Academy Anonymous

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On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• Early Oscar contenders from the 79th Cannes Film Festival
• Neon dominates Cannes (once again) with FJORD, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HOPE and PAPER TIGER
• A24 snatches CLUB KID, the hottest premiere at Cannes - but will Oscars take it seriously?
• Netflix throws its muscle behind Spain's lavish LA BOLA NEGRA, aims to mold International Film contender into bonafide Oscar player
• MINOTAUR proclaims the return of Russian auteur Andrey Zvyagintsev, is timely political allegory just the recipe to crack Best Picture?
• The Year of Sandra Hüller marches on, as campaign tour premieres FATHERLAND
• Rami Malek and Adam Driver court return to Best Actor field with eye-catching performances
• HOPE to test whether South Korean blockbuster can conquer US box-office 
• Can Plan B get Oscar voters to watch Jane Schoenbrun's queer-slasher pic TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA?
• Best Documentary race grows more competitive with a buzzy premiere from Neon and a pick-up by Sony Pictures Classics
• Seth Rogen and Point Grey return to the Animated Feature race with adult-themed TANGLES after 2023's TMNT: Mutant Mayhem snub
• IN WAVES and IRON BOY hope to keep Cannes Animated Feature streak alive at the Oscars

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| Visit our website for Oscar Predictions: FramesAndFlicker.com |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

We break down all the biggest moments, surprises, and controversies from this year’s Oscars ceremony — from PTA’s big night to the most shocking upsets.

• Thoughts on the ceremony: Conan O’Brien, questionable decisions, and an ambitious In Memoriam
• The biggest surprises of the night
• Autumn Durald Arkapaw makes history for Sinners
• How Mr. Nobody Against Putin pulled off a shocking Best Documentary win
• A rare tie in Live-Action Short — how did that even happen? Plus: we called the Animated Short upset
• The Supporting Actress aftermath: why Amy Madigan prevailed over Teyana Taylor and Wunmi Mosaku
• Timothée Chalamet’s stalled awards run — and whether overexposure or controversy played the biggest role
• Michael B. Jordan emerges as the undeniable crowd favorite
• The bittersweet victory for Warner Bros.
• PTA is king: Paul Thomas Anderson’s legacy in the Oscar conversation

Plus: what this ceremony tells us about where the Academy is headed — and what’s next as we look ahead to Cannes.

Season 2 finale — signing off (for now).

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| Follow us: @AcademyAnon |

| Visit our website for Oscar Predictions: FramesAndFlicker.com |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

| Follow us: @AcademyAnon |

| Visit our website for Oscar Predictions: FramesAndFlicker.com |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• Final predictions for the winners of the 98th Academy Awards
• A swan song for Warner Bros. as shadow of Paramount merger looms over the film industry
• SINNERS big SAG Actors Awards night cuts into the lead of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Netflix quietly plotting their biggest Oscar night in studio history behind Guillermo Del Toro, FRANKENSTEIN, and KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• Are MARTY SUPREME and Timothée Chalamet beyond recovery for Best Actor after campaign snafus
• Sean Penn captures Best Supporting Actor momentum from Stellan Skarsgård, but will Delroy Lindo spoil his 3rd Oscar win?
• Best Supporting Actress ends in a three-way race between Wunmi Mosaku, Teyana Taylor and Amy Madigan for WEAPONS, in a battle between BAFTA winner vs. Golden Globe winner vs. SAG Actor winner
• After major losses at BAFTA and ASC, can SINNERS and Autumn Durald Arkapaw still make history for Best Cinematography? Or will Adolpho Veloso steal the award for TRAIN DREAMS?
• F1 hoping to steer surprise Best Picture nomination to win over SINNERS for Best Sound Design
• Ludwig Göransson aims to surpass legendary Alexandre Desplat and Hans Zimmer with record third Oscar for Best Original Score
• Guillermo Del Toro in position to make Oscar history after Best Director snub for FRANKENSTEIN
• Norway’s SENTIMENTAL VALUE, Brazil’s THE SECRET AGENT and France’s IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT duel for Best International Film
• Paul Thomas Anderson to finally collect Oscar for Best Director on fourth try!
• Breaking down the different scenarios for the Best Picture matchup between ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and SINNERS
• Revelations to unlocking whether ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER or SINNERS will win the Best Picture Oscar
• Plus forecasting favorites for Best Documentary and the unpredictable Short Film categories!

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Support the show

| Follow us: @AcademyAnon |

| Visit our website for Oscar Predictions: FramesAndFlicker.com |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• Final Oscar voting begins!
• A24, Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet are box-office gold with MARTY SUPREME
• Paul Thomas Anderson wins first career Directors Guild of America award for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER bests box-office behemoth SINNERS at the Producers Guild of America awards
• Best Picture rivals ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and SINNERS share the stage at ACE Eddie awards for Best Film Editing
• SINNERS capitalizes on ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER snub to win highest honor from Casting Society
• Netflix and TRAIN DREAMS dominate the Independent Spirit Awards, but likely too small to make a dent at the Oscars
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER takes home 6 BAFTA awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography
• Wunmi Mosaku finally gets invited on stage for SINNERS with BAFTA Best Supporting Actress win
• Sean Penn surprises Stellan Skarsgård and SENTIMENTAL VALUE with Supporting Actor win at BAFTA
• How Timothée Chalamet and MARTY SUPREME shutout at BAFTA spells trouble at the Oscars
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS loses BAFTA nomination, but still steals spotlight on BAFTA night
• SINNERS and Michael B. Jordan surge in Best Picture and Best Actor after electric reception at the Screen Actors Guild awards
• Sean Penn muscles his way into frontrunner status with SAG victory
• Veteran actor Amy Madigan celebrated by her peers for surprise WEAPONS role, destined to duel Wunmi Mosaku for Best Supporting Actress
• MARTY SUPREME scores 0 (again) at the SAG awards

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On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• The Academy announces the nominees for the 98th Oscars!
• How ACADEMY ANONYMOUS fared in the Oscar pool 
• Warner Bros. in a league all their own this year - racks up 30 nominations between SINNERS, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and WEAPONS
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is PTA's biggest Oscar success with 13 nomination (!) but it can't stop SINNERS from making Oscar history
• Academy sets the stage for a final showdown between ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and SINNERS - is an upset brewing??
• Chloé Zhao makes history in the Best Director category
• A24's MARTY SUPREME makes Josh Safdie a 4-time Oscar nominee
• Neon's SENTIMENTAL VALUE completes comeback to score 9 nominations
• A lukewarm reception for international titles including THE SECRET AGENT and IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
• Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos revive BUGONIA at the 11th hour 
• How Kate Hudson in SONG SUNG BLUE edged out Chase Infiniti in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Ethan Hawke and Micheal B. Jordan crack Best Actor, but Joel Edgerton gets left out in the cold again
• Plan B's Oscar muscle steers summer popcorn flick F1 into Best Picture, but will the company regret it in the long run?
• How we correctly predicted a BLUE MOON surprise in Original Screenplay
• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH crashes Best Costume Design
• The "shocking" Oscar shutout that industry pundits refused to see... and ACADEMY ANONYMOUS laid out the breadcrumbs for.
• PLUS - the snubs and surprises we saw coming (Paul Mescal, Delroy Lindo) and those we hoped wouldn't come to pass (Jafar Panahi)
• Cross referencing Oscar nominees with nominations for the British Film Academy's BAFTA awards, the Writers Guild, and the ACE Editors Guild

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Final Oscar Predictions (Part 3) — Acting, Directing, Writing & Best Picture | ACADEMY ANONYMOUS

In this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS, we conclude our FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS (Part 3), breaking down the Academy Awards’ most talked-about races — Directing, Screenwriting, Acting, and Best Picture.

Pundits insist these categories are “locked,” but history says otherwise. We’re tracking the hidden vulnerabilities, surprise snubs, and late-stage breakthroughs that could define nomination morning — and help you perfect your Oscar ballot.

We analyze the 2026 Oscar contenders in:

Best Casting

The Academy’s newest category: Will voters default to the status quo, or can two international films crash the party and make a statement?

Best Adapted Screenplay

Can anyone crack the consensus five — from Mary Shelley and Denis Johnson adaptations to Hamnet, Alien Bosses, and the ever-present PTA?

Best Original Screenplay

Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke threaten to spoil spots long reserved for celebrated international films, while Sinnersand Marty Supreme ride undeniable momentum.

Best Supporting Actor

Beyond the perceived “safe” picks (One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value), are Paul Mescal or Jacob Elordi far more vulnerable than expected? And who’s waiting to capitalize on a major snub?

Best Supporting Actress

A volatile three-way race anchors the category, but the final slots are wide open. Can recent SAG snubs be overcome? Are surprise veterans or pop-culture wildcards ready to surge? Expect chaos.

Best Actor

The most competitive acting race of the year — and someone big is missing. Is it Michael B. Jordan or Joel Edgerton? Can Jesse Plemons convert SAG momentum? Is Wagner Moura truly safe?

Best Actress

Buckley is the clear frontrunner, while Chase Infiniti carries the category’s strongest momentum. Renate Reinsve capitalizes on European love, while Rose Byne defeats the odds. The final slot becomes a high-stakes showdown between a favorite and a comeback-gal.

Best Director

Clear locks, international threats, shocking snubs, and one potential jaw-dropper that could redefine the race entirely.

Best Picture

Studio heavyweights, Netflix contenders, acclaimed international films, and underdogs all feel “safe”… but only one slot remains. Will it go to another daring foreign-language breakout or a late-career auteur passion project?

If you want to understand where the Oscar races are actually fragile, and where the Academy is most likely to surprise, this is the episode to hear before nomination morning.

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Final Oscar Predictions — Shorts, Documentary, Sound, VFX & Makeup | ACADEMY ANONYMOUS

In this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS, we continue our FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS (Part 2), breaking down some of the Academy Awards’ most volatile categories — where surprises, snubs, and late-breaking momentum define the race.

We analyze the 2026 Oscar contenders in:

Live-Action Short Film — socially and politically urgent stories dominate, but can comedy or crowd-pleasers break through?

Animated Short Film — why adult-driven animation should outperform traditional, family-friendly shorts

Documentary Short Film — films reflecting current U.S. political and social unrest lead the field

Documentary Feature — the most unpredictable branch of the Academy, where presumed frontrunners are always at risk

Best Visual Effects — blockbuster spectacle regains control as prestige titles like Frankenstein and Sinners miss key ground

Best Sound — One Battle After Another and Sinners feel secure, while Sirât challenges Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Makeup & Hairstyling — why international films and transformative real-life portrayals have the advantage

Whether you’re filling out an Oscar ballot, tracking awards season momentum, or just love dissecting the Academy Awards, this episode dives deep into the races most likely to shock on nomination morning.

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| Visit our website FramesAndFlicker.com for Oscar Predictions |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• The DGA reveals the top five favorites for the Oscars Best Picture race
• SENTIMENTAL VALUE gets shutout at the Screen Actors Guild Actors Awards
• Cinematographers prefer MARTY SUPREME over HAMNET
• WEAPONS, F1 fly at the Producers Guild Awards while AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH and WICKED: FOR GOOD flop
• BUGONIA staging a major Oscar comeback with impressive showing at British Academy’s BAFTA Awards
• Final predictions for Best Animated Feature
• Dreamworks’ THE BAD GUYS 2 and Pixar’s ELIO duel for final spot in Animated Feature race
• Can French animation rule at the Oscars with ARCO, LITTLE AMELIE and A MAGNIFICENT LIFE?
• Final Predictions for Best Original Score
• Decoding the connection between Best Picture and the Original Score category
• MARTY SUPREME beat too new age for Oscars’ music branch?
• F1 and SIRĀT likely enemies across Oscar categories, face-off for final slot in Original Score
• Final Predictions for Best Original Song
• Stephan Schwartz to finally get back into Song race with WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Double nominations for SINNERS for Original Song?
• Diane Warren hunts for first competitive Oscar win
• Final Predictions for Best Costume Design
• A loophole in the Costume category might leave a Best Picture favorite on the outs
• HEDDA and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN targeting an upset
• Final Predictions for Best Production Design
• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH and WICKED: FOR GOOD duel for scraps among production design favorites
• Final Predictions for Best Cinematography
• Not enough space for Best Picture frontrunners FRANKENSTEIN, MARTY SUPREME and HAMNET
• Final Predictions for Best Film Editing
• Breaking down the “veteran” issue smothering the film editing category
• F1 to test editor’s love for racing films
• Final Predictions for Best International Film
• NEON films tries to wrap up the rare perfect category with ALL 5 nominations!
• Venice Film Festival and THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB to haunt the fate of NO OTHER CHOICE

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| Follow us on Twitter - @AcademyAnon |

| Visit our website FramesAndFlicker.com for Oscar Predictions |

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• MARTY SUPREME is a runaway Christmas hit for A24, Timothée Chalamet is King of the Box-Office
• Spain's SIRĀT to explode onto Oscar scene with surprise nominations, but can it really crash Best Picture?
• Will SINNERS, TRAIN DREAMS and ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER land first time nominations for their cinematographers at the ASC guild award?
• Cinematographers Guild to sideline international films in their annual lineup for Best Cinematography
• Can multiple foreign films pull off an upset at the Directors Guild of America?
• Guillermo del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN looks to cement itself as a top 5 Best Picture movie with DGA nomination
• Can MARTY SUPREME three-peat nominations at the SAG Ensemble, DGA and PGA.... or did it peak too late?
• Will the Producers Guild of America resuscitate flailing box-office hits AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH and WICKED: FOR GOOD?
• WEAPONS hoping to ride Hollywood horror-renaissance into PGA Top 10 and SAG Ensemble nominations
• HEDDA's Tessa Thompson and SONG SUNG BLUE's Kate Hudson look to leap BUGONIA's Emma Stone and TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE's Amanda Seyfried at the Screen Actors Guild
• Can Wagner Moura leverage NARCOS visibility into a SAG Best Actor nomination for THE SECRET AGENT?
• Is WICKED: FOR GOOD poised to receive a complete shut-out at the Screen Actors Guild? 
• HAMNET, SENTIMENTAL VALUE and IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT look for a boost on Golden Globes weekend
• Critics Choice Awards vote for Timothée Chalamet, Jesse Buckley, Jacob Elordi and Amy Madigan, but one speech seems to seal the deal and another appears to have blown the race wide open!
• Which Critics Choice winning actor is flirting with a snub and may end up on the cutting room floor at the Oscars?

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On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• A few words of remembrance for Rob Reiner, Michelle Reiner and James Ransone.
• Can AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH pull a GODFATHER/LORD OF THE RIGNS and get all 3 installments nominated for Best Picture? Our Oscar take after watching the latest chapter.
• THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB is undeniably compelling, and could absolutely sneak into the final Best Picture Ten; our Oscar take after screening the film.
• Going over the snubs and surprises from the 98th Oscars shortlists: who’s making an impression (SIRAT!) and who’s falling behind (THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE!).
• Previewing the Critics Choice Awards: predicting the winners in every category.
• Predicting the National Society of Film Critics winners and runner-ups.

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