Best Adapted Screenplay:

Whilst last year represented a category of contenders not necessarily competing for Best Picture, this year signals a shift towards adaptations more recognized in the Best Picture nominations. This year, four of the five nominees are also in consideration for Best Picture, with only Fernando Meirelles‘ The Two Popes absent, a Netflix film based on New Zealand-born novelist Anthony McCarten‘s play titled ‘The Pope’. Another category representing an opportunity for Todd Phillips to earn Oscar glory for the 11-time nominated Joker, with his and co-writer Scott Silver‘s adaptation of the infamous Batman villain’s origins story. In regards to adaptations of source materials, Greta Gerwig‘s Little Women is no stranger to an adaptation, with seven previous films based on Louisa May Alcott‘s 1868 novel of the same name. Though Greta Gerwig is perhaps questionably missing from the Best Director’s nominations, she is again nominated for a screenplay-based award, a testament to her ability to translate original and adapted sources to the silver screen. The Irishman is also recognized for its adaptation of nonfiction work I Heard You Paint Houses by former investigator and writer Charles Brandt, based on the disappearance and speculated murder of Jimmy Hoffa. However, stern competition is offered by fellow Best Picture nominee Jojo Rabbit, adapted from Christine Leunens‘ novel Caging Skies, revolving around the Hitler Youth and World War II Vienna, a second nomination for Taika Waititi, with a long return to nominations following 2005’s Best Live Action Short Film nod. A difficult category, considering the amount of Best Picture nominees involved.

Prediction: Little Women

Best Animated Feature Film:

Pixar has a good record in this category winning nine of its twelve previous nominations the studio has received for Best Animated Feature. Once more, it is in a strong position take home another statuette with what appears to be the final addition to the much-loved Toy Story franchise. However, with Sony becoming the fifth studio outside of Pixar and Disney’s dominance to take home a Best Animated Feature Oscar with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse last year, we should not disregard the other nominees. Dreamworks Animation picked up its twelfth nomination with the third installment in the How to Train Your Dragon series, and Laika picked up its fifth with Missing Link. Netflix has also gained recognition in this category by distributing the remaining two nominees. Both films also come from European studios. The first being Klaus from Spanish outfit Sergio Pablos Animation and the second is I Lost My Body from French company Xilam, both receiving their first nominations. So, the field of nominees is diverse as it often is in Best Animated Feature, but whether there will be a surprise winner is another thing.

Prediction: Toy Story 4

Best Animated Short Film:

All five nominees for Best Animated Short focus on intimate and poignant stories. Dcera recounts a story between father and daughter where Memorable focuses on a painter and his wife. Sister also focuses on the relationship between two siblings within a Chinese family, and all three films come from international filmmakers. Hair Love also shows a father and daughter relationship as he tries to please his child. Pixar fills the final spot with Kitbull a touching story of two rejected creatures created from their Spark Shorts program. People might think Pixar has this one in the bag too, having won two out of last three awards, but any of nominees could win here.

Prediction: Hair Love