Oscar Buzz Builds as Academy Announces Shortlists in 10 Categories for 96th Awards

In a striking convergence of cinematic celebration and seasonal change, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today unveiled the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. This announcement, marking a pivotal moment in the Oscar race, sees a diverse array of films stepping into the spotlight.

Among the categories revealed are Documentary Feature Film, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score and Song), Animated and Live Action Short Film, Sound, and Visual Effects. This selection offers an early glimpse into potential frontrunners and notable snubs, stirring excitement and speculation in the film industry.

A Snapshot of the Front Runners and Surprises

In a surprising turn, Christopher Nolan’s widely acclaimed ‘Oppenheimer’ missed out on a Visual Effects shortlist spot, while Netflix’s ‘Society Of The Snow’ by J.A. Bayona emerges as a strong contender across four categories, save for Sound. This pattern mirrors the trajectory of Netflix’s past successes and hints at a potential sweep in the final nominations.

‘Society Of The Snow,’ along with ‘Barbie’ and ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon,’ stand out as the only films with the potential to secure nominations in four different categories. ‘Barbie’ leads with five mentions, although AMPAS rules limit it to two potential song nominations.

Notable Snubs and Musical Highlights

In the realm of Original Song, notable exclusions include Bruce Springsteen’s “Addicted To Romance” and Jack Black’s “Peaches,” while Diane Warren’s “The Fire Inside” from ‘Flamin’ Hot’ maintains her streak as a perennial favorite. John Williams also remains in the race for his 54th Oscar nomination with his score for ‘Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny.’

The Anticipation Builds Towards the Main Event

As the industry braces for the Oscar nominations announcement on January 23rd, these shortlists set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable awards season. The final nominations will lead up to the grand ceremony, set to be aired live by ABC from the Dolby Theater on March 10.

The Full 2024 Oscar Shortlists

Here is the complete overview of the shortlisted films across all announced categories:

Documentary Feature Film

• American Symphony
• Apolonia, Apolonia
• Beyond Utopia
• Bobi Wine: The People’s President
• Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
• The Eternal Memory
• Four Daughters
• Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
• In the Rearview
• Stamped from the Beginning
• Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
• A Still Small Voice
• 32 Sounds
• To Kill a Tiger
• 20 Days in Mariupol

Documentary Short Film

• The ABCs of Book Banning
• The Barber of Little Rock
• Bear
• Between Earth & Sky
• Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games
• Camp Courage
• Deciding Vote
• How We Get Free
• If Dreams Were Lightning: Rural Healthcare Crisis
• Island in Between
• The Last Repair Shop
• Last Song from Kabul
• Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
• Oasis
• Wings of Dust

International Feature Film

• Armenia, Amerikatsi
• Bhutan, The Monk and the Gun
• Denmark, The Promised Land
• Finland, Fallen Leaves
• France, The Taste of Things
• Germany, The Teachers’ Lounge
• Iceland, Godland
• Italy, Io Capitano
• Japan, Perfect Days
• Mexico, Totem
• Morocco, The Mother of All Lies
• Spain, Society of the Snow
• Tunisia, Four Daughters
• Ukraine, 20 Days in Mariupol
• United Kingdom, The Zone of Interest

Makeup and Hairstyling

• Beau Is Afraid
• Ferrari
• Golda
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• The Last Voyage of the Demeter
• Maestro
• Napoleon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• Society of the Snow

Music (Original Score)

• American Fiction
• American Symphony
• Barbie
• The Boy and the Heron
• The Color Purple
• Elemental
• The Holdovers
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• Saltburn
• Society of the Snow
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• The Zone of Interest

Music (Original Song)

• It Never Went Away from American Symphony
• Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven) from Asteroid City
• Dance The Night from Barbie
• I’m Just Ken from Barbie
• What Was I Made For? from Barbie
• Keep It Movin’ from The Color Purple
• Superpower (I) from The Color Purple
• The Fire Inside from Flamin’ Hot
• High Life from Flora and Son
• Meet In The Middle from Flora and Son
• Can’t Catch Me Now from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
• Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) from Killers of the Flower Moon
• Quiet Eyes from Past Lives
• Road To Freedom from Rustin
• Am I Dreaming from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Animated Short Film

• Boom
• Eeva
• Humo (Smoke)
• I’m Hip
• A Kind of Testament
• Koerkorter (Dog Apartment)
• Letter to a Pig
• Ninety-Five Senses
• Once upon a Studio
• Our Uniform
• Pachyderme
• Pete
• 27
• War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
• Wild Summon

Live Action Short Film

• The After
• The Anne Frank Gift Shop
• An Avocado Pit
• Bienvenidos a Los Angeles
• Dead Cat
• Good Boy
• Invincible
• Invisible Border
• Knight of Fortune
• The One Note Man
• Red, White and Blue
• The Shepherd
• Strange Way of Life
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
• Yellow

Sound

• Barbie
• The Creator
• Ferrari
• The Killer
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Napoleon
• Oppenheimer
• The Zone of Interest

Visual Effects

• The Creator
• Godzilla Minus One
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Napoleon
• Poor Things
• Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire
• Society of the Snow
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Looking Ahead

As we anticipate the announcement of the final nominations on January 23rd, these shortlists paint a vibrant picture of this year’s cinematic achievements. The 96th Academy Awards, set to air live on March 10th, promise to be a celebration of the diverse talents and stories that have captivated audiences around the globe.

For more details on the Oscar race and updates on the film industry, stay tuned to Up Your Geek.