Fri Jan 24 00:41:58 IST 2025: ## Academy Awards Nominations Unveiled After Wildfire Delays
**Los Angeles, CA** – The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were finally announced Thursday, following two delays caused by devastating wildfires sweeping across Southern California. The Hughes Fire, a new blaze north of Los Angeles, continues to burn, but the Academy pressed forward with the ceremony.
The experimental musical *Emilia Perez* led the pack with 13 nominations, including a historic nod for Karla Sofia Gascon, the first transgender woman ever nominated for Best Actress. Gascon’s performance as a former cartel boss undergoing gender-affirming surgery and reinventing herself is generating significant buzz. She faces stiff competition from Demi Moore (*The Substance*) and Fernanda Torres (*I’m Still Here*).
Other big contenders include the Broadway adaptation *Wicked* (10 nominations), the Holocaust drama *The Brutalist* (10 nominations), the Vatican drama *Conclave* (8 nominations), and the Bob Dylan biopic *A Complete Unknown* (8 nominations). The comedy-drama *Anora* also received six nominations.
Notable snubs include Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Selena Gomez in the Best Actress category. However, a surprise nomination went to Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of Donald Trump in *The Apprentice*. The film offers a critical look at the former president’s ambition and ego. The 97th Academy Awards promise to be a highly competitive and anticipated event.
First Piper 