Los Angeles Prepares for 97th Oscars Amid Recovery from Historic Wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — As Los Angeles recovers from the worst wildfires in its history, the city is gearing up for the 97th Academy Awards, set to take place at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The Oscars ceremony will highlight the year’s most celebrated films, with Netflix‘s Emilia Pérez leading the nominations with 13 nods, including Best Picture.

Emilia Pérez, a French production in Spanish, has made history as the most-nominated foreign-language film in Oscar history. The film is also up for Best Cinematography, Best Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), Best Sound, Best Editing, Best International Feature, Best Original Song (with two nominations), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Other top contenders include Wicked, which earned 10 nominations, including Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo) and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), as well as nods for sound, editing, cinematography, visual effects, and original score. A Complete Unknown and Conclave each garnered eight nominations, while Anora, Dune: Part Two, and The Substance each received five.

The nominations, announced Thursday, reflect a diverse range of films and talent vying for Hollywood’s most prestigious awards. Categories include Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Original Score, Best International Feature, Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and the short film categories.

The Oscars ceremony will be a moment of resilience for Los Angeles, as the city continues to rebuild from the devastating wildfires that swept through the region earlier this year. The event is expected to draw global attention, with fans and industry professionals eagerly anticipating the results.