The Oscars Are Set to Shine Tomorrow Night

The 97th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tomorrow night. This year marks a significant milestone as the ceremony will be broadcast live on RTÉ for the first time.

The Oscars will kick off at 12 am Irish time, transforming this event into one of the biggest nights in Hollywood. While this season has seen limited Irish interest, late-night television host Conan O’Brien, who has Irish-American roots, will host the awards for the first time.

As the awards season has been quite unpredictable this year, audiences are eagerly anticipating who will take home the coveted golden statues.

The Journal will provide live updates from the ceremony as it unfolds tomorrow night.

Where to Watch the Oscars

For viewers in Ireland, the Academy Awards will be available for live viewing on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player starting at 12 am. This is the first time RTÉ has acquired the live broadcast rights, previously held by Sky for the region.

The highlights from the Oscars will also be shown on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player at 9:30 pm on Monday.

Best Picture Contenders

This year's Best Picture nominations feature a diverse array of films. Notably, Anora and Conclave are seen as the frontrunners, presenting contrasting narratives: one is a dark comedy about a sex worker married to an oligarch’s son, while the other tackles a dramatic election in the Vatican.

The full list of Best Picture nominees includes:

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

Anora recently won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and has gained numerous accolades in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Conclave has made a strong impression, winning major awards at the Baftas and the Screen Actors Guild, a trend that has historically favored best picture Oscar winners.

Acting Category Highlights

The Best Actor category sees Adrien Brody favored for his role in The Brutalist, having won at major ceremonies like the Golden Globes and the Baftas. However, Timothée Chalamet is also a strong competitor for his performance in A Complete Unknown.

Other nominees in the Best Actor category include:

• Ralph Fiennes for Conclave
• Colman Domingo for Sing Sing
• Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice

In the Best Actress race, a close competition emerges between Mikey Madison in Anora and Demi Moore in The Substance. Other nominees include Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).

For Best Supporting Actor, Kieran Culkin is heavily favored for his role in A Real Pain, after winning various awards already this season. His competitors include Yura Borisov (Anora) and Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown).

Similarly, Zoe Saldaña is the likely contender for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, competing against Monica Barbaro and Isabella Rossellini.

Performances at the Ceremony

During the Oscars, audiences can expect performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande from the musical Wicked. Other performers confirmed to appear include Doja Cat, Queen Latifah, and Raye, alongside a special performance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Irish Nominations

In terms of Irish representation, The Apprentice has received nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. However, the likelihood of taking home an award is uncertain. In a more hopeful scenario, Nick Emerson has been nominated for Best Film Editing for his work on Conclave. After his Bafta win, he stands a solid chance against competitors in the editing category.

Oscars, Awards, Hollywood, Broadcast