Director of Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard, and actress Karla Sofía Gascón. Credit: Shutterstock, OSCAR GONZALEZ FUENTES
The 97th Academy Awards nominations have been revealed following delays caused by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
Leading the nominations was the French-Spanish musical Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Selena Gomez. The film boasted 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best International Feature. This marks the most nominations ever for a non-English language film, surpassing previous records held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma.
The film’s leading actress, transgender Karla Sofía Gascón, has also made history as the first openly transgender actress nominated for an Oscar. Gascón’s portrayal of a Mexican drug lord undergoing gender affirmation surgery has not only sparked conversations about trans representation in Hollywood but also arrives amidst growing challenges to LGBTQ+ rights in the US under Trump’s new presidency. Trump recently signed the elimination of a 2021 law enacted by former president Joe Biden on the definition of ‘gender identity’.
Following close behind with 10 nominations each are the post-war epic The Brutalist and the blockbuster musical adaptation Wicked. Despite controversies surrounding the use of AI in The Brutalist’s post-production, it remains a strong contender for Best Picture and acting awards for Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
Other notable films in the running include A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic, and the papal thriller Conclave, each earning eight nominations.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 2 at the Dolby Theatre, hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien.
Highlights of the Oscar Nominations for 2025
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 Actor
- Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
- Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Best Actress
- Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
- Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
- Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Demi Moore (The Substance)
- Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
Best Sound
- A Complete Unknown
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best Animated Feature Film
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best International Feature Film
- I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
- Emilia Pérez (France)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
- Flow (Latvia)
View the full list of Oscar Nominations here.
Los Angeles Wildfires update
Los Angeles County continues to battle widespread wildfires, with the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire causing significant destruction. Since igniting on January 7, these fires have collectively burned over 37,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and prompted mass evacuations.
Firefighters have made progress, with the Palisades Fire now 72 per cent contained and the Eaton Fire reaching 95 per cent containment. Meanwhile, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area expanded rapidly to over 10,000 acres, forcing more residents to evacuate.
Despite these challenges, fire crews successfully protected key landmarks, including the Getty Villa art museum. The Academy Awards will include a special segment honouring Los Angeles’ resilience amidst these tragedies, showcasing the strength of its communities and creative industries.
