The Oscars, also known as the Academy Awards, is one of the most prestigious and highly-anticipated events in the entertainment industry. Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes and honors outstanding achievements in the film industry by nominating and awarding various categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor/Actress. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Oscar nomination process and the various factors that can influence a film’s chances of being nominated.

Oscars Nominations 2023 Competitive Categories Are:

• Best Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Fabelmans, Tár, Top Gun Maverick, Triangle of Sadness and Women Talking
• Best Director: Martin McDonagh, Ruben Ostlund, Daniel Scheinert, Todd Field, Daniel Kwan, Steven Spielberg
• Best Actor: Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, Bill Nighy
• Best Actress: Andrea Riseborough, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh, Michelle Willians, Ana de Armas
• Best Supporting Actor: Brendan Gleeson, Judd Hirsch, Ke Huy Quan, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Koeghan
• Best Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Stephanie Hsu
• Best Original Screenplay: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Triangle of Sadness, Tar, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Living, Women Talking, All Quiet on the Western Front, Top Gun: Maverick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
• Best Animated Feature: Turing Red, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Sea Beast
• Best International Feature Film: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Quiet Girl, Eo, Argentina, 1985 Close
• Best Original Score: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Volker Bertelmann), BABYLON (Justin Hurwitz), THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (Carter Burwell), EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Son Lux), THE FABELMANS (John Williams)
• Best Original Song: Applause, Naatu Naatu, This is a Life, Lift Me Up, Hold My Hand
• Best Sound: All quiet on the western front, The Batman, Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick
• Best Sound Editing
• Best Production Design: All quiet on the western front, Babylon, Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis, The Fabelmans
• Best Cinematography: All quiet on the western front, Elvis, Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, Empire of Light, Tar
• Best Film Editing: The Banshees of Inisherin, Tar, Top Gun: Maverick, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Elvis
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová) THE BATMAN (Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine) BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Camille Friend and Joel Harlow), ELVIS (Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti), THE WHALE (Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley)
• Best Costume Design: BABYLON (Mary Zophres), BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Ruth Carter), ELVIS (Catherine Martin), EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Shirley Kurata) MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (Jenny Beavan)
• Best Visual Effects: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar), AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett), THE BATMAN (Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy), BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick), TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher)

Oscars Nominations Non-Competitive Categories Are:

• Honorary Awards
• Special Awards
• Scientific and Technical Awards
• Short Films and Feature Animation Awards

First, it’s important to understand the nomination process itself. The Academy’s voting membership is made up of various branches, including actors, directors, producers, and writers. Each branch has its own set of nominees for certain categories, such as Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The nominees for Best Picture, however, are chosen by the entire voting membership. Once the nominees are announced, the entire voting membership is eligible to vote for the winners in all categories except for the short films and feature-length documentaries, where only the respective branches are eligible to vote.

One of the most important factors that can influence a film’s chances of being nominated is the timing of its release. Typically, films that are released in the latter half of the year, specifically in the fall and winter, are considered to have an advantage over films that are released earlier in the year. This is because these films have more time to build buzz and generate awards season momentum before the nomination ballots are due.

Another key factor is the film’s festival circuit performance. Many films that are eventually nominated for Oscars first premiered at major film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. These festivals provide a platform for films to generate buzz and critical acclaim, which can be crucial in building momentum for Oscar consideration.

The film’s budget also plays a role in its nomination chances. Typically, lower-budget independent films have a harder time getting nominated than big-budget studio films. This is because the larger studios have more resources to promote their films and generate buzz, which can make it easier for them to be noticed by the Academy. However, it’s worth noting that there have been several instances in the past where lower-budget independent films have been nominated and even won Oscars, such as “Parasite” in 2020, which won Best Picture.

The film’s subject matter and its ability to resonate with Academy voters is also important. Films that tackle socially relevant themes, such as race, gender, and social injustice, are often considered to have an advantage over films that don’t. Additionally, films that have a strong emotional impact or that tell a powerful story, can also be more likely to be nominated.

The film’s cast and crew are also crucial in determining its nomination chances. Films that feature well-known and respected actors and directors are often considered to have an advantage over films that don’t. Additionally, films that have a strong cast and crew can generate more buzz and critical acclaim, which can be crucial in building momentum for Oscar consideration.

Finally, the film’s marketing and promotional campaign can also play a role in its nomination chances. Films that have a strong marketing and promotional campaign, particularly one that emphasizes the film’s awards potential, can be more likely to be nominated. Additionally, films that have a strong awards season campaign, such as extensive screenings, Q&As with cast and crew, and targeted advertising, can also be more likely to be nominated.

In conclusion, the Oscar nomination process is a complex and multi-faceted one, influenced by a variety of factors such as release timing, festival performance, budget, subject matter, cast and crew, and marketing and promotional campaign. Despite this, it is not impossible for low-budget independent films to get nominated and even win an Oscars.