#FIRSTLOOK: OSCAR NOMINEES AND WINNERS AVAILABLE NOW ON PRIME VIDEO CANADA

From heavy hitters like five-time Oscar winner Anora for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress in a Leading Role to fan favourites The Brutalist, Wicked, and Conclave, and more, Prime Video has you covered.

Anora

A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

The Brutalist

After surviving the Holocaust, Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth emigrated to the United States after being forcibly separated from his wife, Erzsébet, and niece, Zsófia, in Budapest during World War II. He goes to Philadelphia, where he is given permission to stay with his immigrant cousin, Attila and his American wife, Audrey while he searches for work.

Wicked

In the Land of Oz, the citizens of Munchkinland celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda the Good tells the Witch’s story: born from an affair between the wife of then-Governor Thropp and a traveling salesman, she was rejected from birth due to her green skin, which caused her to suffer a troubled childhood. When asked if she and the Witch were friends, Glinda replies that they knew each other and reflects on their past.

Conclave

When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

A Real Pain

Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

The Substance

A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Full list of nominations now available on Prime Video…

A Complete Unknown was nominated in 8 categories, including:

Best Picture

Actor in a Leading Role

Actress in a Supporting Role

Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Director

Best Sound

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Best Costume Design

A Real Pain was nominated for 2 categories, including:

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Actor in a Supporting Role (Winner)

Anora was nominated in 6 categories, including:

Actress in a Leading Role (Winner)

Actor in a Supporting Role

Directing (Winner)

Film Editing (Winner)

Best Picture (Winner)

Writing (Original Screenplay) (Winner)

Conclave was nominated in 8 categories, including

Actors in a Leading Role

Actress in a Supporting Role

Film Editing

Best Original Score

Best Picture

Production Design

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Winner)

Costume Design

Nickel Boys was nominated for 2 categories, including:

Best Picture

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Sing Sing was nominated for 3 categories, including:

Actor in a Leading Role

Best Original Song

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Substance was nominated for 5 categories, including:

Best Picture

Actress in a Leading Role

Best Director

Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Winner)

Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Wild Robot was nominated in 3 categories, including

Animated Feature Film

Best Original Score

Best Sound

Wicked was nominated in 10 categories, including:

Actress in a Leading Role

Actress in a Supporting Role

Costume Design (Winner)

Film Editing

Makeup and Hair Styling

Music

Best Picture

Production Design (Winner)

Sound

Visual Effects

#OSCARS: “ANORA” WINS BEST PICTURE AT 2025 ACADEMY AWARDS

It was a huge night for ANORA, which after some early buzz that seemed to have faded, only to gain momentum over the past few weeks to take the throne at the 97th Academy Awards tonight in Los Angeles!

The Sean Baker Dramedy centering on a sex worker who is swept off her feet by the son of a Russian oligarch, took five of the six awards which it was up for including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. Baker, winning for the first time tonight, took to the podium to make a battle cry for brick and mortar cinemas, after more than 1,000 theatres had closed since the Pandemic. He made his case to Filmmakers to continue releasing films theatrically, before wishing his mother a Happy Birthday. His mother took him to the theatre for the first time when he was five-years-old.

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Brady Corbet‘s THE BRUTALIST also did quite well, taking three Oscars including Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. Meanwhile, WICKED, DUNE: PART TWO and EMILIA PEREZ each took home two Oscars each.

Funnyman Conan O’Brien hosted the Awards for the first time ever at the ceremony which saw much humour, yet also took moments to remember the likes of the late Quincy Jones, and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman who had passed recently.

Complete list of winners below:

BEST PICTURE
WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

BEST ACTRESS
WINNER: Mikey Madison, Anora
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

BEST ACTOR
WINNER: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
WINNER: Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist
Volker Bertelmann, Conclave
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, Wicked
Clément Ducol and Camille, Emilia Pérez
Kris Bowers, The Wild Robot

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
WINNER: I’m Still Here, Brazil
The Girl With the Needle, Denmark
Emilia Pérez, France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Germany
Flow, Latvia

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: Lol Crawley, The Brutalist
Greig Fraser, Dune: Part Two
Paul Guilhaume, Emilia Pérez
Edward Lachman, Maria
Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT
WINNER: I’m Not a Robot
A Lien
Anuja
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked

BEST SOUND
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
WINNER: No Other Land
Black Box Diaries
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
WINNER: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
WINNER: “El Mal,” Emilia Pérez
“The Journey,” The Six Triple Eight
“Like a Bird,” Sing Sing
“Mi Camino,” Emilia Pérez
“Never Too Late,” Elton John: Never Too Late

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
WINNER: Wicked
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

BEST EDITING
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Dávid Jancsó, The Brutalist
Nick Emerson, Conclave
Juliette Welfling, Emilia Pérez
Myron Kerstein, Wicked

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
WINNER: The Substance
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
Wicked

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Peter Straughan, Conclave
Jay Cocks and James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, and Alex David, September 5
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
WINNER: Wicked
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
WINNER: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Beautiful Men
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
WINNER: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
WINNER: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Yura Borisov, Anora
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

#OSCARS: “EMILIA PÉREZ” LEADS 2025 OSCAR NOMINEES

After a slight delay due to the Califormia wildfires, nominees were announced by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott this mroming for the 97th Academy Awards. Following its Golden Globes success, taking Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, Jacques Audiard‘s EMILIA PÉREZ leads the way with 13 nominations. Following behind closely with 10 nominations each are THE BRUTALIST and WICKED. Both films also recently saw success at the Golden Globes, the former winning Best Motion Picture Drama and the latter awarded for Cinematic & Box Office Achivement.

Best picture

• “Anora” (Neon)
• “The Brutalist” (A24)
• “A Complete Unknown” (Searchlight)
• “Conclave” (Focus)
• “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
• “Emilia Pérez” (Netflix)
• “I’m Still Here” (Sony Classics)
• “Nickel Boys” (Amazon/MGM)
• “The Substance” (Mubi)
• “Wicked” (Universal)

Best director

• Sean Baker, “Anora”
• Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
• James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown”
• Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”
• Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”

Best actress

• Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
• Karla Sofia Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
• Mikey Madison, “Anora”
• Demi Moore, “The Substance”
• Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”

Best actor

• Adrian Brody, “The Brutalist”
• Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
• Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
• Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
• Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”

Best supporting actress

• Monica Barbaro, “A Complete Unknown”
• Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
• Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”
• Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”
• Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”

Best supporting actor

• Yura Borisov, “Anora”
• Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
• Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
• Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
• Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”

Best original screenplay

• “Anora,” Sean Baker
• “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold
• “A Real Pain,” Jesse Eisenberg
• “September 5,” Tim Fehlbaum & Moritz Binder
• “The Substance,” Coralie Fargeat

Best adapted screenplay

• “A Complete Unknown,” Jay Cocks & James Mangold
• “Conclave,” Peter Straughan
• “Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain & Nicolas Livecchi
• “Nickel Boys,” RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
• “Sing Sing,” Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin & John “Divine G” Whitfield

Best international feature

• “I’m Still Here,” Walter Salles (Brazil)
• “The Girl with the Needle,” Magnus von Horn (Denmark)
• “Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard (France)
• “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Mohammad Rasoulof (Germany)
• “Flow,” Miguel Gomes (Latvia)

Best documentary feature

• “Black Box Diaries,” Shiori Itō (MTV)
• “No Other Land,” Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor (No distributor)
• “Porcelain War,” Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev (Picturehouse)
• “Soundtrack for a Cout d’Etat,” Johan Grimonprez (Kino Lorber)
• “Sugarcane,” Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie (Nat Geo)

Best animated feature

• “Flow” (Janus Films/Sideshow)
• “Inside Out 2” (Disney/Pixar)
• “Memoir of a Snail” (IFC Films)
• “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (Aardman/Netflix)
• “The Wild Robot” (Dreamworks/Universal)

Best cinematography

• “The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley
• “Dune: Part Two,” Greig Fraser
• “Emilia Pérez,” Paul Guillaume
• “Maria,” Edward Lachman
• “Nosferatu,” Jarin Blaschke

Best costume design

• “A Complete Unknown,” Arianne Phillips
• “Conclave,” Lisy Christl
• “Gladiator II,” Janty Yates
• “Nosferatu,” Linda Muir
• “Wicked,” Paul Tazewell

Best film editing

• “Anora,” Sean Baker
• “The Brutalist,” Dávid Jancsó
• “Conclave,” Nick Emerson
• “Emilia Pérez,” Juliette Welfling
• “Wicked,” Myron Kerstein

Best production design

• “The Brutalist,” Judy Becker
• “Conclave,” Suzie Davies
• “Dune: Part Two,” Patrice Vermette
• “Nosferatu,” Craig Lathrop
• “Wicked,” Nathan Crowley

Best original score

• “The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg
• “Conclave,” Volker Bertelmann
• “Emilia Pérez,” Clément Ducol & Camille
• “Wicked,” John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
• “The Wild Robot,” Kris Bowers

Best original song

• “Never Too Late,” “Elton John: Never Too Late” (Elton John & Brandi Carlile)
• “El Mal,” “Emilia Pérez” (Clement Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard)
• “Mi Camino,” “Emilia Pérez” (Clement Ducol & Camille)
• “Like a Bird,” “Sing Sing” (Adrian Quesada & Abraham Alexander)
• “The Journey,” “The Six Triple Eight” (Diane Warren)

Best sound

• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Wicked”
• “The Wild Robot”

Best visual effects

• “Alien: Romulus”
• “Better Man”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
• “Wicked”

Best makeup and hairstyling

• “A Different Man”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Nosferatu”
• “The Substance”
• “Wicked”

Best documentary short

• “Death by Numbers”
• “I Am Ready, Warden”
• “Incident”
• “Instruments of a Beating Heart”
• “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”

Best animated short

• “Beautiful Men”
• “In the Shadow of the Cypress”
• “Magic Candies”
• “Wander to Wonder”
• “Yuck!”

Best live-action short

• “A Lien”
• “Anuja”
• “I’m Not a Robot”
• “The Last Ranger”
• “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”

The Oscars are scheduled on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, to be aired on ABC at 7 PM ET.

#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL NAME THEIR BEST-OF 2024 FILM LISTS

What a fantastic year in Cinema 2024 was! The Team – Nicholas Porteous, Amanda Gilmore, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and Mr. Will unveil for you their best-of 2024 film lists here which you absolutely cannot miss! There are some surprises!

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What were your faves? Let us know on IG and FB!

We thank you so much for your supporting all these years including 2024 and cannot wait to bring you the goods in 2025 whether it be first looks, screening pass giveaways, reviews or interviews, we will continue to be there for you!

To an epic 2025!

Team Mr. Will

#FIRSTLOOK: NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced today with Sean Baker‘s ANORA and Jane Schoenbrun‘s I SAW THE TV GLOW both leading the way with six nominations! The Awards take place February 22, 2025 in Santa Monica, marking the 40th edition of the Awards. SNL alumni Aidy Bryant returns to hosting duties.

Nominees are as follows:

Best Feature
“Anora”

“I Saw the TV Glow”

“Nickel Boys”

“Sing Sing”

“The Substance”

Best First Feature
“Didi”

“In the Summers”

“Janet Planet”

“The Piano Lesson”

“Problemista”

Best Director
Ali Abbasi, “The Apprentice”

Sean Baker, “Anora”

Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”

Alonso Ruizpalacios, “La Cocina”

Jane Schoenbrun, “I Saw the TV Glow”

Best Lead Performance
Amy Adams, “Nightbitch”

Ryan Destiny, “The Fire Inside”

Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”

Keith Kupferer, “Ghostlight”

Mikey Madison, “Anora”

Demi Moore, “The Substance”

Hunter Schafer, “Cuckoo”

Justice Smith, “I Saw the TV Glow”

June Squibb, “Thelma”

Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”

Best Supporting Performance
Yura Borisov, “Anora”

Joan Chen, “Didi”

Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”

Danielle Deadwyler, “The Piano Lesson”

Carol Kane, “Between the Temples”

Karren Karagulian, “Anora”

Kani Kusruti, “Girls Will Be Girls”

Brigette Lundy-Paine, “I Saw the TV Glow”

Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, “Sing Sing”

Adam Pearson, “A Different Man”

Best Breakthrough Performance
Isaac Krasner, “Big Boys”

Katy O’Brian, “Love Lies Bleeding”

Mason Alexander Park, “National Anthem”

René Pérez Joglar, “In the Summers”

Maisy Stella, “My Old Ass”

Best Screenplay
Aaron Schimberg, “A Different Man”

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, “Heretic”

Jane Schoenbrun, “I Saw the TV Glow”

Megan Park, “My Old Ass”

Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”

Best First Screenplay
Joanna Arnow, “The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed”

Annie Baker, “Janet Planet”

India Donaldson, “Good One”

Julio Torres, “Problemista”

Sean Wang, “Didi”

Best International Film
“All We Imagine as Light”

“Black Dog”

“Flow”

“Green Border”

“Hard Truths”

Best Documentary
“Gaucho Gaucho”

“Hummingbirds”

“No Other Land”

“Patrice: The Movie”

“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat”

Best Cinematography
“La Cocina”

“The Fire Inside”

“Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell”

“Janet Planet”

“Nickel Boys”

Best Editing
“The Apprentice”

“Didi”

“Jazzy”

“Nightbitch”

“September 5”

Best New Scripted Series
“Baby Reindeer”

“Diarra from Detroit”

“English Teacher”

“Fantasmas”

“Shogun”

Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Brian Jordan Alvarez, “English Teacher”

Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”

Kathryn Hahn, “Agatha All Along”

Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”

Julianne Moore, “Mary & George”

Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”

Anna Sawai, “Shogun”

Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Tadanobu Asano, “Shogun”

Enrico Colantoni, “English Teacher”

Betty Gilpin, “Three Women”

Chloe Guidry, “Under the Bridge”

Moeka Hoshi, “Shogun”

Stephanie Koenig, “English Teacher”

Patti Lupone, “Agatha All Along”

Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”

Ruth Negga, “Presumed Innocent”

Brian Tee, “Expats”

Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

Diarra Kilpatrick, “Diarra from Detroit”

Joe Locke, “Agatha All Along”

Megan Stott, “Penelope”

Hoa Xuande, “The Sympathizer”

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
“How to Die Alone”

Ensemble Cast: Melissa DuPrey, Jaylee Hamidi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Arkie Kandola, Elle Lorraine, Michelle McLeod, Chris “CP” Powell,Conrad Ricamora, Natasha Rothwell, and Jocko Sims

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
“Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color”

“Hollywood Black”

“Photographer”

“Ren Faire”

“Social Studies”

John Cassavetes Award
“Big Boys”

“Ghostlight”

“Girls Will Be Girls”

“Jazzy”

“The People’s Joker”

Producers Award
Alex Coco

Sarah Winshall

Zoe Worth

Robert Altman Award
“His Three Daughters”

Someone to Watch Award
Nicholas Colia

Sarah Friedland

Pham Tien An

Truer Than Fiction Award
Julian Brave Noisecat

Carla Gutierrez

Rachel Elizabeth Seed

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN CINEPLEX RUN-OF-ENGAGEMENT PASSES TO SEE “ANORA”

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Cineplex Run-of-Engagement Passes to see ANORA. This is our favourite Film of 2024 so far!

Synopsis:

Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Tell us in the comments your City and tag 1 friend you’ll bring along with you. You can also enter via our X and IG accounts. Enter as many times as you like.

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Elevation Pictures release ANORA October 25, 2024.

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#FIRSTLOOK: NEW REDBAND TRAILER FOR “ANORA”

After taking the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes, we get a new redband trailer for Sean Baker‘s ANORA, coming to theatres this October via Elevation Pictures!

Synopsis:

Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Starring Mikey Madison, Mark Eidelstein, Yuri Borisov
Written and directed by Sean Baker

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: PALME D’OR WINNER “ANORA” TO BE RELEASED IN CANADA VIA ELEVATION PICTURES.

Elevation Pictures is thrilled to announce that ANORA, directed by Sean Baker and starring Mickey Madison, has won the Palme d’Or at the 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival. The Film follows an exotic dancer’s challenging relationship with the son of a Russian oligarch.

The Canadian distributor also will release RUMOURS which premiered to raves, starring Alicia Vikander and Cate Blanchett. The Guy Maddin film centers on World leaders who meet at the G7, but get lost in the woods whilst trying to compose a joint statement on an unspecified global crisis. Beset by thick fog and menaced by undead bog bodies and a giant brain, they navigate the tortured passions between them.