The biggest night in Hollywood, the 98th Academy Awards, is finally here, bringing together the film industry’s biggest stars under one roof for an evening celebrating and honouring the best in film.
As A-list celebrities descend on the red carpet, many will already be winning the spotlight with their fashion choices, even if they don’t walk away with an Oscar later in the night.
The ceremony will broadcast live on Star Movies and will stream on JioHotstar beginning at 4.30 am IST.
Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien returns to host the show for the second consecutive year after presiding over last year’s ceremony. Several major stars are scheduled to present awards tonight, past winners Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña. They will be joined by presenters such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Anne Hathaway, Will Arnett, and Paul Mescal. India’s very own ‘desi girl’, Priyanka Chopra will also turn presenter for the show.
Security at the ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre, has been heightened this year following the recent escalation in tensions after the United States, under Donald Trump, launched military action against Iran. Organisers are reportedly working closely with the FBI and the LAPD to maintain security at the theatre.
Music will also play a prominent role in tonight’s ceremony. Two of the five Best Original Song nominees will be performed live, including “I Lied to You” from the film ‘Sinners’ and “Golden” from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’. The ‘Sinners’ segment will feature performances by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq alongside Misty Copeland, Buddy Guy and Eric Gales, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li, with additional appearances from Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.
Meanwhile, Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna will perform “Golden” as part of a showcase celebrating the folklore behind the animated hit.
Heading into the ceremony, the race for Best Director appears to centre on Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler, both vying for their first Oscar. Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ is widely considered the favourite, while Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ leads the nominations with a record 16.
The Best Actor race is also shaping up to be one of the night’s closest contests, with Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet both in strong contention for their first Academy Award. Chalamet had been seen as the early front-runner for his performance in ‘Marty Supreme’, though the momentum has shifted in recent weeks.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley is widely expected to win for her role in ‘Hamnet’. The supporting categories, however, remain highly competitive. Amy Madigan is a slight favourite for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Weapons’, though Teyana Taylor for ‘One Battle After Another’ and Wunmi Mosaku for ‘Sinners’ are also considered strong contenders.
For Best Supporting Actor, Sean Penn is viewed as the frontrunner despite minimal campaigning, though Stellan Skarsgård for ‘Sentimental Value’ and Delroy Lindo for ‘Sinners’ remain in the mix.
This year’s ceremony also introduces a new category recognising Best Casting.
The night will also include the traditional In Memoriam segment, honouring several beloved figures from the film world who died over the past year, including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Duvall, Val Kilmer, Malcolm‑Jamal Warner, James Van Der Beek and Claudia Cardinale.
Stay tuned to this ETimes LIVE Blog for all the live updates from the red carpet, best fashion moments, celebrity spottings, winners’ list and more.
