Hollywood holds its breath as official Oscar nomination voting kicks off

LOS ANGELES – Voting for the Academy Award nominations officially began on Jan. 12, as film studios and campaign strategists launch a final push for their contenders.

Academy members have until 5 p.m. PT on Jan. 16 to submit their ballots. The official Oscar nominations are scheduled to be announced on Jan. 22.

Industry experts describe this year's race as exceptionally tight across several major categories. Observers are closely watching to see if films such as “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” will break standing nomination records, and whether international directors can secure surprise spots in the lineup.

The competition for final acting slots has intensified among stars including Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons, Rose Byrne, and Kate Hudson.

Promotional activity has reached a fever pitch in recent days. Ariana Grande recently headlined Q&A sessions for the film “Wicked: For Good,” while director Chloé Zhao has been actively campaigning for “Hamnet.”

Meanwhile, the team behind “Bugonia,” including director Yorgos Lanthimos and lead actors Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, has been hosting screenings and discussions with various professional guilds to shore up support.

The latest reporting from Variety transcends mere awards-season coverage, offering instead a sophisticated blueprint of an industry locked in its most intensive lobbying cycle. The window between the end of the holiday break and the closing of the voting booths has evolved into a high-stakes mobilization phase, mirroring the tactical rigors of a national political campaign.

At the core of these operations are specialized screenings and Q&A sessions hosted for professional guilds. These are not public-facing promotional events; they are targeted outreach efforts directed at the thousands of Academy members who serve as the ultimate arbiters of the nomination process. The direct involvement of high-value assets—including Ariana Grande, Emma Stone, and Chloé Zhao—highlights the strategic importance of soft-power diplomacy. In an increasingly saturated media landscape, personal engagement through handshakes or direct interaction often yields a higher return on investment than multi-million dollar advertising blitzes.

This environment of extreme competition is fueled by the inherent volatility of the field. The late-season momentum of outliers like Fernanda Torres last year serves as a cautionary tale for major studios, ensuring that no incumbent feel secure. The prevailing industry calculus suggests that a single additional screening or a final round of personal outreach could provide the marginal gain necessary to clear the threshold for a prestigious nomination. In this sprint to the finish, the industry has signaled that no resource will be left off the table.

While it may not have a direct impact on business or daily livelihood, the Oscar race is always a topic of intense interest for the Vietnamese-American community. As a pillar of American pop culture, seeing whether favorite films or actors receive recognition consistently sparks lively debate throughout the community, from the heart of Little Saigon to local phở restaurants and nail salons.