How Oscars Winners Are Chosen: 2025 Insights and Top Nominations
The Academy Awards, or Oscars, remain Hollywood’s most prestigious event, celebrating the brilliance of filmmaking across the globe. The process of selecting winners involves a meticulous voting system handled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), an organization made up of top professionals from the film industry. In 2025, the process and nominees have continued to capture the fascination of cinema lovers everywhere.
The Oscar Voting Process
The AMPAS comprises over 10,000 voting members, all experts in various fields of filmmaking, such as actors, directors, writers, producers, editors, and designers. Each branch votes for nominees within its respective category—actors for acting awards, directors for Best Director, and so on. However, all members vote for the prestigious Best Picture award.
The nomination process begins with the submission of films by studios, production companies, or agents. To qualify, films must meet eligibility criteria, including a theatrical release within the specified period. Voting takes place in two rounds:
- Nomination Round: Members vote for their category-specific nominees, leading to the official nominations being announced.
- Final Round: Members vote to choose the winners from the nominees.
The confidentiality of the process is paramount. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is responsible for counting the votes and keeping the results secret until the envelopes are opened live on stage during the ceremony.
This year, voting started on January 8, with the nominations officially announced on January 23.
Related: The 2025 Oscars: Full Nominations List, Where to Watch
Related: Timothée Chalamet Shakes Up Oscars 2025
Top Nominations for 2025
Leading the 2025 Oscars race is Emilia Pérez, a genre-blending musical crime drama directed by Jacques Audiard, which received an impressive 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score.
Close behind are two other standout films:
- The Brutalist – A neo-noir thriller that delves into the psychological impact of urban decay, securing 10 nominations.
- Wicked – A visually stunning adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, also garnering 10 nominations.
These films are expected to dominate the awards night, with critics and fans eagerly debating which will emerge as the big winner.
Indian Representation at the 2025 Oscars
India continues to have a growing presence in the Academy. This year, industry stalwarts such as director SS Rajamouli, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, and producer Ritesh Sidhwani are among those representing Indian cinema at AMPAS.
Notable past achievements include A.R. Rahman's wins for Slumdog Millionaire and the enduring legacy of Gandhi (1982), which swept the Oscars with eight awards.
Fun Facts About the Oscars
- First Oscar-Winning Film: The inaugural Oscars in 1929 awarded Wings (1927) the Best Picture title. It remains one of only two silent films to win, alongside The Artist (2012).
- Voting Secrecy: PwC partners are the only people who know the winners before the ceremony, delivering the results in sealed envelopes by hand to the presenters.
- Record-Breaking Nominations: Emilia Pérez leads the pack this year with 13 nominations, continuing the tradition of musical and drama films captivating the Oscars audience.
As the anticipation builds for the big night, movie lovers around the world will be watching to see which cinematic triumphs are crowned and which stars light up Hollywood's most glamorous stage.
