Mon Feb 24 00:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Anonymous Academy Member Reveals Oscar Ballot Choices, Sparking Debate
**Los Angeles, CA** – Ahead of the Oscars, *The Hollywood Reporter* has published the first in a series of “Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot” articles, revealing the voting choices and rationales of an anonymous Academy member from the Short Films branch. The voter, a male member, offered candid commentary on their selections across various categories, sparking debate and highlighting some surprising picks.
In the Best Director category, the voter ranked Edward Berger’s *Conclave* as their top choice, praising its “interesting and exciting” narrative and impressive set design. *The Brutalist*, despite its lengthy runtime, secured second place due to its “incredible” visuals and powerful story. The voter expressed surprise at James Mangold’s nomination for *A Complete Unknown*, questioning the perceived difficulty of his directing compared to epics like *Dune: Part Two* and *The Brutalist*. Ultimately, they chose Coralie Fargeat for *The Substance*, acknowledging Berger’s talent but prioritizing Fargeat’s achievement and the historical underrepresentation of women in the category.
For Best Actor, the voter chose Colman Domingo for *Sing Sing*, citing his remarkable performance. The decision to exclude Karla Sofía Gascón from *Emilia Pérez* due to controversial tweets was explicitly mentioned. Demi Moore’s performance in *The Substance* earned their vote for Best Actress, despite acknowledging the strong performance of Mikey Madison in *Anora*. Kieran Culkin’s role in *A Real Pain* and Monica Barbaro’s performance in *A Complete Unknown* secured their votes in the corresponding supporting categories.
In the Best Picture race, *Conclave* received the top spot, followed closely by *The Brutalist* and *Nickel Boys*. The voter lauded *No Other Land* as a powerful documentary, expressing their lack of awareness about the West Bank conflict and highlighting the film’s impact. The voter also praised *The Wild Robot* for its animation and storytelling, contrasting it with their lukewarm reception of *Sugarcane*.
The anonymous voter’s choices in Best Original Score (*The Wild Robot*), Best Original Song (*Like a Bird* from *Sing Sing*), Best Sound (*Dune: Part Two*), Best Visual Effects (*Dune: Part Two*), and Best Animated Short (*The Last Ranger*) were also revealed, each accompanied by insightful justifications.
The article concludes with the voter’s overall impressions, emphasizing the unique strengths of each nominated film and offering a nuanced perspective on the awards process. The voter’s honest and often unconventional choices have already generated significant discussion within the industry, raising questions about the Academy’s voting patterns and the often-overlooked aspects of filmmaking.
First Piper 