The 97th Academy Awards race has been by far and away one of the most chaotic years across the board. Prognosticators wring their hands with every precursor that shatters their carefully crafted, surefire bets that all seem up in the air at this point. But come Sunday March 2, all the chaos will finally subside and the dust will settle. ForReel works hard to keep a close eye on the awards race, and this might be the latest the team has ever gotten in their final picks. But hey, that’s what makes it fun, right?

We asked the team to select their winners in the 6 major categories as well as pick a wild card category to predict and give us a brief reason as to why they selected the film and/or performer. The lack of unanimous winners is pretty astounding amongst the team, a testament to how difficult this season has been to predict. So let’s take a look at what the ForReel team thinks will happen come Oscar night!

BEST DIRECTOR PICKS

Alex Kokke Picks: Sean Baker for Anora

“He won the DGA, I think it’s not coincidence. Sorry Brady.”

Luca Mehta Pjcks: Brady Corbet for The Brutalist

“I think Brady's reminding Hollywood of the sheer power of cinema as a medium. Between the miniscule budget and immense scale, it's a stunning feat all by itself, but it also signifies that movies don't need to be 9-figure blockbusters in order to feel massive.”

Marty Millman Picks: Coralie Fargeat for The Substance

“Watching The Substance you can see how much love and effort was put into its creation. Then I saw the featurette documenting Fargeat’s process. There’s no filmmaker out there like her right now. She the most deserving of the Oscar.”

Todd Pengelly Picks: Sean Baker for Anora

“I think Anora will win Best Picture, but I can only pick it with the justification that the film will also pick up some awards in other major categories. Baker for writing and directing seems like the likeliest scenario, especially since Conclave (which I believe is facing off against Anora in the Best Picture Finals) is nominated in a different writing category, and not nominated here. So, will Baker be on stage four times on Sunday? I doubt it, but three, including for Best Director is where I'm laying my chips.”

Ethan Hunter Picks: Coralie Fargeat for The Substance

“Perhaps I'm putting too much faith into the academy voters here, but I sense the possibility that a woman will take home this award. The Substance is the most fun I've had with a film and the cinematic experience in quite some time. Brilliant filmmaking from Fargeat.”

Shawn Peer Picks: Sean Baker for Anora

“Brady Corbet started strong, but Sean Baker won the DGA and PGA. Anora also has lot more overall momentum than The Brutalist.” (Editor note: Also they share a name, so Sean/Shawn Hive Stand UP!)

Thomas Stoneham-Judge – Brady Corbet for The Brutalist

“Dang I wish Coralie could win this one, but probably not this time. Sean Baker has a lot of momentum, but Brandy Corbet and The Brutalist checks all the boxes for traditional Oscar voters.”

Chris Richmond Picks: Bradey Corbet for The Brutalist

“They have to reward The Brutalist somewhere and I think this is the place.”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR PICKS

by (almost) ForReel Unanimous Decision: Keiran Culkin fOR A Real Pain

Marty Millman – “Kieran blew me away when I first saw A Real Pain at sundance last year. I knew from the moment he was yelling at Will Sharpe in the graveyard that he’d be getting that trophy.”

Luca Mehta – “As with Saldana, it seems like Culkin is the only choice that we can concretely predict for this year. Also, he's amazing in A Real Pain, but I think his clean sweep during awards season has all eyes on him.”

Shawn Peer – “He has won every major precursor and is sweeping the category.”

Our lone dissenter Ethan Hunter went with Guy Pierce for The Brutalist

“Pearce in The Brutalist gave a harrowing performance as an awful despicable person. I feel the academy really likes to recognize the performances put into evil people.”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS PICKS

By Unanimous Decision, The ForReel Team Picks Zoe Saldana for Emilia Perez

Luca Mehta – “Saldana seems like the only way Emilia Perez is going to be taking home anything at this point. I would definitely prefer the win to go to Isabella Rossellini for Conclave, but it's most likely going to be Saldana.”

Todd Pengelly – “Saldaña, who has been a rightful mainstay of Hollywood for the last twenty years, will win a supporting performance Oscar for giving the main performance in a terrible movie because it's a fundamental law that every year the Academy do one unjust thing.”

Ethan Hunter – “I chose Zoe Saldaña purely because she has swept the awards season, despite absolutely not having an Oscar worthy performance in that despicable movie. Felicity Jones is more deserving, in my opinion.”

BEST ACTOR PICKS

Alex Kokke – Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

“Timothee has a better chance now at winning because Adrien already has an Oscar.”

Luca Mehta - Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

“I was really convinced that Brody was gonna take it this year, but the AI controversy with The Brutalist seemed to have turned heads in the direction of Chalamet. Plus, Brody has an Oscar already, so I think Timmy should get it.”

Marty Millman – Coleman Domingo for Sing Sing

“Each actor nominated is deserving this year, which is the first time in a long time I feel that about the best actor category. Colman though was the performance that stuck with me the most.”

Todd Pengelly - Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

“Picking Timmy because I want to BELIEVE in something! Hey Academy, be fun! Let the younger generation hold onto something, please! (Though, this should be Domingo's Oscar in a just world. It's not even a question.)”

Ethan Hunter – Sebastian Stan for tHE aPPRENTICE

“I imagine this will be the most head scratching to everyone reading this, but I found it to be the most brave performance of the year. It is striking how well Stan mimics the mannerisms of Donald Trump and the way that monster carries himself. I think that this will possibly have the chance to be the big shock of the night.”

Shawn Peer – Adrien Brody for The Brutalist

“Adrien Brody won the big precursors before Oscar voting closed. Even thought Chalamet won SAG, I believe it is too late to make a big difference in the race.”

Thomas Stoneham-Judge - Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

“He wants to be one of the greats, what else can I say.”

Chris Richmond – Adrien Brody for the Brutalist

“Something so chic about an actor who wins in the leading category and ONLY the leading category!”

BEST ACTRESS PICKS

Alex Kokke Picks: Mikey Madison for Anora

“The best performance of the year.”

Luca Mehta Picks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“I think Moore has the best Oscar narrative out of any nominee this year. There's definitely a metatextual quality to the character that Moore throws all of her pain and frustration into. It's such a balls-to-the-wall yet vulnerable performance that I can't help but love it. She's been my frontrunner ever since I saw The Substance at TIFF24, and the fact that she's even nominated has me over the moon.”

Marty Millman PIcks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“Demi absolutely devoured the role. there’s no other winner in my mind”

Todd Pengelly Picks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“Flies in the face of my thinking that Anora will win Best Picture, but the Academy hates giving young folks acting awards, so I think Mikey Madison will be edged out by Demi Moore in the end. Moore does deliver a one-of-one performance, and this will be a great win if it happens. I wouldn't mind seeing Torres win either!”

Ethan Hunter Picks: Mikey Madison for Anora

“I believe Mikey Madison to be far and above the competition here. Just excellence all around. She carries the film to greatness (not saying that the rest of the film's aspects aren't great! It's a testament to her!)”

Shawn Peer Picks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“This is the hardest category to pick. But I will pick Demi Moore because she won Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice. But I would not be surprised if Mikey Madison wins, and Anora is a stronger contender than The Substance.”

Thomas Stoneham-Judge Picks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“I hate to upstage young talent and follow the trend of awarding legacy actors, but Demi earned this.”

Chris Richmond Picks: Demi Moore for The Substance

“I have a feeling Torres might swoop in at the last minute, but I do think Demi will and should win this one.”

BEST PICTURE PICKS

Alex Kokke picks: Anora

“Anora won the PGA and it’s the highest award to have to be the best persecutor to have to win the Oscar”

Luca Mehta Picks: The Brutalist

“I feel like I chose The Brutalist and Brady because they're kind of one and the same. The Brutalist is this big statement about the integrity of art, and Brady is the figurehead of that right now. His willingness to dream big is probably what's gonna lead him to take the gold on Sunday.”

Marty Millman Picks: Dune Part 2

“Dune was the most cinematic experience of 2024. An odyssey like that has to walk away with Best Picture.”

Todd Pengelly Picks: Anora

“I'm picking Anora on a combination of wishful thinking and actual prognosticating. Is it actually the best picture of 2024? Of course not, but The Brutalist fell out of the race and Nickel Boys never really entered it. But, Anora is pretty close to the top of the year's crop, and while Conclave is one of my ten favorite of the year, I think Anora is a better film. It'd be unlike any other Best Picture winner, whereas Conclave would be more traditional, but that doesn't scare me because the so called "New Academy" has shown itself to be far more accepting of Best Picture winners that could be described as "unlike" past winners. So, I'm rooting for Ani to bring home the gold and keep it this time.”

Ethan Hunter Picks: Anora

“Anora is the underdog favorite in this race, and I see a future where it closes the ceremony with the big prize. In a just world, Nickel Boys would win...”

Shawn Peer Picks: Anora

“Despite its slow start DGA, PGA, and WGA. The Guilds are a big indicator for the Oscars and it hard to doubt them.”

Thomas Stoneham-Judge Picks: The Brutalist

“Again, checking boxes for traditional voters. It’s a fantastic film that deserves the win anyway.”

Chris Richmond Picks: Conclave

“Everyone loves priests gossiping for 90 minutes.”

WILD CARD PICKS

Alex Kokke

Best Animated Film Pick: The Wild Robot

Luca Mehta

International Feature Film Pick: Flow

Marty Millman