Fri Jan 24 20:01:52 IST 2025: **Hollywood’s Oscar Nominations Reflect a Year of Wildfires, Strikes, and a Divided Nation**

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a year marked by devastating wildfires, Hollywood strikes, and a controversial presidential election, the Academy Awards nominations unveiled Thursday offered a diverse and unpredictable landscape. The Spanish-language, French-made film “Emilia Pérez,” a Netflix narco-musical about trans identity, dominated with 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, making her the first openly trans actor ever nominated. This makes it the most-nominated non-English language film in Oscar history.

The film’s success, along with the 10 nominations for Universal’s “Wicked,” a lavish adaptation of the Broadway musical, and 10 nominations for A24’s “The Brutalist,” highlights a wide range of cinematic styles. Other notable nominees include “Anora” (6 nominations), “Conclave” (8 nominations), and “A Complete Unknown” (8 nominations). Surprises included the Brazilian film “I’m Still Here,” a portrait of political resistance, and “Nickel Boys,” a daringly crafted drama.

The nominations also recognized films that had faced distribution challenges, including “The Apprentice,” a dramatization of Donald Trump’s early years, which earned nominations for its stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Strong expressed mixed emotions about the nomination, acknowledging the controversial nature of the film’s subject.

The Best Actor category features Stan, Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), and Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”). The Best Actress nominees include Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Gascón, Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), and Mikey Madison (“Anora”).

The nominations were delayed twice due to the devastating wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles, impacting the film industry. While some called for the Oscars to be canceled, the Academy is pressing ahead with the ceremony on March 2, framing it as a symbol of resilience for the city and the industry. This year’s ceremony will acknowledge the wildfires and celebrate the work of filmmakers. Despite the challenges, the Academy Awards nominations showcase a diverse range of films, reflecting the complexities and resilience of Hollywood in a turbulent year.

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