Wunmi Mosaku got the time wrong.
She thought that the nominations were going to be announced at 8:30 a.m. in Los Angeles and so she slept through her nomination for Best Supporting Actress for “Sinners,” part of the movie’s historic 16-nom tally.
“My husband came in at 5:34 saying, ‘You’ve been nominated for an Oscar.’ I was like, ‘No way,’” Mosaku said. Her first questions: Did her co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo also get nominated? (They, of course, did.)
“Yeah, I was in my bed in my head wrap,” Mosaku said.
Since then, it’s been a whirlwind typical of Oscar nominations morning.
“I got on the phone with my team, got on the phone with our families, then got on the phone with press. I haven’t looked at anything. Danielle Brooks [who announced the nominations] and is a friend of mine, she tried to call me. I haven’t even messaged her to say, I’ll call you back,” Mosaku said.
Renate Reinsve, who along with her “Sentimental Value” co-star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, made history as the first Norwegian actresses to be nominated for Norwegian-speaking roles, got the good news together in Norway, in a room “packed with people” (about 60, all of whom worked on the movie) while watching the nominations together.
“It hasn’t really occurred to her that she was nominated, but she cried when I did, and the same, I cried when she was nominated, not when I was nominated. I just it’s too big to really take it all in,” said Reinsve.
“Elio” director Madeline Sharafian, previously nominated for animated short for “Burrow” had stress dreams the night before. “The second one was extra weird, because for some reason, a ‘Scooby Doo’ video game got the nomination and we were confused, but then also being really polite and like, ‘Well, I’m really happy for them. What a monumental win for ‘Scooby Doo.’”
“And then we woke up we were the Scooby Doo video game,” joked director Domee Shi.
Shi, who is in New York, “celebrated by eating something delicious”: a “croissant the size of my face” from Lafayette Café and Bakery in New York. “It tasted as good as a nomination,” she said.
Clint Bentley kept champagne on hand. The co-writer and director of “Train Dreams” and his wife headed over to a friend’s house in Texas to watch the announcement.
“We were like, ‘We’re going to celebrate today regardless of what happens,’” Bentley said. They watched the nominations after they sent the kids away for school. And, much to his surprise, the movie came away with four nominations, including Best Picture. The snub for Joel Edgerton’s soulful, internal performance is the only part of the day that stung.
“I know we would not have that nomination for a film if it weren’t for his performance at the center. That’s the only bittersweet thing about the day. He deserves any recognition that he gets for that incredible performance,” Bentley said. “It’s so difficult to do what he did with that and to find that delicate balance, to do so much without saying anything in a lot of scenes, he carries so much of the movie just with his eyes.”
There have been many pinch-me moments leading up to today for Bentley and “Train Dreams,” but the most surreal might have been the phone call he got from a living legend. “I got a call from Steven Spielberg and that blew my mind,” he said. “After that, I was like, I’ve won already. I’m happy.
See below for more reactions from nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.
Best Picture
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Lars Knudsen, producers, “Bugonia”
“We’re incredibly grateful to see BUGONIA honored with these nominations, especially Best Picture, which represents the collective work and an extraordinary collaboration of our cast, crew and a creative team that pushed every boundary. We felt a real urgency to tell this story of a world spinning off its axis, and we are grateful to everyone who connected with it in cinemas around the world. We’re especially proud to see screenwriter Will Tracy and singular musician Jerskin Fendrix recognized for their exceptional work. Thank you to the Academy voters for this recognition, and to the teams at Element, Square Peg, CJ ENM, Fremantle and Focus who were with us every step of the way.”
Guillermo del Toro, Writer, Director, Producer, “Frankenstein”
“Frankenstein has been a companion – a guardian angel- to me since childhood. It taught me to see tenderness in darkness and humanity in all those cast aside. To have this film recognized with nine nominations is deeply emotional and personal. This honor belongs to all the artists who gave themselves completely to this work, in front and behind the camera and to the prodigious heart and mind of one Mary Shelley, a teenager whose story has always reminded the world that in the absence of love, compassion or responsibility monsters are born or absolved. Thank you all for embracing our film so generously.”
Emilie Lescaux, Producer, “The Secret Agent”
“This is a very happy day for us and for Brazilian cinema. I am incredibly happy for Wagner, for the entire cast and crew across four countries, for Gabriel Domingues, our casting director, and for Kleber, who poured his heart and energy into this film over so many years. Seeing The Secret Agent receive four nominations is especially meaningful to us, as this film was made with the greatest possible creative freedom and carries a strong Brazilian identity, deeply rooted in Pernambuco and Recife. I am also deeply happy for Neon, who did a tremendous job throughout the campaign. I would also like to thank Vitrine, our Brazilian distributor, and everyone who supported us throughout this intense journey.”
Kleber Mendonça Filho, Writer-Director, “The Secret Agent”
“Today is clearly a great day with these four nominations. One year ago, I was beginning post-production on The Secret Agent. That’s one hell of a full circle. It has been especially moving to feel the support we are receiving from cinephiles in so many countries and especially Brazil — from people who express pride in this international recognition and a strong sense of belonging, and I mean very young cinephiles and filmmakers. This response is truly special and deeply emotional for me.
My heartfelt thanks go to our extraordinary cast and crew, to my partner and producer Emilie Lesclaux, and to my dear friend Wagner Moura, with whom I am sharing this intense journey. I would also like to thank NEON and everyone working so passionately on this campaign. It is wonderful to work with cinephiles. Last thought: we are nominated for the first ever Best Casting award. I believe that a good film is like a village, and to have 60+ great faces that show how diverse and amazing and terrifyingly complex a country or a society can be is something I find very moving. Obrigado.”
Ryan Coogler, Writer, Director Producer; Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, Producers, “Sinners”
“We are deeply grateful to be recognized by our peers and alongside so many artists we admire. What has meant just as much is the way ‘Sinners’ has connected with audiences around the world, the response has been truly humbling. This film exists because of the extraordinary collective effort of artists and collaborators who gave everything to the work. Our deepest thanks to The Academy, our cast and crew, to our Proximity Media team, to Warner Bros., and congratulations to the incredible nominees we’re proud to be in company with.”
Josh Safdie, Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, “Marty Supreme“
“We chased life and got as close as we could. Sometimes work like this goes unnoticed, so I’m stunned to see the film be honored in such a profound way. To look back at the nominated films of the past is beyond humbling. Staring at the names of my fellow nominees fills me with a great sense of pride. Thank you to the Academy for acknowledging a deeply personal film with zero compromises. A film made with blood sweat and tears. Thank you dearly to my co-editor and co-writer Ronald Bronstein and to my department heads for their incredible and deeply passionate work. Thank you to my fellow producers for seeing through what was an impossible film. Thank you to my composer and emotional conductor Daniel Lopatin. Thank you to my entire cast from Timmy, Gwyneth, Odessa, Kevin and Tyler on down to the fucking extras for breathing real life into it. And lastly, to know that the PAs can call their moms and boast that they worked on a nominated film is a unique and ineffable reward. I just want to make the believers proud.”
Timothée Chalamet, Producer, Lead Actor, “Marty Supreme”
“It feels truly surreal to be nominated, what an honor! None of this would have been possible without the vision and big dream Josh had for all of us. This is my dream film, my dream era and dream characters and my heart is filled with so much gratitude. Thank you to my incredibly talented team, I really couldn’t have done it without each and every person involved. Thank you to the Academy for considering me, I feel extremely grateful and blessed to be part of this exciting moment!”
“Today feels like a BIG DREAM. What an exceptional honor from the Academy. Nine nominations for an original film is not something we take for granted. I’m overjoyed to be recognized as both an actor and a producer on this project, and I’m deeply moved by the acknowledgment given to the incredibly hard-working crew.
Josh Safdie is truly deserving of this prestigious recognition and the film wouldn’t be the rough gem it is without Ronnie Bronstein, Odessa A’zion, Gwyneth Paltrow and the entire cast and crew’s hard work. Miyako Bellizzi gave 150% to this project and Darius Khondji and Jack Fisk are simply the GOATs.
See you MARCH FIFTEENTH. IT’S GO TIME. DREAM BIG.”
Clint Bentley, Co-Writer, Director, “Train Dreams”
“We all felt the film was special and I did the best I could with it, and I think we all put our hearts into it but I don’t know. I didn’t think it would go this far and never expected that we’d be having this conversation this morning,” said Bentley. “It’s all very surreal and I haven’t processed it yet. I’m still kind of, like, Oh, we got a Best Picture nomination. I don’t know what to do with that.”
Acting
Jessie Buckley, Lead Actress, “Hamnet”
“It’s an absolute honour to be recognised by the Academy. I am so proud to be standing beside all these extraordinary artists and fellow nominees whose work has inspired me and moved me!
Chloe Zhao you cracked my heart wide open when you asked me to step into Maggie O’Farrell’s world and create our Agnes beside you. Paul, there is no Agnes without you. I’m so grateful to have been part of this story with the incredible village of artists I shared it with.
To make anything at all is an absolute triumph, and this recognition belongs to every artist who bravely pours themselves into the work and journeys towards the undiscovered landscapes of their souls. I’m delighted, deeply grateful and humbled to be part of this community. Thank you.”
Rose Byrne, Lead Actress, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
“I am speechless and beyond honored to be amongst this extraordinary group of women: Jessie, Renate, Kate, and Emma. This is a radical film and was the gift of a lifetime to play Linda. I am so humbled to be recognized by the academy for this punk rock film and to be included amongst the astounding performances this year. This recognition is beyond my wildest dreams, and I share this with Mary Bronstein.”
Renate Reinsve, Lead Actress, “Sentimental Value”
“I just remember when they started reading the categories with Elle and Inga and Stellan, and we were so happy. I haven’t really landed from when they called my name, I just remember I was huddled in by so many people and just laying in first one person’s arms, and then I found Inga, and we were just crying,” Reinsve explained. “It’s so great also that we have this together as a team. It feels so great.”
Emma Stone, Lead Actress, “Bugonia”
“Thank you to the Academy for these nominations and to everyone who poured their hearts into Bugonia. None of this exists without our director, Yorgos. I am forever grateful for our creative partnership and friendship. I share this recognition with the beyond brilliant Jesse Plemons and our remarkable cast, crew and producers. To be in the company of all of these incredible nominees is a true honor, and I’m deeply thankful.”
Leonardo DiCaprio, Lead Actor, “One Battle After Another”
“Making this film was one of the most meaningful and collaborative experiences of my life. It was made possible by the generosity, courage, and talent of an extraordinary cast—Teyana, Chase, Benny, Regina, Sean—and by the commitment of our entire crew.
None of this would have been possible without Paul’s vision, dedication, and belief in this film. He brought to life a complex story that feels deeply relevant to the world we’re living in, and I’m honored the Academy has recognized it in this moment.
Congratulations to my fellow nominees for their remarkable work this season, and thank you again to the Academy.”
Wagner Moura, Lead Actor, “The Secret Agent”
“I am truly honored by the amazing news this morning. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing, seeing, and responding to The Secret Agent. Congratulations to Gabriel Domingues and the extraordinarily talented and diverse cast of our film. Congratulations to my dear friends Kleber Mendonça Filho and Emilie Lesclaux. I share this nomination with the beautiful country of Brazil and the unwavering support, pride and love Brazilians have for their culture.”
Ethan Hawke, Lead Actor, “Blue Moon”
“Playing Larry Hart was the greatest challenge of my 40 year acting career. To make this film alongside one of my best friends, the incomparable Richard Linklater, was an honor in itself. Today I’m thinking back to the first time I read Robert Kaplow’s brilliant, now Oscar-nominated script, which so vividly captures the dangers and the joy in pursuing an artistic life. Thank you to The Academy for recognizing our work, and with it the work of our cast, crew, and the entire company of artists who came together in Ireland to realize ‘Blue Moon.’”
Benicio del Toro, Supporting Actor, “One Battle After Another”
“This is crazy! Waking up to this is the best breakfast an actor can get. Thank you so much to the Academy for this recognition. To be acknowledged among this remarkable group of my peers, including my costar Sean, who have all done astounding work, is truly humbling. The role of Sensei was a gift and collaborating with Paul and Leo to bring him and his world to life, and to tell such a timely story, in such an epic way, was pure joy for me as an actor, a human being and a lover of movies. In the words of Sensei, Ocean waves for everyone!”
Wunmi Mosaku, Supporting Actress, “Sinners”
“I keep saying this, but this is gonna be my quote for my nomination day: You know, when food is cooked with love, it tastes way better. And I feel like this farm was fully cooked with love, and so just seeing that everyone has gotten their nominations and flowers feels amazing, because it really was made with such love and admiration and reverence and peace. It was such a peaceful, joyful, magical set. And so it makes sense.”
Delroy Lindo, Supporting Actor, “Sinners”
“This is an extraordinary moment. To be a part of this history with ‘Sinners’ receiving the most nominations ever makes me both humbled and grateful. I knew when initially reading Ryan’s script that this was a special project and a character that I hoped to make equally special. I’ve been honored to play the role of Delta Slim. Working with the entire ‘Sinners’ team and collaborating with the amazingly gifted cast hasbeen a highlight of my career. My sincere thanks to the Academy for recognizing my work alongside my fellow nominees, and I stand proud with Ryan, Michael and Wunmi and all of the ‘Sinners’ artists on this historic day.”
Writing
Maggie O’Farrell, Adapted Screenplay, “Hamnet”
“What astonishing and joyous news. I’m so grateful to the Academy for these nominations, which recognise and celebrate the work of so many talented individuals who worked on Hamnet. When I was writing the novel, it never occured to me that such a turn of events would be possible: I’m having to pinch myself at regular intervals because it all seems like a dream. I had a wonderful time on set, and being able to co-write the script with Chloé was a fascinating experience. It’s fantastic to be sharing these nominations with the extended Hamnet film family: Chloé, Jessie, Paul, Jacobi, Emily, Joe, Noah, Fiona, Alice, Malgosia, Nina, Max, our brilliant producers Liza Marshall at Hera, Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes at Neal Street, Steven Spielberg and Amblin, Nic Gonda at Book of Shadows, and Focus Features / Universal.”
Greg Kwedar, Co-Writer, Adapted Screenplay, “Train Dreams”
“It’s been a beautiful and surreal morning to see our work on Train Dreams recognized by the Academy. And to join some of our writing heroes across Oscars history by returning for a second year in a row is very humbling and breathtaking. We’ve been doing this together long enough (over 15 years!!) to recognize that a script is nothing without the artists that bring it to life. And so to my best friend and filmmaking partner, Clint, who directed with such vision and grace, to Joel, who led our cast with such a towering yet intimately profound performance, and to our producers and fellow artisans… we share this with you.”
Robert Kaplow, Original Screenplay, “Blue Moon”
“As a writer I’m supposed to be adroit with language, but the nomination of BLUE MOON for Best Original Screenplay this morning has left me wordless with astonishment and gratitude. BLUE MOON is a bittersweet chamber piece. That it garnered the attention of the Academy members restores my faith in the power of small, intimate films—like those from Sony Pictures Classics—to still find an audience. And I share this nomination equally with my two brothers in audacity: Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke. I use the word “audacity” because all three of us are still a little ‘awed’ and still a little ‘acidy.’”
Will Tracy, Adapted Screenplay, “Bugonia”
“I’m feeling very honored right now to be nominated for this award, especially amongst such sterling company. Working on the film with my friends was a hugely happy experience, and that’s all down to the trust and support of Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, all the fine folks at Focus Features and the Academy. I raise my mug to them.”
International Feature
Oliver Laxe, Director, “Sirât” (Spain)
“Thank you to the Academy. It gives meaning to the work we do to know that it speaks to people so profoundly. The level of intense connection with audiences all over the world gives me peace; It tells me, ‘Okay, you’re on the right path.’ Thank you to NEON. I am so proud of our amazing team, my producers, my co-collaborators and department heads but it is most special to share this nomination with the women of the sound team: Laia, Amanda and Yas.
To the beautiful people of rave culture who we met along the way and the families we formed, thank you. We are all humbled and honored.”
Documentary Feature
David Borenstein, Director, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”
“There were so many moments this film felt impossible to pull off, and so many difficult points where nearly everything fell apart. Real risks were taken to get this story out of Russia, and I’m incredibly grateful it made it all the way here. Thank you to the Academy, and to everyone who helped protect the work and bring it into the world.”
Geeta Gandbhir, Director, “The Perfect Neighbor”
“Ajike Owens was a bright young mother of four with big dreams – one of the last things she said to her mother was, “one day the whole world will know my name.” We made The Perfect Neighbor to honor Ajike’s and mitigate our grief around her senseless murder. We are so honored to be nominated, and hope this incredible recognition will further Ajike’s legacy and create real change.”
Animated Feature
Domee Shi, Director (with Madeline Sharafian), “Elio”
“Hundreds and hundreds of people poured their hearts and souls into this film, so this nomination just means so much because we’re just so happy that our little big film got love.”
Chris Appelhans, Co-Writer, Director, “KPop Demon Hunters“
“I remember feeling as we were wrapping the movie, I just went, Dude, I love this movie, and I’m so happy. And I was actually pretty at peace with that. I did not anticipate all this, but I also was like, I feel like people will love this, because we do.”
Maggie Kang, Co-Writer, Director, “KPop Demon Hunters”
“We have to fix this thing where I’m always on stage first and waiting for you and [producer] Michelle [Wong] to come up. My mom is like, ‘You look so lonely.’” (At other awards shows this season, Kang has been the first one from the team on stage.)
Maïlys Vallade, Director, “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
“I am so shaken, this is really a huge honor to us as a small independent animated French feature film. An enormous thank you to the Academy – thank you so much for having watched our film and for sharing it!!! It was a long road for our absolutely talented team, to bring the incredible gaze of our little Amélie on the world. I am so excited for all the nominees, and to be part of this selection is insane!!”
Liane-Cho Han, Director, “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” “I still can’t believe it. Thank you so much to the Academy for nominating our Little Amélie, our little independent french animated movie. It’s such an honor that our film has been recognized for the Oscars, the ultimate Cinema prize. It’s a dream coming true!”
Ugo Bienvenu, Director, “Arco”
“It’s a real honor for an indie filmmaker like me to stand in this incredible selection. Most of all, I am more than happy that a 2D handcrafted movie made by a young generation of French craftspeople is being highlighted by this prestigious competition. When I started creating this film, it was difficult to be optimistic about our shared future. With ‘Arco,’ I wanted to give a big hug to people in dark times. I hope audiences have felt that embrace. I want to deeply thank the Academy, this nomination feels like a big hug to share with my fellow nominees. Thank you.”
Yvett Merino, Producer, “Zootopia 2”
“I think it’s just really exciting that everybody’s work is being recognized. There are so many people who worked on this and even just talking to everyone yesterday in the studio, they were like, ‘Oh, good luck.’ And I was like, ‘Good luck to everyone,’ because really, it is a celebration of everyone’s work, and to know that their hard work has been recognized is really exciting.”
Jared Bush, Director, “Zootopia 2”
“The other thing that’s exciting because Oscars, depending where you’re celebrating, all of film and animation is such an important part of that. And this year, as we’re trying to get people to come back to theaters, it’s a great way to celebrate all the animation is doing as well. And I think that’s really, really important, because it takes so many people to make one of these films, and it’s great to see their work celebrated.”
Byron Howard, Director, “Zootopia 2”
“The fact that people get excited about movies, like we were excited about movies growing up—that’s why we’re in this business. Having grown up watching these shows and watching the Oscars especially, it’s the capper of the season showcasing really, really great storytelling. It’s been a wonderful journey for me and to actually get to attend these awards and spend time around these filmmakers that have accomplished monumental things. In animation, we’re kind of a small community, we really do know a lot of the folks working all these different studios, so we I think it’s a very good, supportive community. And just like Jared said, I’m glad animation is making a bigger spot and helping to get people back in those seats.”
Casting
Jennifer Venditti, “Marty Supreme”
“This is a historic day for everyone in the casting community, truly a win for us ALL. When you are deep in the trenches bringing human life to an incredible script like Marty Supreme, it’s hard to imagine this could ever happen.
I take great pride in the privilege of doing this work, exploring the full spectrum of humanity through the lens of casting and to have that recognized by the Academy is both an immense honor and truly mind-blowing especially to be nominated for the very first Casting Oscar and seeing my name among these giants in the craft. I am deeply humbled and profoundly emotional.
I share this nomination with my incredible visionary collaborator and director, Josh Safdie, who has given me such extraordinary creative gifts by allowing me to work and create in such unique ways.
I feel so much joy seeing nearly the entire Marty Supreme family recognized. Thank you for SEEING us. And to my brilliant team. You are the quiet architects of this moment. This is for all of us.
Thank you to the ACADEMY.”
Gabriel Domingues, “The Secret Agent”
“It is an immense honor to receive an Academy Award nomination for my work as casting director on The Secret Agent. It’s a privilege to be nominated alongside the casting directors I have always looked up to.
As the casting director, my work on The Secret Agent was guided by a commitment to precision and authenticity. Each character, no matter how small, needed to feel rooted in the specific reality of Recife in 1977. The process required finding performers whose presence, faces, and inner lives could truthfully reflect the social, emotional, and historical layers of that time and place.
This nomination is especially meaningful because it recognizes the ensemble as a whole, built through careful collaboration, trust, and openness to both established actors and new voices. I am deeply grateful to our maestro Kleber Mendonça Filho, our producer Emilie Lesclaux, the entire Secret Agent team, and to NEON for championing the film. I am honored that my peers in the Academy have recognized this work.”
Music
Jerskin Fendrix, Original Score, “Bugonia”
“I love Yorgos and I love my colleagues. Thank you to the Academy, the London Contemporary Orchestra, Air Studios, Alex Putman, Will Carkeet & Graeme Stewart.”
Alexandre Desplat, Original Score, “Frankenstein”
“Ì thank my peers at the music branch of the Academy for this nomination, which goes straight to my heart. And I thank Guillermo del Toro, for taking me and his artistic team through his operatic masterpiece.”
Diane Warren, “Dear Me,” Original Song from “Diane Warren: Relentles “
“Dear Me ; when you were sitting alone in your room feeling like the world was against you, could you ever imagine your grown up self would write a song that would be nominated for an Academy Award! ‘Dear Me’ is my most personal song, yet it is also universal as it is resonating with so many so deeply.”
EJAE, Original Song, “Golden,” from “KPop Demon Hunters”
“I never, ever in my life, thought I’d ever be noticed by the Oscars at all, let alone have people performing a song that’s nominated by Oscars. It’s really hard to take it seriously, because I just don’t believe it really. I’ve been watching the Oscars all my life and the Best Song category, it’s always insane songwriters that I look up to. I mean, Diane Warren is one of the nominees.”
Bryce Dessner, Original Song, “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams”
“It’s a huge honor to be nominated for an Oscar this year with the incredible Nick Cave for our song Train Dreams from Clint Bentley’s beautiful film. It was an honor to collaborate with Nick on this song who is one of our longtime musical heroes and whose deep humanity and empathy as a songwriter are a close relative to the heart and soul of this film. We want to thank director Clint Bentley for his incredible vision and his trust in us to make a song (and score) we are deeply proud of. And thank you to all the producers and Netflix for believing in the project. In a time of such intense human suffering and conflict, train dreams is a film about human empathy and loss which is something that we all can relate to.”
Costume Design
Malgosia Turzanska, Costume Designer, “Hamnet”
“I am absolutely stunned! I honestly still cannot believe it! I was watching the announcement in Krakow with my Mom, who had a stick in one hand (in case if I got too sad and needed reminding to get over myself haha!) and a bottle of champagne in the other. I am so proud to be among these incredible nominees, what an absolute honor. I also know I would be nowhere without my incredible costume team, and all of our incredible Hamnet collaborators — Chloé, Jessie, Paul, Fiona, Nicole, and especially Łukasz — to quote my Mom again — he is the person who made my costumes look the way they did, so this nomination is also his.”
Miyako Bellizzi, “Marty Supreme”
“It feels truly surreal to be nominated, what an honor! None of this would have been possible without the vision and big dream Josh had for all of us. This is my dream film, my dream era and dream characters and my heart is filled with so much gratitude. Thank you to my incredibly talented team, I really couldn’t have done it without each and every person involved. Thank you to the Academy for considering me, I feel extremely grateful and blessed to be part of this exciting moment!”
Deborah Scott, Costume Designer, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
Deborah Scott understands that you might not even understand what her nomination for Best Costume Design means when it comes to James Cameron’s sprawling, largely computer-generated sci-fi epic.
“It’s an unusual nomination. It’s an unusual format to work in,” Scott said. She crafted every bead, every garment that you see in the film, even if it is ultimately realized in the computer.
“I have to give a kudos to my Academy branch for acknowledging the fact that this is outside the norm. It’s not. And to embrace that is big. I’m hugely grateful,” Scott said. “I think it shows an incredible perspective on where we may be going, how costume design can be in a lot of different formats, not just the traditional way we think of it. The fact that we’re making all the costumes, but they don’t appear in that format when you see the film, they’re completely in a virtual reality version of the same costume.”
Makeup and Hairstyling
Kazu Hiro, Prosthetic Designer, “The Smashing Machine”
“I’m truly honored and grateful for this nomination. The Smashing Machine was a project that required total trust, patience, and empathy from everyone involved, and I’m thankful to be recognized alongside such incredible artists. I share this recognition with our director Benny Safdie, the talented Dwayne Johnson, and the entire filmmaking team. I’m also thankful to my makeup and prosthetics team, whose craftsmanship and dedication made this work possible. To be acknowledged by the Academy is incredibly meaningful to me, and I’m sincerely grateful.”
Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu, “Kokuho”
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Academy. Being nominated for the Academy Awards is truly an honor. The hair and makeup work in the other films was outstanding, so we feel incredibly grateful and amazed to have received this recognition. We are especially honored that the white makeup and Kabuki wigs used in the film’s essential Kabuki scenes were acknowledged, as well as the expression of a character’s life journey spanning over 50 years. We are deeply happy to have been part of this project. Our heartfelt thanks go to the director, the producers, the entire crew, and the cast. Thank you very much.”
Shunika Terry, “Sinners”
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to the Academy for this nomination for Sinners. This film was a true collaboration, and I’m so thankful to have been part of such a powerful creative journey. Working alongside Ryan Coogler and an extraordinary group of artists pushed all of us to bring our best to the screen. I share this recognition with my hair team—whose talent, dedication, and care for the story made every detail possible. This nomination is a celebration of collaboration, trust, and storytelling, and I’m deeply grateful.”
Production Design
Hannah Beachler, Production Designer, “Sinners”
“Y’all! Wow! So humbled, and grateful! This is truly amazing. Thank you to all the voting members of the Academy for this incredible, spectacular nomination, and for all the nominations for Sinners. Thank you for feeling the love and reverence, and the ancestors in this film.”
Monique Champagne, Set Decorator, “Sinners”
“I am humbled and honored to be nominated by the academy for this award. SINNERS has altered my life and the lives of so many who brought it into being, and watching it become part of the cultural fabric has been both surreal and deeply moving. It is a rare privilege to contribute to work that resonates this far, and I’m profoundly grateful to have been part of it. I am especially thankful to our entire crew, and in particular to our leaders: Hannah, whose vision shaped the world of this film with such care and intention, and Ryan, whose trust and golden heart made this work possible.”
Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton, Production Designers, “Hamnet”
“Thank you to the Academy for the wonderful recognition of our work on Hamnet. It is a film that was made with great love and care from every person on set. To have that recognised means the world.”
Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, “Sinners”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with my team, who I love, you know, everyone that I made this film with, so it makes it really easy to talk about and be excited for everyone, because we were excited making it, and I care about everyone, so I think the fact that I’m getting this nomination for a film like this, and that it’s Ryan, and what he’s done for all of our team members, heads of department, are women of color. He’s always believed in us and given us huge opportunities, like when I did ‘Wakanda’ with him, that was a very big film and then moving on to this, it feels right that it’s with him and it’s for this film. And I think that’s important. Because I think when young kids will look it up, like young girls, it’ll matter that it’s this film not any film.
“You can’t control how someone sees it. Someone comes up and says, ‘I saw it on a plane,’ or ‘I saw it on my phone’ or ‘I saw an iPad,’ but to have us go through all the trouble to make it happen on this format and the studio to support that, and like to make prints, because you can shoot something on film, but you also have to make prints of it and that’s expensive. And to believe in it that much and put them in those theaters and that people came multiple times. You can’t dream this stuff up, so it’s been very nice that people have actually seen it the way it was shot.”
Adolpho Veloso, DP, “Train Dreams”
“It’s a dream come true. One of those dreams that feels so distant it almost lives in utopia. I still can’t believe it. I’m incredibly happy and deeply honored. This nomination belongs to the entire crew who brought this film to life, and to my family and friends for their endless support. I’m so proud to represent Brazil in such a special moment for our cinema. Vai Brasil, vai Corinthians!”
Sound
Benny Burtt, Supervising Sound Editor, “Sinners”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited. I was honored just to be in the conversation, but very excited to be nominated alongside the other films, especially my fellow Skywalker family. I’m pumped to go with and cheer for us all, and thrilled for our filmmakers who are having their work recognized with a Best Picture nomination and across so many crafts.”
Brandon Proctor, Re-Recording Mixer, “Sinners”
“I am beyond honored to be recognized for this achievement. Working on this film with Skywalker Sound and Warner Bros. was truly an incredible experience. Ryan is so deserving of all the recognition it has received.”
Chris Welcker, Production Sound Mixer, “Sinners”
“What an incredible honor it was to wake up my family and collect around the television to celebrate my name being mentioned among the best in the industry! And, to know that the esteemed members of the Academy Sound Branch felt our work was worth celebrating with their vote is humbling! We pour our blood, sweat and tears into every project and to have this especially challenging film be one that resonates with audiences and members of The Academy brings even more meaning to an already special film! With Sinners earning 16 nominations, it only further solidifies what I already believed, which is that this team of artists that Ryan Coogler has brought together has managed to accomplish something truly extraordinary and I am forever grateful to have been a small part of this!”
Laia Casanovas, Yasmina Praderas, and Amanda Villavieja, “Sirât”
“We are thrilled to have received this nomination. We extend our sincere congratulations to the other nominees, it is an honour to share this alongside such talented and inspiring colleagues.
This is a milestone we never could have imagined, and it fills us with deep joy and gratitude. We are thankful to be the first women-led sound team nominated in this category — the significance of this moment is not lost on us. The film required taking risks on both a technical and creative level in order to create a raw, impactful, and atmospheric soundscape in service of the story, and we are delighted to see that these efforts and decisions are recognised by our fellow peers from the Academy.
We want to acknowledge and thank our visionary filmmaker Oliver Laxe, our wonderful producers, and the diverse communities who have championed this unique story. Thank you to the NEON team and the distributors worldwide for all of their support.”
Visual Effects
Richard Baneham, Executive Producer, Visual Effects Supervisor, “Avatar: Fire and Ash“
“It’s always deeply meaningful to be recognized by your peers. Film, by its very nature, is a collaborative art form—and nowhere is that truer than in visual effects. This was truly a massive team effort. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially our teams at Lightstorm Lab and the production crews in both Los Angeles and New Zealand. Congratulations to our incredible collaborators at Weta for their extraordinary contributions, and to the team at ILM, who truly excelled. A special thank you to JD and Richie Swarm, and the phenomenal practical effects team, who empowered us to capture performances in the tank under real-world conditions—bringing an authenticity that elevated every frame. And of course, thank you to our partners at Disney and 20th Century Studios for their continued support. None of this would be possible without our visionary writer, director, and editor, Jim Cameron, who has led a revolution on the visual effects side to truly bring the soul of our characters to the screen. And to Jon Landau for forever being the glue that holds the Avatar family together. All in all, this has been an amazing team to be a part of, and I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved together.”
Joe Letteri and Eric Saindon, Senior Visual Effects Supervisors, and Daniel Barrett, Senior Animation Supervisor, “Avatar: Fire and Ash“
“We extend our sincere thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the nomination of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ in the category of Visual Effects. It is a profound honor to be recognized by the Academy, and we are exceptionally proud to stand alongside such a distinguished and accomplished group of films. This nomination represents the dedication, collaboration, and craftsmanship of an extraordinary team of artists and filmmakers, and we are deeply appreciative of the Academy’s recognition of their work.”
Michael Ralla, Visual Effects Supervisor, and James Alexander, Visual Effects Producer, “Sinners“
“We’re incredibly humbled and honored by this Academy Award nomination for our Visual and Special Effects work and deeply grateful for all the support ‘Sinners has received.
To be recognized alongside this year’s incredible nominees is truly overwhelming, the work was remarkable all around this year.
Sinners is a deeply soulful film that takes audiences on a powerful ride that transcends genres, time and space, and we’re incredibly proud to have contributed to this monumental effort in filmmaking by a visionary director who is also an incredibly kind human being.
This honor belongs to our entire ‘Sinners’ family. Thank you to the Academy, Warner Bros., and to Ryan and Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian for trusting us with this film as well as to our closest collaborators: Our incredibly talented fellow department heads, crew and cast members as well as our wives & families.
This nomination belongs to everyone who put their heart and soul into bringing ‘Sinners’ to life, especially the people who substantially contributed behind the scenes: Our VFX Producer James Alexander, ILM VFX Supervisor Nick Marshall as well as our entire VFX crew and all VFX partners: Storm Studio, Rising Sun Pictures, Industrial Light & Magic, Base FX, Outpost, and Light Visual Effects.”
Donnie Dean, Special Effects Coordinator, “Sinners”
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Academy for this nomination for Sinners. While my name appears on the nomination for Best Visual Effects, this recognition carries the work of an entire team. This project demanded everything from the practical effects crew at Spectrum FX — creativity, discipline, trust, and resilience. This honor belongs to everyone who showed up fully and held the work to the highest standard.
The first meeting with Ryan Coogler set the tone for everything that followed. Getting to know Zinzi, Sev, and the Proximity team only deepened the commitment to helping tell this powerful story — true collaborators in every sense.
Deep appreciation for the creative partnership of Michael Ralla, James Alexander, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and production designer Hannah Beachler, as well as the steadfast support of Will Greenfield and Kenneth Yu throughout the process.
Endless gratitude to mentor, longtime friend, and Spectrum FX president Matt Kutcher, along with Lisa Kutcher, the entire Spectrum FX team, and Warner Bros., whose trust and confidence made this moment possible. Truly humbling.”
