With this year’s Academy Award nominations finally out, our team wanted to highlight their personal favorites! From acting nominations we waited on all season to craft recognition we were so happy to see, below our personal favorite nominations!

Rose Byrne getting nominated for Lead Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is not only such a personal win for me but feels monumental in terms of acting nominations. So often we see films with ‘difficult’ characters to root for vying for a solo nomination that miss out and we slightly attribute it to some voters finding it hard to connect with the character. Byrne in this film plays a realistic mother that struggles with the weight of being a working mother without much support. Her nomination here shows me people connected with the realness Byrne brought to the role and how wonderfully written the character was by Mary Bronstein. – Kenzie

When I wrote my review of Avatar: Fire and Ash, I made a point to mention how excellent the costume design was in this film. As worthy as I deemed it, I never imagined the Academy would do something as inspired as nominate it. Also, Deborah L. Scott hasn’t been nominated since she won for Titanic, so it was about time to have her nominated again. Neither of the previous films had been nominated for Costume Design. While every film has had wonderful looks, the new Na’vi cultures that were explored in Fire and Ash contributed greatly to the nomination. The leader of the Wind Traders, Peylak, wears a distinctive orange cape-like garment that draws the eye. While the Metkayina were a major part of Avatar: The Way of Water, their beautiful ocean-inspired outfits can be appreciated in this film. Ronal and Tonowari’s tsahìk and olo’eytkan regalia are beautiful. You can see how Scott took inspiration from netting and coral reefs for their looks. I have to admit, I think the inclusion of Varang put Fire and Ash over the top to secure the nomination. I’m not exactly sure how to describe her costume, but her headpiece is by far the most iconic aspect, and the detailed shawl over her two-piece set is also very cool. Another highlight of costuming is Neytiri’s mourning clothes. We get a sneak peek at the headdress in The Way of Water, but she wears it for quite some time in Fire and Ash, including one of her emotional scenes with Jake. The costumes in the final battle sequence, after Jake embraced being Toruk Makto again, look unbelievable. The scene where he and Neytiri are walking displays it best. Neytiri’s chestpiece in particular is astonishing. I hope the paint is considered part of the costuming, because it ties every look together. Having a couple of costume switcheroos also helped this nomination come into being. Quaritch and Neytiri donning the Mangkwan garb indicates how differently they dress compared to everyone we have seen before. Finally, it was humorous in the film that Jake had to wear an orange jumpsuit when he was taken prisoner by the military because they were just going to kill him the next day, but the fact that it is now an Oscar-nominated costume makes that part even better. While many might criticize this nomination since they assume that these costumes were only CGI, people need to know that Scott created physical versions of every costume. If we know anything about James Cameron, it’s that he logically thinks through everything. Not only are the costumes functional, but every tiny detail has a reason to exist. Anyone who doubts that should read the Avatar: The Way of Water Visual Dictionary. Although Avatar: Fire and Ash deserved more than two nominations, I’m so happy it wasn’t a lone Visual Effects nominee. This was one of the most exciting and unexpected nominations of the morning! – Eva

Train Dreams is a largely quiet, reflective film that captures a man’s life across 80 years. As a railroad constructor and logger, the backdrop of his life largely consists in the wilderness. With his use of natural light, Adolpho Veloso captures the grandeur of nature in stunning, profound ways. The trees tower over Robert; the fire blazes without mercy; and the final shot of Robert Grainier is staggering in its simplicity. Robert Grainier’s life — and by extension, Train Dreams — seems small but Veloso’s cinematography reflects its depth. It’s one of my favorite films of the year, so for it to get this specific recognition makes me so happy. – Meredith

When looking at the other four nominees in this category, we see casts filled with familiar faces for American audiences. Refreshingly, The Secret Agent is populated by faces familiar to Brazilian audiences, in addition to non-actors in their very first roles. I was concerned when this new category was announced, voters would lean towards whatever film had the most famous (American) faces stuffed into one movie. Instead, The Secret Agent’s nomination for Achievement in Casting is another indication of the Academy’s willingness to look outside the United States for great filmmaking. In the first year of the Achievement in Casting category, I hope this is a good omen for years to come. – Madelyn

There are many reasons why Bugonia may stand out to an audience member, but the immediate thing that pulled me in was the score by Jerskin Fendrix. It gets under your skin and stays there for the entire length of the film, adding to the uncomfortable nature we find ourselves in. Jesse Plemons’ character is a beekeeper and I think this is a perfect way to describe how the score makes you feel like there is this constant buzzing around you. It is unnerving and I love every second of it. I can usually recognize a good score in a film, but this was the only time all year when I walked out of the theater thinking “Everything about that score was perfect.” – Jessa

After Elle Fanning missed out on crucial nominations at The Actor Awards and the BAFTA longlist for Sentimental Value, it seemed unlikely that she would make it in. Seeing Fanning’s name alongside the incredibly deserving Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, who became the film’s unexpected breakout star, was then the perfect way to kick off Oscar nomination morning. From Fanning’s first appearance as her character, Rachel Kemp, wipes away tears at the ending of Gustav’s (played by Stellan Skarsgård) film, she immediately establishes Rachel as sensitive and genuine. There’s not a single ounce of irony or parody that would’ve been so easy to play into. When Rachel says goodbye to Gustav, we see how she has almost become a surrogate daughter to him. Few actors could’ve pulled off Fanning’s emotional tenderness, making Rachel a complicated — and essential — piece of the estranged family dynamics. – Matt

When Best Supporting Actor came up this morning, I sat with bated breath, waiting for Jacob Elordi’s name to be called. He seemed like a lock with the strength of Frankenstein and the Critics’ Choice Award win, but with Frankenstein being a horror film and this category favoring older performers, I was still stressed. Thankfully, he was the second name alphabetically, so my nerves were quickly assuaged. This is an all-timer performance, and considering Elordi is still in the early stages of his career, he got in truly on merit. The range of performance required to portray the Creature is unreal, and he does it all with ease. From his physicality to his minute facial expressions to his voice transformation, every moment is perfect. The fact that he had so little time to prepare and the performance turned out excellent is miraculous. Elordi feels like an actor’s actor. His talent level is unreal, yet he carries himself with humility and a humble attitude. This year’s Best Supporting Actor lineup will be looked back on as an all-timer, and for Elordi to be included in the five is the highest honor imaginable.  – Eva

Marty Supreme has such kinetic editing that is some of the best of 2025. It’s such an energized editing style that is somehow both flashy but not distracting. It perfectly elevates the story Josh Safdie set out to tell. The editing matches the pacing of the dialogue, the ping pong scenes and story as it unfolds. An incredible nomination that honors the encompassing team Safdie works with to deliver his vision. – Kenzie

In less capable hands, Hamnet would completely fall apart. Chloé Zhao, as the artist that she is, brings together this moving, heartwrenching story about William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and elevates through her naturalistic style of filmmaking. She’s not afraid to let the camera linger on raw emotions, or let the cinematography speak for itself. Zhao gave her actors the space and freedom to draw from the depths of their beings to embody grief. Not only is Hamnet one of the best movies of the year, Zhao is one of our best directors of the year, and the lineup would’ve been lacking if she wasn’t there. Not to mention, in a category that consistently skews male, seeing this Oscar-winning female director here marks a three-year streak of female filmmakers receiving this level of recognition. – Meredith

Not only was One Battle After Another my favorite movie of the year, I adored Leonardo DiCaprio in it.  It is no surprise that he has range as an actor, but he puts all of his talents on display in his role as Bob.  He is funny, caring, worried, mad, and full of heart.  He just wants the best for his family, willing to do nearly anything to make sure that they are safe.  There were moments that made me laugh mixed with sentimental scenes that tug on every one of your emotions.  While it seemed pretty likely he was going to get this nomination, it still makes me happy to see him be celebrated for this character.  – Jessa

Jafar Panahi’s personal experience as a political prisoner was clearly instrumental in constructing the story of It Was Just an Accident. Anyone who has seen this film is still thinking about a specific reoccurring noise that peppers the film, and the jaw-dropping ending. The film’s strength lies in its willingness to sit in the muck of uncomfortable moral quandaries. Best Original Screenplay has two international nominees this year, a welcome choice from the Academy as we continue to see voters “overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles.” – Madelyn