Nominations for the 98th Annual Academy Awards were revealed on Thursday morning, with the film “Sinners” making history by receiving a remarkable 16 nominations. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.” The film garnered recognition across various categories, from directing to acting, notably marking Michael B. Jordan’s debut Oscar nomination for his performance. Ryan Coogler’s exceptional writing and direction also contributed to the film’s success.
Another standout in the nominations was the Norwegian film “Sentimental Value,” which received nine nods, a notable accomplishment for a non-English language film. This year marks the eighth consecutive year that foreign language films, including Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” are in contention for the best picture category. Both “One Battle After Another” and “Sentimental Value” are contenders for the Oscars’ newly introduced category, achievement in casting.
The nominees for best performance by an actress in a supporting role included Elle Fanning (“Sentimental Value”), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”), Amy Madigan (“Weapons”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”), and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”).
The highly anticipated award for best picture featured a competitive lineup, with films such as “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” and “Train Dreams” in the running.
While there were few surprises in the nominations, some unexpected omissions and inclusions caught the attention of viewers. Notably, “Wicked: For Good” did not receive any nominations despite the previous recognition of its stars. Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” secured a supporting actor nomination in place of the expected nominee, Miles Caton. Additionally, actors Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”) and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”) were anticipated to receive best actor nominations but were not among the nominees.
The race for the coveted awards is heating up, with “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” leading the pack. The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix, amidst a competitive bid from Paramount Skydance, could significantly impact the film industry’s landscape.
Canadian filmmakers also received recognition, with Domee Shi and Maggie Kang nominated for best animated feature for “Elio” and “KPop Demon Hunters.” The animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” is a strong contender for its cultural impact, alongside France’s “Arco.”
In the short film categories, Canadian productions like “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” and “Perfectly a Strangeness” earned nominations. Additionally, the Canadian teams involved in “Frankenstein” received nominations for makeup and hairstyling, sound, and production design.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien hosting the event.