With just three months until the 99th Academy Awards nominations, Hollywood’s award season is already in full swing, and early contenders are beginning to separate from the pack.
Industry insiders and awards trackers point to Sinners, F1, Conclave, and Anora as the early leaders in the race for Best Picture and major category recognition. The films have dominated recent festival buzz and critical discussions, setting the pace for what’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Oscar seasons in years.
Smaller but powerful festival darlings like Sentimental Value and It Was Just an Accident are also making noise after stellar receptions at Cannes — a strong reminder that indie storytelling still commands Academy attention.
Awards analysts at Entertainment Weekly and Deadline note that performance on the festival circuit and guild nominations — not just big names — are defining this year’s early momentum.
Right now, Sinners sits atop many award dashboards, credited for its emotional depth and resonance with voters. But as history shows, frontrunners this early rarely stay unchallenged for long.
The fall festival trifecta — Venice, Telluride, and Toronto — continues to be a decisive stage for films hoping to gain late traction. Titles still awaiting release could shake up the leaderboard completely.
Industry observers also point to shifting Oscar strategies: streaming giants, international submissions, and unconventional release schedules are rewriting the rules of awards campaigning.
And, as recent years have proven, underdog surprises and shocking snubs can upend even the most calculated predictions.
Key milestones now loom:
November–February: Critics’ and guild awards season will sharpen the narrative.
January: Oscar nomination voting opens.
March: The 99th Academy Awards ceremony crowns Hollywood’s best.
As the season accelerates, one truth stands firm — the Oscar race is still wide open. With new films entering the field and campaigns intensifying, the next few months promise drama, debate, and plenty of surprises.
The race for gold is just getting started — and the next big twist could be one red carpet away.
