.  Documentaries, both feature-length and short films, shed light on important social issues and untold stories, reminding us of the power of film to educate and inspire.

Craftsmanship and Technical Categories:  The Academy Awards also acknowledge the artistry and technical expertise involved in costume design, makeup and hairstyling, film editing, sound design, and production design.  These categories recognize the meticulous work of craftspeople who contribute to the overall cinematic experience.

Here’s the list of nominees:
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 Leading Actor

•     Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
•     Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
•     Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
•     Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
•     Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Best Leading Actress

•     Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
•     Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
•     Mikey Madison – Anora
•     Demi Moore – The Substance
•     Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Actor in a Supporting Role

•     Yura Borisov – Anora
•     Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
•     Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
•     Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
•     Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Actress in a Supporting Role

•     Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
•     Ariana Grande – Wicked
•     Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
•     Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
•     Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez

Best Original Score

•     Volker Bertelman- Conclave
•     Daniel Blumberg- The Brutalist
•     Clément Ducol – Emilia Pérez
•     Kris Bowers – The Wild Robot
•     John Powell and Stephen Schwartz – Wicked

Best Animated Feature Film

•     The Wild Robot
•     Flow
•     Inside Out 2
•     Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
•     Memoir of a Snail

Best Animated Short Film

•     Beautiful Men
•     In the Shadow of the Cypress
•     Magic Candies
•     Wander to Wonder
•     Yuck!

Best Live-Action Short Film

•     A Lien
•     Anuja
•     I’m Not a Robot
•     The Last Ranger
•     The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Best Visual Effects

•     Alien: Romulus
•     Better Man
•     Dune: Part Two
•     Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
•     Wicked

Best Cinematography

•     The Brutalist
•     Dune: Part Two
•     Emilia Pérez
•     Maria
•     Nosferatu

Adapted Screenplay

•     Peter Straughan – Conclave
•     Jay Cocks and James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
•     Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield – Sing Sing
•     Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
•     RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes – Nickel Boys

Original Screenplay

•     Sean Baker – Anora
•     Jesse Eisenberg – A Real Pain
•     Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold – The Brutalist
•     Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
•     Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David – September 5

Best Original Song

•     El Mal – Emilia Pérez
•     Mi Camino -Emilia Pérez
•     Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
•     The Journey -The Six Triple Eight
•     Like a Bird – Sing Sing

Costume Design

•     A Complete Unknown
•     Conclave
•     Gladiator II
•     Nosferatu
•     Wicked

Makeup and Hairstyling

•     A Different Man
•     Emilia Pérez
•     The Substance
•     Nosferatu
•     Wicked

Documentary Feature Film

•     Black Box Diaries
•     No Other Land
•     Porcelain War
•     Sugarcane
•     Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Documentary Short Film

•     Death by Numbers
•     I Am Ready, Warden
•     Incident
•     Instruments of a Beating Heart
•     The Only Girl in the Orchestra

International Feature Film

•     Brazil, I’m Still Here
•     Denmark, The Girl With the Needle
•     France, Emilia Pérez
•     Germany, The Seed of the Sacred Fig
•     Latvia, Flow

Best Film Editing

•     Anora
•     The Brutalist
•     Conclave
•     Emilia Pérez
•     Wicked

Best Sound

•     A Complete Unknown
•     Dune: Part Two
•     Emilia Pérez
•     Wicked
•     The Wild Robot

Best Production Design

•     The Brutalist
•     Conclave
•     Dune: Part 2
•     Nosferatu
•     Wicked

The 97th Academy Awards promise a night of celebration and recognition of the year's most outstanding films and the talented individuals who bring them to life.  As we await the ceremony, the anticipation and excitement continue to build, with cinephiles around the world eager to see who will take home the coveted Oscar.