Bronwen K Bradshaw, Arts & Entertainment Editor  

(Image From, 2025 Oscar-Nominated Short Films: Live Action) 

The 97th annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are set to air on March 2 at 7 p.m live on ABC or streaming on Hulu and YouTube TV. Millions of people watch the Oscars, rooting for their favorite films of the year to win. Comedian Conan O’Brien will host the Oscars at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre to celebrate the films released this past year. Many films have been nominated for awards, and audiences revel in the debate over who will win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Here are the nominees and what you need to know before watching on Sunday, March 2. 

Anora 

Anora, directed by Sean Baker, follows the story of Anora (Mikey Madison), a young sex worker in New York who falls in love and marries the son of a Russian oligarch. However, once her parents received the news of her engagement, they set out to stop this marriage and have it annulled. The film received exceptional reviews, standing at 93% on RottenTomatoes. The film received The Critics Choice Award for Best Picture, numerous nominations at the Golden Globes this past January, and many for this year’s Oscars. Mikey Madison has been nominated for the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and her co-star, Yura Borisov, has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Including the nominee for Best Picture, Anora has also been nominated for Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Baker nominated for Best Achievement in Directing.  

The Brutalist 

The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, set in postwar 1947, follows architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody) and his wife, Erzsébet Tóth (Felicity Jones), as they venture to America to start a better life and change their lives forever. The film stands at 94% on RottenTomatoes. The film has received many awards, including Corbet for Best Director at the BAFTA Awards and Brody for Best Actor at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones are nominated for Oscars; Brody is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, and Jones is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. Corbet is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Directing, as well as Best Original Screenplay, along with Mona Fastvold.  

A Complete Unknown 

A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, follows 19-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) and his evolution into the great American songwriter we know today. The film has received many nominations during the award season, with Chalamet taking home the award for Best Actor and Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Pete Seeger at the Boston Society of Film Critics’ Awards. Both actors have been nominated for an Oscar for their roles, and Mangold for Best Achievement in Directing.  

Conclave 

Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) and his task leading the search for the new Pope. The film stands at 93% on RottenTomatoes, with many nominations. The film has received Best Film at the BAFTA Awards, Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics’ Choice Awards, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. Including the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film has received many nominations, such as Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ralph Fiennes), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Isabella Rossellini), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Peter Straughan).  

Dune: Part Two 

Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is the sequel to Dune, released in 2021, and reunites us with Paul (Timothee Chalamet) as he seeks revenge on those who have harmed his family. The film’s RottenTomatoes score sits at 92%, with many of its accolades for its visual and special effects. Including the Academy Award for Best Picture, it has also been nominated for Best Achievement in Cinematography (Greig Fraser), Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and Best Sound.  

Emilia Pérez 

Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, tells the story of Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón). This Cartel leader enlists the help of her lawyer, Rita (Zoe Saldaña), to fake her death so that she can live her life as her authentic self. The film stands at 72% on RottenTomatoes, the lowest score of Best Picture nominees. However, the film has collected numerous awards during this year’s award season, including Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (Zoe Saldaña) and Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy at this past Golden Globes. Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón are nominated for their roles at the Oscars and Best Achievement in Directing for Jacques Audiard.  

I’m Still Here 

I’m Still Here, directed by Walter Salles, follows Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) as she grapples with adjusting to her life after violent events broke out during the military dictatorship in Brazil in 1971. The film has a 97% on RottenTomatoes, the highest rating of the films nominated for Best Picture. Fernanda Torres received the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama at the Golden Globes for her role, and is also nominated for the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.  

Nickel Boys 

Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross, is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, detailing the relationship between two African American boys, Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), as they spend their time at a reform school in Florida. The film has a 76% on RottenTomatoes. The film has won many awards for its adaptive screenplay, including Best Adapted Screenplay for the Boston Society of Film Critics’ Awards and Best Adapted Screenplay for the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. The film is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.  

The Substance 

The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, tells the story of a faded celebrity, Elisabeth (Demi Moore), who takes a secretive drug that creates a younger version of herself. The film has 89% on RottenTomatoes. Demi Moore has received Best Actress for the Critics’ Choice Awards and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for the Golden Globes. Moore has received an Oscar nomination for her role in the film, and the film has surpassed the nominations for Best Achievement in Directing and Best Original Screenplay (Coralie Fargeat) for this year’s Oscars.  

Wicked 

Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a retelling of the famous Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch, named Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), as she spends her time at school and builds an unlikely friendship with The Good Witch, Galinda (Ariana Grande). The film has 88% on RottenTomatoes. This season, the film has received many awards, including the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award at the Golden Globes and Best Director at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Both Erivo and Grande are nominated for their roles in the film for the Oscars and Chu for Best Director.  

The competition for Best Picture at the Oscars is well underway. Do not forget to turn on the television on March 2 to see who will win!