In the latest buzz from the film industry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the shortlists for ten categories for the upcoming Oscars. These categories span a variety of achievements including best original song, documentary feature, international feature, original score, and several craft categories such as hair and makeup, visual effects, and sound.
The musical number “I’m Just Ken” and the gripping AP and Frontline documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” have both edged closer to a potential Oscar nod, making it onto these prestigious shortlists.
In related news, despite receiving considerable praise, Tovino Thomas’ film “2018” did not secure a spot on the Oscars shortlists. Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol” stands out for being shortlisted in both the documentary and international feature categories, proudly representing Ukraine in the latter.
As many anticipated, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” have made a strong showing among the finalists across various categories, including score and sound. Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” have also advanced in makeup, visual effects, and score, while “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has shown promise in visual effects, song, and score.
The international feature category sees a diverse selection with films like “The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom), “The Taste of Things” (France), “Tótem” (Mexico), and “Fallen Leaves” (Finland) among the 15 films advancing. France’s much-lauded “Anatomy of a Fall” by Justine Triet was notably not chosen, rendering it ineligible in this category.
In the original song category, “I’m Just Ken” faces competition from other tracks from “Barbie,” including Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” However, only two songs from one film can progress to the nomination stage. “Flora and Son” and “The Color Purple” both had two songs advance. Other contenders feature Sharon Van Etten with “Quiet Eyes” from “Past Lives,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can’t Catch Me Now,” from “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” and more. Diane Warren is in the running again with “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot,” while some expected names like Justin Timberlake and Jack Black did not make the cut.
The original score category includes familiar names such as John Williams, Ludwig Göransson, Mica Levi, and the late Robbie Robertson. Surprisingly, Kris Bowers’ score for “Origin” was omitted, as was Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen’s work on “Past Lives.”
The documentary category is rich with contenders, but notable omissions include “Kokomo City” and “Little Richard: I Am Everything.” “Barbie,” while not shortlisted for makeup and hairstyling, sees its category filled with titles like “Beau is Afraid,” “Poor Things,” and “Napoleon.” “Oppenheimer,” despite its strong showing in other areas, missed out on the visual effects shortlist, which includes entries like “Rebel Moon-Part One: A Child of Fire” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”
The shortlists for live-action, animated, and documentary shorts have also been announced, with high-profile entries such as Pedro Almodóvar’s “Strange Way of Life” and Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” The documentary “To Kill a Tiger” also earned a spot on the shortlist.
Members from their respective categories typically determine the shortlists, with some branches having committees or minimum viewing requirements.
The final nominations will be unveiled on January 23, with the 96th Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 10. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the event will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, starting an hour earlier than usual at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.,
In 2018, the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars failed to make it to the shortlist, thus ending its journey in the prestigious awards race. Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invites countries to submit their best films for consideration. However, only a handful are shortlisted and eventually nominated.
The selection process for the shortlist is rigorous, with several rounds of voting by members of the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Committee. The films are judged based on various aspects, including storytelling, direction, acting, and overall impact.
The exclusion of the Indian entry from the shortlist was a disappointment for the Indian film industry and fans, as it represented a missed opportunity to showcase Indian cinema on a global platform. However, it also highlighted the fierce competition and the high standards of films from around the world vying for the coveted Oscar recognition.
