98th Academy Awards Winners

Update March 16. Last night the Academy had the awards ceremony and most of what I expected won awards, no major upset, no major surprises, no major speeches and my most unexpected moment was Barbra Streisand singing! It was an emotional moment for so many reasons among them, all the memories -my memories- and find out that she is aging.

One Battle After Another leads with 6 wins including top awards for movie and director, Sinners follows with 4 and not far away, Frankenstein with 3. But this year will be remembered for the many first time milestones.

- Paul Thomas Anderson received his first-ever Oscar for Adapted Screenplay - first time winning after 11 nominations dating from 1998. His second Oscar was for Directing and his third for Best Picture. He is now the 9th person to win Best Picture, Directing and Screenplay Oscars on same night.

- Jessie Buckley became the first Irish woman to win Best Actress.
- Autumn Dural Arkapaw first-ever female and first-ever black person cinematographer.
- Cassandra Kulukundis winning first-ever casting director award.
- First KPop song Oscar winner.
- First-ever International Feature Film Oscar for Norway.

- Not a first but a very rare tie (it's the 7th), which nowadays is harder to happen as rules require exactly the same number of votes, for Best Live Action Short Film. A tie has been awarded 6 times in Oscar history and before, rule included a difference of 3 votes to declare a tie. Perhaps the most famous tie is when Katherine Hepburn in The Lion of Winter and Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl tied for best actress in 1969.

- Michael B. Jordan has another rare event, winning Best Actor in his first career nomination.

The list of people winning first-ever Oscars is numerous -as of any other year edition- and includes Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Amy Madigan, Autum Durl Arkapaw, and Cassandra Kulukunis.

And then there is Sean Penn that won his third Oscar, the first in the supporting perfromance category and the other two in leading performance category.

Said no major surprises but there is one that was a good surprise, Mr Nobody Against Putin winning in the documentary category, as in my opinion, this doc is superior (story and production values) to frontrunner The Perfect Neighbor. Mr. Nobody Against Putin was Denmark's submission to International Feature Film, did NOT make the shortlist of fifteen but went to win an Oscar anyway. Last, yes it was a surprise to see Dame Anna Wintour on a major event that is not the Met Gala.

Winners are below in *BLUE. To check winners at official site go here.

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January 23, 2026
A few minuntes ago, Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominations live from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills and surprise, there is a new record! Sinners sets the record for most nominations for a film! Previous record was 14 nominations shared by All about Eve (1950), Titatic (1997) and La La Land (2016).

Sinners with 16 nominations is followed by One Battle After Another with 13 and Sentimental Value, Frankenstein, and Marty Supreme with 9 nominations each. In the acting categories, 11 individuals are first-time nominees among them Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Wagner Moura. These four individuals also conform a new record for non-English language performances, the previous record was three set in 1976.

The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value are the 12th and 13th non-English language films to be nominated for both International Feature Film and Best Picture in the same year. To date, Parasite is the only film to win both International Feature Film and Best Picture.

France continues to add to its record number of nominations for International Feature Film with its 40th nomination, for It Was Just an Accident. Italy is second with 30 nominations.

Most interesting is the fact where with their nomination for Sirāt, Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas become the first all-women sound team (production sound mixing, supervising sound editing and rerecording mixing) to be nominated for a sound award. And speaking about women, a record 74 women are currently -some nominees still to be determined- nominated this year, previous record was 71 women set in 2023.

As you can see this year foreign non-English language films have an unsual and surely extraordinary amount of activity which speaks about the "new" Academy Members composition with slightly less older and also slightly more international membership. But I prefer to believe that is because the outstanding cinema quality of international films with meticulous control of tech specs, brilliant performances and truly outstanding directors with a proven high quality cinema trajectory; like, for example, Joachim Trier that I have seen all shis films since his impactful debut Reprise and firsthand assure his career development into an exceptional director. Sigh.

Then we have that ALL five nominees in the International Feature Film come this year with a top award at two top festivals in the world; four films come from Cannes (Palme d'Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director/Best Actor) and one from Venice (Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize). This is unusual to say the least as not often Academics match Festival juries honors.

Have no idea how Academics will vote but if they do as American critics then top awards will go to American or English language films and International Feature Film category could be a tight race between Sentimental Value and It Was Just an Accident. But we know that film critics preferences have not been the same as Academics preferences; so, its a guessing game that in less than two months we will know what they do.

Truth is that with so many non-English language films in the race it is more exciting for me to play all the winners games and well, perhaps will do the winners predictions post ... or perhaps not as know that Academics tend to prefer American movies, still, there is a Norwegian film about a fil director and yes, Academics tend to prefer honoring cinema-related foreign films.

Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for Best Picture, which has 10. Active members of the Academy must view all nominated films to be eligible to vote.

The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and airs live in more than 200 territories worldwide.

The Nominations

Best Picture
Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland, UK, Canada, South Korea and USA
F1, Joseph Kosinski, USA
Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent), Kleber Mendonça Filho, France, Netherlands, Germany and Brazil
*One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA
Train Dreams, Clint Bentley, USA

Documentary Feature Film
Come See Me in The Good Light, Ryan White, USA
Cutting Through Rocks, Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki, Qatar, Chile, Iran, Canada, Netherlands, Germany and USA
*Mr. Nobody Against Putin, David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Germany - WINNER
The Alabama Solution, Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, USA
The Perfect Neighbor, Geeta Gandbhir, USA

Animated Feature Film
Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes (Little Amélie or the Character of Rain), Liane-Cho Han Jin Kuang and Maïlys Vallade, France and Belgium
Arco, Ugo Bienvenu, France
Elio, Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi, USA
*KPop Demon Hunters, Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, USA and Canada - WINNER
Zootopia 2, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, USA

International Feature Film
Brazil: O Secreto Agente (The Secret Agent), Kleber Mendonça Filho #Cannes2025 Competition Best Director, Best Actor, FIPRESCI, and AFCAE Art House Cinema Awards winner
France: یک تصادف ساده Yek tasadef sadeh (It Was Just an Accident), Jafar Panahi #Cannes2025 Palme d'Or and Prix de la Citoyenneté winner
*Norway: Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier #Cannes2025 Competition Grand Prize winner - WINNER
Spain: Sirât, Oliver Laxe #Cannes2025 Competition Jury Prize winner, Cannes Soundtrack award winner, Palm Dog Grand Prix du Jury winner, and AFCAE Art House Cinema Award Special Mention
Tunisia: صوت هند رجب The Voice of Hind Rajab, Kaouther Ben Hania #Venezia82 Competition Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner and eight collateral awards



Directing
Joachin Trier for Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Josh Sadie for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
*Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Will Tracy for Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland, UK, Canada, South Korea and USA
Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
Chloé Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
*Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar for Train Dreams, Clint Bentley, USA

Writing - Original Screenplay
Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier for Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Rupert Kaplow for Blue Moon, Richard Linklater, Ireland and USA
Jafar Panahi, Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, and Mehdi Mahmoudian for یک تصادف ساده Yek tasadef sadeh (It Was Just an Accident), Jafar Panahi, France and Iran
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
*Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA - WINNER

Actress in a Leading Role
Renate Reinsve in Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
*Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA - WINNER
Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Mary Bronstein, USA
Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, Craig Brewer, USA
Emma Stone in Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland, UK, Canada, South Korea and USA

Actress in a Supporting Role
Elle Fanning in Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Teyaana Taylor in One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA
*Amy Madigan in Weapons, Zach Cregger, USA - WINNER

Actor in a Leading Role
Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon, Richard Linklater, Ireland and USA
Wagner Moura in O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent), Kleber Mendonça Filho, France, Netherlands, Germany and Brazil
Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
*Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA - WINNER

Actor in a Supporting Role
Stellan Skarsgård in Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
Benicio Del Toro in One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
*Sean Penn in One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Delroy Lindo in Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Casting
Nina Gold for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Jennifer Venditti for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
Gabriel Domingues for O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent), Kleber Mendonça Filho, France, Netherlands, Germany and Brazil
*Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Francine Maisler for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Cinematography
Dan Laustsen for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
Darius Khondji for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
Michael Bauman for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
*Autum Durald Arkapaw for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA - WINNER
Adolpho Veloso for Train Dreams, Clint Bentley, USA

Costume Design
Deborah I. Scott for Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, USA and Canada
*Kate Hawley for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA - WINNER
Malgosia Turzanska for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Miyako Bellizzi for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
Ruth E. Carger for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Film Editing
Olivier Bugge Coutté for Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France Sweden, UK and Turkey
Stephen Mirrione for F1, Joseph Kosinski, USA
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
*Andy Jurgensen for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA - WINNER
Michael P. Shawver for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Makeup and Hairstyling
Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg for Den stygge stesøsteren (The Ugly Stepsister), Emilie Blichfeldt, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Poland and Sweden
*Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA - WINNER
Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu for Kokuho, Sang-il Lee, Japan 
Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA
Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein for Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie, USA, Japan and Canada

Music - Original Score
Jerskin Fendrix for Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland, UK, Canada, South Korea and USA
Alexandre Desplat for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
Max Richter for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Jonny Greenwood for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
*Ludwig Göransson for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA - WINNER

Music - Original Song
"Dear Me" from Diane Warren: Relentless, Bess Kargman, USA (documentary) 
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

*"Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, USA and Canada - WINNER
Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park

“I Lied to You” from Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA
Music and Lyric by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson

“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams, Clint Bentley, USA
Music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner; Lyric by Nick Cave

"Sweet Dreams of Joy" from Viva Verdi!, Yvonne Russo,  Italy and USA 
Music and Lyric by Nicholas Pike

Production Design
*Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA - WINNER
Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao, UK and USA
Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie, USA and Finland
Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Sound
*Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta for F1, Joseph Kosinski, USA - WINNER
Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern for Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro, Mexico and USA
José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA
Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA
Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas for Sirât, Oliver Laxe, France and Spain

Visual Effects
*Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett for Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, USA and Canada - WINNER
Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson for F1, Joseph Kosinski, USA
David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould for Jurassic World: Rebirth, Gareth Edwards, USA, UK, Malta, India, Taiwan, and Japan
Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K. McLaughlin for The Lost Bus, Paul Greengrass, USA
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean for Sinners, Ryan Coogler, USA

Short Films

Animated Short Film
Forevergreen, Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, USA 13'
Papillon (Butterfly), Florence Miailhe, France 15'
Retirement Plan, John Kelly, Ireland 7'
*The Girl Who Cried Pearls, Chirs Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, Canada 17' - WINNER
Три сестры The Three Sisters, Konstantin Bronzit, Israel, Cyprus and Russia 14'

Documentary Short Film
*All The Empty Rooms, Joshua Seftel, USA 34' - WINNER
Armed Only With A Camera: the Life and Death of Brent Renaud, Craig Renaud, USA 37'
Children No More: "Were and are Gone", Hilla Medalia, USA, Israel and UK 36' 
The Devil Is Busy, Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir, USA 31'
Perfectly Strangeness, Alison McAlpine, Canada and Chile 15'

Live Action Short Film (tie)
*Deux personnes échangeant de la salive (Two People Exchanging Saliva), Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, France and USA 36' - WINNER
A Friend of Dorothy, Lee Knight,  UK 21'
Butcher's Stain, Meyer Levison-Blount, Israel 26'
Jane Austen's Period Drama, Julia Aks and Steve Pinder,  USA 13'
*The Singers, Sam A. Davis, USA 18' - WINNER

To check nominations at official site go here.

Nominations Announcement Video