As August closes out and September dawns, film festival season is nearly upon us. Venice begins on Wednesday with Telluride playing out over Labor Day weekend. Between those two events, we are expected to get screenings and critical reaction for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, Danny Boyle’s Ink, Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, Florian Zeller’s Bunker, Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care, Simon Stone’s Elsinore, Andrew Haigh’s A Long Winter, and Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard to name a few.

September 10th brings Toronto with their own premieres including Sian Heder’s Being Heumann, Chris Rock’s Misty Green, Susanna White’s Prima Facie, Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky, and Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

Needless to say you can expect a bunch of Oscar Prediction posts over the next three weeks. And if history is any guide, my next update in a couple weekends should look quite different.

Away from festival buzz, there was a significant piece of news since my last update two weeks ago. It was announced that Diane Warren is behind the title track to the upcoming By Any Means starring Yayha Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. The songwriter has famously racked up 17 Best Original Song nominations without a win. She currently is up to nine noms in a row since 2017. It would be foolish to not include her in my five predicted tracks.

There’s not a ton of movement in the major races though it is a solid update for The Invite. Olivia Wilde’s dramedy rises to the #1 spot in Adapted Screenplay over The Black Ball with the filmmaker entering the directorial quintet for the first time. She knocks out Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Project Hail Mary).

You can read all the movement below and expect plenty of posts in the coming days and weeks as the festivals commence!

Best Picture

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)

2. The Black Ball (PR: 2) (E)

3. Project Hail Mary (PR: 3) (E)

4. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 4) (E)

5. Dune: Part Three (PR: 6) (+1)

6. Fjord (PR: 7) (+1)

7. The Invite (PR: 8) (+1)

8. The Debut (PR: 5) (-3)

9. Obsession (PR: 9) (E)

10. Behemoth! (PR: 10) (E)

Other Possibilities:

11. Ink (PR: 12) (+1)

12. Digger (PR: 11) (-1)

13. All of a Sudden (PR: 13) (E)

14. Elsinore (PR: 16) (+2)

15. Michael (PR: 15) (E)

16. Primetime (PR: 18) (+2)

17. The Social Reckoning (PR: 14) (-3)

18. Sense and Sensibility (PR: 17) (-1)

19. Werwulf (PR: 21) (+2)

20. Being Heumann (PR: 22) (+2)

21. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (PR: 20) (-1)

22. Josephine (PR: 25) (+3)

23. Disclosure Day (PR: 24) (+1)

24. Club Kid (PR: Not Ranked)

25. A Long Winter (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Fatherland

Artificial

Best Director

Predicted Nominees:

1. Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, The Black Ball (PR: 2) (E)

3. Martin McDonagh, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 3) (E)

4. Cristian Mungiu, Fjord (PR: 4) (E)

5. Olivia Wilde, The Invite (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Three (PR: 7) (E)

8. Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger (PR: 8) (E)

9. Tony Gilroy, Behemoth! (PR: 9) (E)

10. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, All of a Sudden (PR: 11) (+1)

11. Jesse Eisenberg, The Debut (PR: 10) (-1)

12. Danny Boyle, Ink (PR: 13) (+1)

13. Curry Barker, Obsession (PR: 12) (-1)

14. Lance Oppenheim, Primetime (PR: Not Ranked)

15. Robert Eggers, Werwulf (PR: 15) (E)

Dropped Out:

Pawel Pawlikowski, Fatherland

Best Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Julianne Moore, The Debut (PR: 1) (E)

2. Inde Navarrette, Obsession (PR: 2) (E)

3. Olivia Wilde, The Invite (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Renate Reinsve, Fjord (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Sandra Hüller, Rose (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Virginie Efira, Al of a Sudden (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Cynthia Erivo, Prima Facie (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Emily Blunt, Disclosure Day (PR: 12) (+4)

9. Mikey Madison, The Social Reckoning (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Ruth Madeley, Being Heumann (PR: 11) (+1)

11. Léa Seydoux, Gentle Monster (PR: 9) (-2)

12. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sense and Sensibility (PR: 13) (+1)

13. Sandra Hüller, Fatherland (PR: 10) (-3)

14. Rosalind Eleazar, Misty Green (PR: 14) (E)

15. Mason Reeves, Josephine (PR: 15) (E)

Best Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Matt Damon, The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. John Malkovich, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 2) (E)

3. Ryan Gosling, Project Hail Mary (PR: 3) (E)

4. Andrew Scott, Elsinore (PR: 4) (E)

5. Robert Pattinson, Primetime (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Tom Cruise, Digger (PR: 6) (E)

7. Pedro Pascal, Behemoth! (PR: 7) (E)

8. Sebastian Stan, Fjord (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Jaafar Jackson, Michael (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Seth Rogen, The Invite (PR: 10) (E)

11. Jack O’Connell, Ink (PR: 12) (+1)

12. John Turturro, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York (PR: 11) (-1)

13. Timothée Chalamet, Dune: Part Three (PR: 14) (+1)

14. Dominic Sessa, Tony (PR: 13) (-1)

15. Javier Bardem, The Beloved (PR: 15) (E)

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Anne Hathaway, The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. Penélope Cruz, The Invite (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Mariana di Girolamo, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Olivia Colman, Elsinore (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Lola Dueñas, The Black Ball (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Penélope Cruz, The Black Ball (PR: 6) (E)

7. Samantha Morton, The Odyssey (PR: 7) (E)

8. Tao Okamoto, All of a Sudden (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Parker Posey, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 11) (+2)

10. Sandra Hüller, Digger (PR: 8) (-2)

11. Claire Foy, Ink (PR: 12) (+1)

12. Sandra Hüller, Project Hail Mary (PR: 9) (-3)

13. Esmé Creed-Miles, Sense and Sensibility (PR: 13) (E)

14. Eva Victor, Behemoth! (PR: 14) (E)

15. Scarlett Johansson, Paper Tiger (PR: 15) (E)

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Paul Giamatti, The Debut (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sam Rockwell, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 2) (E)

3. Edward Norton, The Invite (PR: 3) (E)

4. Guy Pearce, Ink (PR: 4) (E)

5. John Leguizamo, The Odyssey (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. John Goodman, Digger (PR: 6) (E)

7. Steve Buscemi, Wild Horse Nine (PR: 7) (E)

8. Jeremy Strong, The Social Reckoning (PR: 8) (E)

9. Colman Domingo, Michael (PR: 9) (E)

10. Guitarradelafuente, The Black Ball (PR: 10) (E)

11. Riz Ahmed, Digger (PR: 13) (+2)

12. Channing Tatum, Josephine (PR: 14) (+2)

13. Mark Ruffalo, Being Heumann (PR: 11) (-2)

14. Robert Pattinson, The Odyssey (PR: 12) (-2)

15. Daniel Kaluuya, Misty Green (PR: 15) (E)

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Debut (PR: 2) (E)

3. Obsession (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Fjord (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Elsinore (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Behemoth! (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Digger (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Club Kid (PR: 8) (E)

9. Tender Loving Care (PR: Not Ranked)

10. The Drama (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Primetime (moved to Adapted Screenplay)

Artificial

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Invite (PR: 3) (+2)

2. The Black Ball (PR: 1) (-1)

3. The Odyssey (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Project Hail Mary (PR: 4) (E)

5. All of a Sudden (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Ink (PR: 6) (E)

7. Primetime (PR: Not Ranked – moved from Original Screenplay)

8. Dune: Part Three (PR: 8) (E)

9. The Social Reckoning (PR: 7) (-2)

10. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (PR: 9) (-1)

Dropped Out:

Sense and Sensibility

Best International Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Black Ball (PR: 1) (E)

2. Fjord (PR: 2) (E)

3. All of a Sudden (PR: 3) (E)

4. Minotaur (PR: 4) (E)

5. Possible Love (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Fatherland (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Rose (PR: 7) (E)

8. Coward (PR: 8) (E)

9. Mimesis (PR: 9) (E)

10. Silent Friend (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Beloved

Best Animated Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wildwood (PR: 1) (E)

2. Toy Story 5 (PR: 2) (E)

3. Ray Gunn (PR: 3) (E)

4. Tangles (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Iron Boy (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Forgotten Island (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Hoppers (PR: 7) (E)

8. In Waves (PR: 8) (E)

9. Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (PR: 9) (E)

10. Hexed (PR: 10) (E)

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. Once Upon a Time in Harlem (PR: 1) (E)

2. American Doctor (PR: 2) (E)

3. NAZA (PR: Not Ranked)

4. 14th (PR: 3) (-1)

5. One in a Million (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. To Hold a Mountain (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Closure (PR: Not Ranked)

8. Nuisance Bear (PR: 7) (-1)

9. The History of Concrete (PR: 9) (E)

10. Rehearsals for Revolution (PR: 8) (-2)

Dropped Out:

When a Witness Recants

Musk

Best Casting

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Black Ball (PR: 2) (+1)

2. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (-1)

3. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 3) (E)

4. Fjord (PR: 7) (+3)

5. Michael (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Debut (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Digger (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The Invite (PR: 8) (E)

9. Elsinore (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Dune: Part Three (PR: 9) (-1)

Dropped Out:

Being Heumann

Best Cinematography

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. Dune: Part Three (PR: 2) (E)

3. The Black Ball (PR: 3) (E)

4. Project Hail Mary (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Fatherland (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Digger (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Werwulf (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Disclosure Day (PR: 9) (E)

10. Behemoth! (PR: 10) (E)

Best Costume Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Black Ball (PR: 2) (E)

3. Werwulf (PR: 3) (E)

4. Sense and Sensibility (PR: 4) (E)

5. Michael (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Dune: Part Three (PR: 6) (E)

7. I Love Boosters (PR: 9) (+2)

8. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Wuthering Heights (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Mother Mary (PR: 10) (E)

Best Film Editing

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Black Ball (PR: 2) (E)

3. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Project Hail Mary (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Behemoth! (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Invite (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Dune: Part Three (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Ink (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Digger (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Fjord (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Debut

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Predicted Nominees:

1. Werwulf (PR: 1) (E)

2. Digger (PR: 2) (E)

3. Wicker (PR: 7) (+4)

4. Clayface (PR: 4) (E)

5. Rose (PR: 8) (+3)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Odyssey (PR: 3) (-3)

7. Dune: Part Three (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Michael (PR: 5) (-3)

9. Obsession (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Is God Is (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

The Black Ball

Best Original Score

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. Project Hail Mary (PR: 2) (E)

3. The Black Ball (PR: 6) (+3)

4. Disclosure Day (PR: 4) (E)

5. Behemoth! (PR: 3) (-2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Dune: Part Three (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Wild Horse Nine (PR: 7) (E)

8. Digger (PR: 8) (E)

9. The Social Reckoning (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Wildwood (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

Ink

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominees:

1. “I Knew It, I Knew You” from Toy Story 5 (PR: 1) (E)

2. “La Nieve” from The Black Ball (PR: 2) (E)

3. “By Any Means” from By Any Means (PR: Not Ranked)

4. TBD from The Debut (PR: 3) (-1)

5. “How to Write a Song (Without You)” from Power Ballad (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. “When I’m Home” from The Odyssey (PR: 4) (-2)

7. “Runway” from The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PR: 6) (-1)

8. TBD from Wildwood (PR: Not Ranked)

9. “Chains of Love” from Wuthering Heights (PR: 8) (-1)

10. “Save the Day” from Hoppers (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

“La Playa” from The Black Ball

TBD from Hexed

Best Production Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 1) (E)

2. Dune: Part Three (PR: 2) (E)

3. Project Hail Mary (PR: 3) (E)

4. Werwulf (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Black Ball (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Digger (PR: 6) (E)

7. Backrooms (PR: 7) (E)

8. Sense and Sensibility (PR: 8) (E)

9. Wuthering Heights (PR: 9) (E)

10. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (PR: 10) (E)

Best Sound

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Odyssey (PR: 2) (+1)

2. Dune: Part Three (PR: 1) (-1)

3. Project Hail Mary (PR: 3) (E)

4. Behemoth! (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Disclosure Day (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Black Ball (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Michael (PR: 5) (-2)

8. Digger (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Whalefall (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Werwulf (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Visual Effects

Predicted Nominees:

1. Dune: Part Three (PR: 1) (E)

2. Project Hail Mary (PR: 2) (E)

3. The Odyssey (PR: 3) (E)

4. Whalefall (PR: 4) (E)

5. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Godzilla Minus Zero (PR: 6) (E)

7. Avengers: Doomsday (PR: 7) (E)

8. The End of Oak Street (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Sheep Detectives (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Disclosure Day (PR: 10) (E)

That equates to these movies generating these numbers of nominations:

14 Nominations

The Odyssey

12 Nominations

The Black Ball

9 Nominations

Project Hail Mary

8 Nominations

Wild Horse Nine

6 Nominations

Fjord, The Invite

5 Nominations

The Debut, Dune: Part Three

4 Nominations

Behemoth!

3 Nominations

Elsinore, Obsession, Werwulf

2 Nominations

All of a Sudden, Disclosure Day, Michael, Rose. Toy Story 5

1 Nomination

14th, American Doctor, By All Means, Clayface, Digger, Fatherland, Ink, Iron Boy, Minotaur, NAZA, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, One in a Million, Possible Love, Power Ballad, Primetime, Ray Gunn, Sense and Sensibility, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Tangles, Whalefall, Wicker. Wildwood