Awards Season Update: Festival Screenings Reshape the 2027 Oscar Best Picture Race
Variety's latest awards predictions indicate that 'Dune: Part Three' and 'The Odyssey' remain leading contenders, but recent festival screenings have altered the landscape. 'Wild Horse Nine' and 'Elsinore' gained significant momentum at Telluride, while TIFF is poised to introduce more challengers. The predictions are updated weekly based on current buzz and events.
The presumed frontrunners, "Dune: Part Three" and "The Odyssey," bypassed fall festivals, leaving the door open for Telluride premieres to gain ground. Martin McDonagh's "Wild Horse Nine" and Simon Stone's "Elsinore" emerged as serious challengers, while A24's "The Debut" earned the festival's loudest applause.
Two films are chasing historic firsts: Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's documentary "You Can See Everything" could become the first nonfiction Best Picture nominee, and Laika's stop-motion "Wildwood" could be the first non-Disney animated contender. Toronto's People's Choice Award may further reshape the race before Thanksgiving.
The potential for a documentary or a non-Disney animated film to break into the Best Picture category could reshape studio investment strategies, encouraging more diverse formats. For audiences, festival-driven buzz may influence viewing choices and box office performance. Awards voters might feel compelled to recognize unconventional contenders, potentially broadening the Academy's historical definition of cinematic excellence.