2025 Oscars Finest Cinematography Predictions

Selection Awards Circuit part is the house for all awards information and associated content material all year long, that includes the next: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Selection senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages mirror the present standings within the race and don’t mirror private preferences for any particular person contender. As different formal (and casual) polls recommend, competitions are fluid and topic to alter primarily based on buzz and occasions. Predictions are up to date each Thursday.

Finest Director Commentary (Up to date Dec. 13, 2024): From Lol Crawley’s riveting angles in “The Brutalist” to the moody brilliance of “Nosferatu,” the cinematography race is full of veterans and visionaries.

On the coronary heart of the dialogue is Greig Fraser, the reigning Oscar winner for “Dune” (2021), whose work on Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Half Two” has already sparked vital awards buzz. However Fraser faces a historic problem: no sequel to a movie that beforehand received for cinematography has ever been nominated within the class.

Fraser’s return to the “Dune” saga expands on the visible language of the primary movie whereas pushing the boundaries of sci-fi cinematography. His use of stark desert landscapes, intricate shadow play, and ethereal lighting has been lauded as among the most breathtaking imagery of the 12 months. But, as outstanding as his work is, the Academy has traditionally shied away from nominating sequels on this class — particularly when the predecessor has already claimed the prize.

It’s a head-scratching statistic, particularly contemplating among the business’s most visually iconic movies. Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) received the Oscar for cinematography, however none of its sequels (“The Two Towers” or “The Return of the King”) earned nominations. Equally, James Cameron’s “Avatar” (2009), a groundbreaking technical achievement, took residence the cinematography Oscar, however its sequel, “Avatar: The Means of Water” (2022), was notably absent.

Apparently, whereas no sequel to a cinematography winner has been nominated, one sequel has received. Roger Deakins earned his long-overdue first Oscar for “Blade Runner 2049” (2017), which Villeneuve additionally directed. If there’s one filmmaker who appears to have the key components for getting a cinematographer onto the Dolby Theatre stage for a sequel, it’s Villeneuve.

Nonetheless, the pattern dimension for this “statistic” is small — fewer than 10 cinematography-winning movies have even had sequels. Fraser’s nomination (and doable win) wouldn’t solely break this curious pattern but additionally reinforce his place as one of the visionary cinematographers of his era.

However there’s loads of others within the combine.

Regardless of an illustrious profession that features “A Prophet” (2009) and “Jackie” (2016), Stéphane Fontaine continues to be looking for his first Oscar nomination. His work on Edward Berger’s “Conclave” might lastly change that. The spiritual thriller, set in opposition to the backdrop of a Vatican conclave, options hanging imagery that juxtaposes the grandeur of the Catholic Church with the intimate, virtually claustrophobic nature of its energy struggles.

Jarin Blaschke, who earned a shock nomination for Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” (2019), is as soon as once more a darkish horse within the race with Eggers’ newest, “Nosferatu.” The gothic horror movie, a reimagining of F.W. Murnau’s silent basic, leans closely on Blaschke’s moody, atmospheric visuals.

Two-time nominee Edward Lachman (“Removed from Heaven” and “Carol”) is not any stranger to the Oscars, and his work on Angelina Jolie’s “Maria” has critics praising him. The movie, a sweeping biopic about opera singer Maria Callas, options Lachman’s trademark painterly compositions and use of coloration to evoke the drama and fantastic thing about its topic’s life. And let’s not overlook, he additionally nabbed a point out most not too long ago for “El Conde.”

ASC and BAFTA will clear issues up.

The 97th Oscars might be held on Sunday, March 2. All film listings, titles, distributors, and credited artisans should not remaining and are topic to alter.