Oscar Season 2025-2026: Recap of All the Oscar Contenders from the Venice Film Festival; We Predict the Winners

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS: Can an unlikeable George Clooney still squeeze into a very competitive Best Actor race with mixed JAY KELLY Who's the real scene-stealer of Netflix's JAY KELLY - Adam Sandler vs. Billy Crudup Can Emma Stone really get into Best Actress AGAIN for newest collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos? Is BUGONIA Jesse Plemons' ticket to lead Actor recognition? Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts may be playing with fire with AFTER THE HUNT - could be difficult to recover after early burn from Venice Another genre classic from master Park Chan-wook, but will the South Korean great EVER get some Oscar love? Jim Jarmusch's meditation on family FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER a winner - best reviewed American film in Competition! Guillermo del Toro's beloved FRANKENSTEIN dividing audiences, but everyone agrees Jacob Elordi steals the show! THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE's Amanda Seyfried looks to crash the Best Actress category Is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson really this year's "Brendan Fraser"? Stuns viewers with THE SMASHING MACHINE transformation, but will it be enough? Is Emily Blunt un-beatable for Best Supporting Actress? Never doubt Kathryn Bigelow! Helmer returns with nerve-shattering A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Two female directors for Best Director AGAIN! An early analysis of the Kathryn Bigelow vs. Chloé Zhao narrative THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB poised for Venice breakout! Could be a major dark horse for Best Picture! Who will win the Golden Lion? We make our calls. Support the show