Oscars Shortlist Announcement 2026 – The Countdown Begins

What the Oscars are all About

The Oscars – the pinnacle of achievement in the film industry – are a benchmark of excellence that every movie maker around the world strives for. The Academy Awards are handed out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognise outstanding work in every aspect of filmmaking : from acting and direction to the technical wizardry that goes into making a movie’s visual effects. This year’s 98th Academy Awards will be celebrating the very best in movie-making from 2025, culminating in a star-studded bash on March 15th 2026, hosted by the legendary Conan O’Brien. The whole shebang will be broadcast live on ABC to over 200 countries. The Oscars set the bar incredibly high for creativity and technical excellence in movie-making history.

The Oscars shortlist announcement for the 98th Academy Awards went down on December 16, 2025, with shortlists revealed for 12 categories. The Oscars shortlist is a key mid-season event, narrowing the field of contenders in specific categories, leading up to the big final nominations reveal.

All rounds of Oscars voting are done by secret online ballot – the results are tabulated by the independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

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The Shortlist Is Out – A Glimpse into the Oscars

This year’s Oscars shortlist for the 98th Academy Awards sees the Academy unveil shortlists in 12 key categories that highlight just how diverse and innovative contemporary cinema is. The Oscars shortlist announcement on December 16, 2025, revealed the films and contenders moving on in each category.

In the animated short film category, 15 films made the cut, with 113 films qualified this year. “Autokar”, “Butterfly” and “The Shyness of Trees” are among the standout entries – a testament to the creativity and imagination in animation.

In the casting category, 10 films advanced – and it’s a breakthrough moment for representation, with 9 films featuring female casting directors. “Frankenstein”, “Hamnet” and “Wicked: For Good” are among the top contenders, with “Sinners” and “Wicked: For Good” both mentioned 8 times, and Netflix’s “Frankenstein” snagging 6 mentions.

The cinematography shortlist sees 16 films make the cut, selected by the Cinematographers Branch. Standouts include “Ballad of a Small Player”, “Bugonia” and “Die My Love” – some of the most visually stunning works of the year.

In the documentary feature film category, 15 films advanced from 73 films qualified, with 10 of the 15 directed by women. “2000 Meters to Andriivka”, “The Alabama Solution”, “Apocalypse in the Tropics”, and “The Perfect Neighbor” are just a few of the standout titles – and the big surprise is the complete lack of music documentaries in the shortlist.

The documentary short film category is just as competitive – 15 films will advance from 117 films qualified, showing just how much talent there is in the field.

The international feature shortlist sees 15 films advance, with 7 of the 15 directed by women. Switzerland’s “Late Shift” made the cut – just squeezing out the UK’s “My Father’s Shadow”. The category showcases some amazing global cinema, including genres like secret agent thrillers and Jane Austen period dramas.

In the live action short film category, 15 films made the cut from 207 films qualified – a real testament to the depth of talent in short-form storytelling.The makeup and hairstyling category is going to see ten films advance to the shortlist. The list will be worked out by the makeup artists who are part of the Academy.

Music (original score) is going to be a big deal with 20 scores making it through to the next round, and what’s really interesting are some of the names on that list like Brian Tyler’s “Nuremberg” and Aaron Zigman’s “Truth and Treason”. Likewise, in the original song category, you’ve got 15 songs going through, with tracks from things like “Sinners” and “Wicked: For Good”. A track that’s really caught people’s eye is Billy Idol’s “Dying to Live” from the documentary “Billy Idol Should Be Dead”, and that’s a big nod to the influence that Billy Idol has had on the 1980s rock scene.

In the sound categories, ten films will be moving on , and that shortlist will be decided on by the sound branch.

Film makers in the visual effects category will see ten films advance, and the shortlist will be worked out by the visual effects branch – ie people who have a deep understanding of what they’re doing.

It’s all very democratic, and the process sees people from all the Academy branches invited to take part and make sure they’ve watched all the films on the list before voting. They’ve also got a few screenings and events to keep things lively, mainly in the San Francisco Bay area.

Once you get to the shortlist, it’s still very much up in the air about who will make the final cut, with only five films from each category getting nominated. So a lot of people have got a lot of influence on the outcome.

Key Dates and Deadlines – not to be missed

The Academy has been working on a detailed schedule for the 98th Oscars, to make sure everything runs smoothly, and that everyone gets a fair go.

Voting for the nominations starts on January 12th, 2026 and finishes on January 16th, 2026. So anyone in the Academy has got a pretty clear window to make their top choices. And then on January 22nd, 2026, everyone gets to find out who’s made it on to the shortlist. The big finale is of course the ceremony itself on March 15th, 2026, at the legendary Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. And in the meantime, if you want to keep up with all the latest news, and check out the official rules and calendar of events, the best place to go is the Academy’s website at Oscars.org

Artist Spotlight – International Feature Film

The 98th Oscars are going to be shining a light on an amazing array of talent across the industry. In the international feature film category, there are some real standouts like Alice Rohrwacher and Lav Diaz – both of whom have wowed audiences and critics alike. And it’s no surprise that 7 of the 15 films on the shortlist are by women, as they bring a really fresh and unique perspective to the category. It’s come down to a vote by branch members and eligible members – who all have to meet a basic viewing requirement to take part. From there, the numbers get whittled down until we’re left with just five films in the running for an Oscar.

The animated short film category is always a showcase for innovation and artistry. People like Adrien Merigeau and Alberto Vazquez are using their shortlisted films to push the boundaries of what’s possible with visual storytelling – taking ideas from a massive 113 films that had qualified. The animation branch members get to decide who stays in the running, and they all have to make sure they’ve seen all the films, of course. What these shortlisted films show is just how much power animation has to make you feel and think in just a few minutes, with only five films making it to the final cut.

Documentary film makers are stepping into the spotlight this year. In the feature documentary category, you’ve got people like Laura Poitras and Joshua Oppenheimer tackling some really tough real-world issues. 10 of the 15 documentary feature contenders on the shortlist are by women. On the other hand, the documentary short film category is giving a platform to some new talent like Camille de Chenay and Orsin Alcoser – and their films are having a real conversation with the 117 films that are in the running. Both of the documentary categories mean the nominees have to have watched all the films – and it’s only after that that the numbers get whittled down to the final five.Behind the scenes, it’s the unsung heroes of the movies getting their well-deserved shine. You’ve got makeup and hair artists like Naomi Donne and Love Larson, who bring their characters to life in films like “The Alto Knights” and “Kokuho”. These people are the real magic makers behind the big screen, and the recognition from the academy’s makeup artists (who by the way, are branch members with a minimum viewing requirement, they’ve got to have seen the movies to have an opinion) is a testament to just how much of a difference they make. Only a handful of films now remain on the shortlist, and we’re down to five that will get the Oscar nod they so desperately deserve.

Music is also featuring pretty heavily this year, with super talented composers like Lesley Barber and Hildur Guðnadóttir making the grade in the original score category with some seriously evocative soundtracks in films like “Diane Warren: Relentless” and “Hedda”. And don’t forget the song-writers too – the likes of Stephen Schwartz and Diane Warren are being recognised for some of the catchiest tunes out there – we’re talking stand-out tracks from “Wicked: For Good”. The music branch members (who again have to have seen a certain number of films to be eligible) are the ones making the tough decisions here, determining which films make the cut and which five get the Oscar nod.

Visual effects are another area where the shortlist is looking pretty impressive this year, with films like “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “The Electric State” doing some truly game-changing work. It’s the visual effects branch members (who I guess are all visual effects specialists like Joe Letteri and Richard Baneham) who have been driving this whole process along, making sure the best films get through to the next round. Only five will make it to the final Oscar consideration – and it’s no easy task getting there, even with a minimum viewing requirement.

Casting directors are getting a bit of the recognition they deserve, for being able to put together some truly incredible casts. It’s the casting directors branch vote that’s recognising the great work of people like Ellen Lewis and Rachel Tenner. They’ve really raised the bar in the casting category with films like “Frankenstein” and “Wicked: For Good”. The eligible branch members (once again, with their minimum viewing requirement) are the ones making the tough decisions, narrowing down the options to just five that will get the Oscar nod.

As the Oscars draw near, these artists and films are the ones we should be looking out for – and they’re all in alphabetical order by title, just for the record. They’ve been through some pretty intense voting, but with the support of the various academy members from all the different branches – including those with a minimum viewing requirement – they’ve made it to the final round.

The Importance of Documentaries

Documentaries are a vital part of the cinema scene. They give us a glimpse into real-life stories and what’s going on in the world around us. This year, the feature documentary category has seen some pretty amazing stuff, with 201 docs submitted and 15 making it on to the shortlist. There were some expected titles but also some real curve-balls that shook things up in the season. A few stand-out contenders include “The Alabama Solution”, “Apocalypse in the Tropics” and “2000 Meters to Andriivka” each one brings their own unique perspective. One notable omission though was music documentaries – surprising a lot of people.

The short film documentary category is pretty hotly contested, with 117 films qualifying and 15 making it on to the shortlist for the Academy Awards. Films like “All the Empty Rooms”, “All the Walls” and “Cashing Out” all caught the eye of the documentary branch vote. It’s a tough road to get through to the shortlist and the final nominees, but that’s what makes the whole process so rigorous and fair – only the most impactful and innovative documentaries are going to make it.

For both categories, eligible members of the Academy have to meet a minimum viewing requirement to even get a vote in, which I think is pretty fair – anyone voting has got to be properly informed. These films showcase the art of documentary filmmaking at its best, and also remind us of the impact it can have on people – inspiring, educating and getting some real conversations started.

The Role of Visual Effects

(No changes)Visual Effects – a whole New World at the 98th Oscars

Visual effects have become a true game changer in film, giving directors and artists the chance to create entirely new worlds and experiences that can’t be replicated anywhere else in real life. When the 98th Academy Awards come around, ten films will be vying for the top spot in the Visual Effects category, with contenders like ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, ‘The Electric State’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ all pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of cinema. The Visual Effects branch – a group of industry experts – is responsible for reviewing and voting on the shortlist of films. To make sure everyone has a fair say, all members of the branch have to have watched the shortlisted films before they vote. To make this possible, shortlisted films are made available to branch members throughout the viewing period which kicks off this Saturday. Only once they’ve all seen the films, are the members allowed to vote for their final nominees. These films are now one step closer to being part of the final Oscar consideration.

The Soundtrack of Cinema – Music at the 98th Oscars

For many film fans, music is the heartbeat of cinema, the extra something that turns a scene into something truly unforgettable, and raises a story to new emotional heights. At the 98th Oscars, the spotlight is shining brightly on the Original Score and Original Song categories – two categories that have been awarded by the music branch for decades. And this year is no exception, with the music branch vote bringing together a diverse and talented array of artists. In the Original Score category, there are fifteen films listed in alphabetical order by film title, each of which has its own unique vision and artistry, from the sweeping grandeur of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ to the intimate melodies of ‘Diane Warren: Relentless’. These scores have set the tone for some of the year’s most memorable films.

The Original Song category is just as hotly contested, with fifteen songs – including ‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be’ from ‘Tron: Ares’ and ‘Dream As One’ from ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ – all vying for the top honours. The music branch carefully considers each one before selecting the shortlist and nominees – and they list them in alphabetical order to make it easier and fairer for everyone. Whether it’s a soaring orchestral piece or a catchy pop anthem, the music recognised at the Academy Awards is changing the sound of modern cinema, inspiring filmmakers and musicians everywhere.

How the Oscars Voting Process Works

Its hard work that goes into every Oscar nomination – a multi-layered process designed to keep the standards of the motion picture arts as high as possible. The journey begins with a preliminary round of voting, where members of each branch – such as the animation branch, documentary branch, or short films branch – review all the films in their category. In say animation, its the people who’ve worked with animation the most who are evaluating the animated short films category. Similarly, people with an expertise in documentary film are assessing the documentary feature category, and so on.

Once the preliminary round of voting has taken place, a shortlist of the best of the best is determined, and these films are then put to the entire academy for a final vote. This is a secure and completely confidential process. The result is a list of nominees that really are the very best the industry has to offer – whether its a documentary feature, an animated short film or a blockbuster with groundbreaking visual effects.

The Oscars & Their Influence on the Film Industry

The Academy Awards are about more than just a night of glamour and entertainment – they are driving force behind the film industry worldwide, setting the standard for quality and opening doors for filmmakers from all over the world. The international feature film category – which lists fifteen films in alphabetical order by country – celebrates the diversity and creativity of film-making from every corner of the globe. Not only does this recognition bring international films to a wider audience, but it also helps to break down cultural barriers.

Documentary film makers also get a share of the spotlight, with the documentary feature film category and documentary short film category highlighting the power of non-fiction storytelling. These categories showcase documentaries which inform, inspire and provoke thought on really important issues – and they list them in alphabetical order for clarity and fairness. An Oscar nomination can give a film the boost it needs to reach a wider audience and gain more success at the box office, opening up new opportunities for the filmmakers involved.

But its not just the awards themselves that are important – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also plays a vital role in nurturing talent and supporting the industry, through all sorts of education and talent development initiatives. As the world of film continues to evolve, the Oscars will always be there – a leading force in the art and craft of film-making, and a global champion of the very best in international film, documentary, and documentary short.

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