In this special Oscars preview episode of The Never Seen It Podcast, we sit down with Castle Rock Film Festival director and filmmaker Hunter Burns to break down the biggest contenders heading into the 2026 Academy Awards. From the major categories to the overlooked technical achievements, we dive deep into what films might dominate the night and which ones could surprise everyone.

We start by discussing one of the most historic changes to the Academy Awards this year: the introduction of the Best Casting category, a long-awaited recognition for casting directors and the ensembles that define a film. We debate how this new award might influence other categories like Best Director or Best Picture and whether it will simply mirror acting nominations or recognize true ensemble achievements.

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From there, we analyze standout films across multiple Oscar categories. One of the biggest talking points is the dominance of Sinners, which broke nomination records with an astonishing sixteen nominations. We explore whether its technical achievements — particularly in cinematography — could carry it to multiple wins on Oscar night.

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The discussion also dives into the visual artistry of this year’s nominees, including the gothic world-building of Frankenstein, the period authenticity of Hamnet, and the natural-light cinematography of Train Dreams, which was reportedly filmed almost entirely using available daylight. We talk about how these technical decisions shape storytelling and how the Academy historically rewards craftsmanship in categories like Cinematography, Production Design, and Costume Design.

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As filmmakers and editors ourselves, we also spend time discussing film editing and storytelling structure, including how massive productions like F1 combine real racing footage with visual effects to build a coherent narrative. It’s a reminder that editing isn’t just technical — it’s the invisible craft that determines the rhythm and emotion of a movie.

Of course, no Oscar conversation would be complete without addressing the Academy’s complicated relationship with genre films. We talk about why horror, science fiction, and comedy are often overlooked during awards season, even when they push filmmaking forward. From The Substance to Nosferatu, we debate whether the Academy is slowly becoming more open to genre storytelling — or if prestige drama still reigns supreme.

Along the way we also debate performances, controversial casting decisions, and which films we personally think deserve recognition. From bold cinematography choices to the politics of Oscar campaigning, this episode covers the full landscape of modern awards season and what it says about Hollywood today.

If you’re an Oscar fan, filmmaker, or movie lover, this is the ultimate 2026 Oscars preview — full of predictions, debates, and plenty of film nerd rabbit holes.