The countdown has begun to one of the most-watched live entertainment events of the year as all the lanes of Hollywood Boulevard close to accommodate the world’s largest red-carpet event.
Comedian and TV personality Conan O’Brien, best known for hosting the late-night talk show “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” is hosting the Oscars this year. One of the longest awards shows with 23 award categories, O’Brien says his biggest goal is to enjoy the long telecast. “It would be a shame to host the show and not get to enjoy it,” he shared. Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock have previously hosted the Oscars, but Billy Crystal remains the longest serving host.
Slated to dole out awards on the Oscar are Oprah Winfrey, Sterling K. Brown, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn. In keeping with tradition, previous Oscar winners Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone will also present awards.
Doja Cat, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, LISA of Blackpink, Queen Latifah and RAYE will participate in show stopping performances celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends.
The Spanish-language Netflix musical exploring trans identity “Emilia Pérez” sets the record for most nominations for a non-English language film at 13. Previous record holders, with 10 nominations each, were “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) and “Roma” in 2018. “Emilia Pérez” and “Wicked” mark the first time two musicals have been nominated in the category since 1968.
Other films battling for Best Motion Picture are “Anora,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Nickel Boys” and “Conclave,” the brilliant drama about the selection of a new Pope. Cynthia Erivo is nominated for her role as Elphaba in the movie “Wicked.” Zoe Saldaña who earned her first Oscar nomination for playing “Rita” in “Emilia Pérez” and Colman Domingo, who earned his second nomination for the engaging prison drama “Sing Sing” are also nominated for acting accolades.
For the sixth consecutive year, at least one film nominated for Best Picture has been directed by a woman. Coralie Fargeat’s nomination for “The Substance” is the 10th Directing nomination for a woman. Diane Warren, Original Song nominee for “The Journey” from Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight” is nominated for the eighth year in a row, bringing her total nominations in the category to 16.
The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu. Immediately after, the Governors Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official post-Oscars celebration will follow.
By Samantha Ofole-Prince / Photos by of Al Seib / The Academy
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