The Academy’s first indication of what films it liked this year, the Oscars shortlists, were released on December 17 in ten categories. While some of the categories are open only to very specific films (it’s unlikely that there will ever be overlap between the Documentary Short Film category and Best Picture), other categories, like Sound or Makeup and Hairstyling, might give a sneak preview of the bigger names on nominations morning. So far: Emilia Pérez is looking strong. The French musical set in Mexico City about a transgender cartel head sits in six different spots on the shortlists. Still, it’s worth remembering that Emilia Pérez has the advantage over its fellow Best Picture competitors like Anora or The Brutalist since it’s eligible for multiple Original Song entries, plus an entry in International Feature Film.
Also, you may note that Dune: Part Two is not in the Best Original Score category — it was deemed ineligible for reusing motifs from the first film. Seems reasonable until you notice that Wicked is in there despite using motifs that were present in the original stage musical. A bit confusifying, but nominations will clarify on January 17. Below, the 2025 Academy Awards shortlist.
Documentary Feature Film
The Bibi Files
Black Box Diaries
Dahomey
Daughters
Eno
Frida
Hollywoodgate
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Queendom
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane
Union
Will & Harper
Documentary Short Film
Chasing Roo
Death by Numbers
Eternal Father
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
Keeper
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World
Once upon a Time in Ukraine
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Planetwalker
The Quilters
Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr
A Swim Lesson
Until He’s Back
International Feature Film
Brazil, I’m Still Here
Canada, Universal Language
Czech Republic, Waves
Denmark, The Girl with the Needle
France, Emilia Pérez
Germany, The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Iceland, Touch
Ireland, Kneecap
Italy, Vermiglio
Latvia, Flow
Norway, Armand
Palestine, From Ground Zero
Senegal, Dahomey
Thailand, How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies
United Kingdom, Santosh
Makeup and Hairstyling
The Apprentice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
A Different Man
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
The Substance
Waltzing with Brando
Wicked
Music (Original Score)
Alien: Romulus
Babygirl
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Blink Twice
Blitz
The Brutalist
Challengers
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
The Fire Inside
Gladiator II
Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1
Inside Out 2
Nosferatu
The Room Next Door
Sing Sing
The Six Triple Eight
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Young Woman and the Sea
Animated Short Film
Au Revoir Mon Monde
A Bear Named Wojtek
Beautiful Men
Bottle George
A Crab in the Pool
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Magic Candies
Maybe Elephants
Me
Origami
Percebes
The 21
Wander to Wonder
The Wild-Tempered Clavier
Yuck!
Music (Original Song)
“Forbidden Road†from Better Man
“Winter Coat†from Blitz
“Compress/Repress†from Challengers
“Never Too Late†from Elton John: Never Too Late
“El Mal†from Emilia Pérez
“Mi Camino†from Emilia Pérez
“Sick In The Head†from Kneecap
“Beyond†from Moana 2
“Tell Me It’s You†from Mufasa: The Lion King
“Piece By Piece†from Piece by Piece
“Like A Bird†from Sing Sing
“The Journey†from The Six Triple Eight
“Out Of Oklahoma†from Twisters
“Kiss The Sky†from The Wild Robot
“Harper And Will Go West†from Will & Harper
Live Action Short Film
Anuja
Clodagh
The Compatriot
Crust
Dovecote
Edge of Space
The Ice Cream Man
I’m Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
A Lien
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
The Masterpiece
An Orange from Jaffa
Paris 70
Room Taken
Sound
Alien: Romulus
Blitz
A Complete Unknown
Deadpool & Wolverine
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Gladiator II
Joker: Folie à Deux
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Civil War
Deadpool & Wolverine
Dune: Part Two
Gladiator II
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Mufasa: The Lion King
Twisters
Wicked