Los Angeles, CA – The 97th Academy Awards are just around the corner, and the excitement is building. This year’s ceremony promises to be a night of firsts, with several nominees vying for their first Oscar win. Here’s everything you need to know before the big night.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. While many critics have tapped “Anora” to win the top prize for best picture, “The Brutalist” and “Conclave” are also considered strong contenders. This year’s Oscars will also see several first-time nominees in the best director category, including Sean Baker, Brady Corbet, James Mangold, Jacques Audiard, and Coralie Fargeat.
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s ceremony is the potential for history to be made. “Emelia Perez” star Karla Sofía Gascón could become the first openly trans actor to win an Academy Award, while Colman Domingo could be the first Afro-Latino to win the Oscar for best actor for his stellar work in “Sing Sing.”
The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, a five-time Emmy winner, who joked about his new role, saying, “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
The musical lineup for this year’s ceremony is also set to be unforgettable, with performances by Doja Cat, Lisa of the K-pop group Blackpink, British soul singer Raye, and “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Queen Latifah will also take part in a tribute to Quincy Jones, who passed away in November at the age of 91.
The list of presenters for this year’s ceremony is also impressive, with Samuel L. Jackson, Zoe Saldaña, Andrew Garfield, Rachel Zegler, and Harrison Ford among those announced. They will be joined by previously announced presenters, including Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Cillian Murphy, Connie Nielsen, Oprah Winfrey, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, and Halle Berry.
As for the favorites to win, Sean Baker’s “Anora” has been heralded by critics and is favored by many to win the best picture prize, among six nominations. However, “The Brutalist” and “Conclave” are also strong contenders, with 10 and eight nominations, respectively.
There are also several potential upsets to watch out for, including Timothée Chalamet’s star turn as rock ‘n’ roll legend Bob Dylan in “The Brutalist.” Chalamet’s performance gave Adrian Brody a run for his money with a surprising 2025 SAG Award win.
Unfortunately, not everyone can be nominated, and this year’s snubs include Denzel Washington, who received high marks for playing a ruthless slave owner in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Nicole Kidman was also overlooked in the best actress category for her work as a corporate executive who has an affair with a much younger employee in “Babygirl.”
With just hours to go until the ceremony, the excitement is building. Who will take home the top prizes? Will there be any upsets? Tune in to find out.
Source: Africa Publicity
Have a press release, feature, article for publication? Send it to us via Whatsapp on +233543452542.
