The 2022 Academy Awards ceremony is fast approaching – with the nominations set to be announced in just a matter of days.
After a year which has seen new releases from filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Jane Campion and Paul Thomas Anderson, this year’s Oscar race is proving unusually difficult to call.
Here’s what you need to know about the Oscars 2022 nominations process...
When are the nominations announced?
The nominations will be announced at on Tuesday, 8 February.
The ceremony itself will take place on Sunday 27 March, starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT/1am GMT (on Monday 28) .
Who is likely to be nominated?
Among the films expected to be in contention for Best Picture are Kenneth Branagh’s period drama Belfast, Spielberg’s West Side Story remake, and Jane Campion’s taut drama The Power of the Dog.
Licorice Pizza, The Tragedy of Macbeth, King Richard, Dune, Don’t Look Up! and Being the Ricardos are also among the films that could receive Best Picture nominations.
Likely nominees in the Best Actor race include Denzel Washington (who took on the titular thane in Joel Coen’s Macbeth), Andrew Garfield (for Netflix’s musical drama Tick, tick... Boom!), Benedict Cumberbatch (for The Power of the Dog) and the bookies’ current favourite Will Smith (who played Serena and Venus Williams’ father in King Richard).
Kristen Stewart was expected by many to be the frontrunner for Best Actress following her role in the Princess Diana biopic Spencer, but a recent snub by the Golden Globes has caused some to doubt her prospects.
Nicole Kidman is the current favourite, having played Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos, while Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) are also expected to be nominated.
The Best Supporting Actress category could see nominations for West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno, as well as Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) and Caitríona Balfe (Belfast).
Kodi Smit-McPhee is the current favourite in the Best Supporting Actor category, following his role in Power of the Dog. Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) and Jared Leto (House of Gucci) are also among the possible nominees.
