Yesterday, the Academy announced shortlists for a handful of their categories. A few years ago, we only received the benchmark nominations for a couple of categories, but last year they expanded the field. This change has already proven to be a positive. For prognosticators, we get a better sense of which films are actually competing for nominations. For the industry, they can see which films are clicking into place. The result is a win-win for everyone, and it gives us a reason to get excited before Oscar nominations are announced in January. Below are the categories with predicted nominees in each. These are the only films eligible in each category.
Animated Short Films
(10 Shortlisted Nominees)
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
He Can’t Live Without Cosmos
Hors Piste
Kitbull
Memorable
Mind My Mind
The Physics of Sorrow
Sister
Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days
Predicted Five
TBD
Documentary Feature
(15 Shortlisted Nominees)
Advocate
American Factory
The Apollo
Apollo 11
Aquarela
The Biggest Little Farm
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
The Great Hack
Honeyland
Knock Down the House
Maiden
Midnight Family
One Child Nation
Predicted Five
American Factory
For Sama
Honeyland
Midnight Family
One Child Nation
Documentary Short Subject
(10 Shortlisted Films)
After Maria
Fire in Paradise
Ghosts of Sugar Land
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Life Overtakes Me
The Nightcrawlers
St. Louis Superman
Stay Close
Walk Run Cha-Cha
Predicted Five
TBD
International Feature Film
(10 Shortlisted Films)
Atlantics (Senegal)
Beanpole (Russia)
Corpus Christi (Poland)
Honeyland (North Macedonia)
Les Misérables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
The Painted Bird (Czech Republic)
Parasite (South Korea)
Those Who Remained (Hungary)
Truth and Justice (Estonia)
PREDICTED FIVE
Beanpole (Russia)
Corpus Christi (Poland)
Les Misérables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)
Live-Action Shorts
(10 Shortlisted Films)
Brotherhood
The Christmas Gift
Little Hands
Miller & Son
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors’ Window
Refugee
Saria
A Sister
Sometimes, I Think About Dying
Predicted Five
TBD
Makeup and Hairstyling
(10 Shortlisted Films)
Bombshell
Dolemite Is My Name
Downton Abbey
Joker
Judy
Little Women
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rocketman
Predicted Five
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Little Women
Rocketman
Original Score
(15 Shortlisted Films)
Avengers: Endgame
Bombshell
The Farewell
Ford v Ferrari
Frozen II
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
The King
Little Women
Marriage Story
Motherless Brooklyn
1917
Pain and Glory
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Us
Predicted Five
1917
Joker
Little Women
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Us
Original Song
(15 Shortlisted Songs)
“Speechless” from Aladdin
“Letter to My Godfather” from The Black Godfather
“I’m Standing With You” from Breakthrough
“Da Bronx” from The Bronx USA
“Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2
“Stand Up” from Harriet
“Catchy Song” from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
“Never Too Late” from The Lion King
“Spirit” from The Lion King
“Daily Battles” from Motherless Brooklyn
“A Glass of Soju” from Parasite
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman
“High Above the Water” from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4
“Glasgow” from Wild Rose
Predicted Five
“Speechless” from Aladdin
“Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2
“Stand Up” from Harriet
“A Glass of Soju” from Parasite
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman
Visual Effects
(10 Shortlisted Films)
Alita: Battle Angel
Avengers: Endgame
Captain Marvel
Cats
Gemini Man
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Terminator: Dark Fate
Predicted Five
Avengers: Endgame
Gemini Man
The Irishman
The Lion King
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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