Oscar Season 2025-2026: Recap of All the Oscar Contenders from the Venice Film Festival; We Predict the Winners

On this episode of ACADEMY ANONYMOUS:

• Can an unlikeable George Clooney still squeeze into a very competitive Best Actor race with mixed JAY KELLY
• Who's the real scene-stealer of Netflix's JAY KELLY - Adam Sandler vs. Billy Crudup
• Can Emma Stone really get into Best Actress AGAIN for newest collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos?
• Is BUGONIA Jesse Plemons' ticket to lead Actor recognition?
• Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts may be playing with fire with AFTER THE HUNT - could be difficult to recover after early burn from Venice
• Another genre classic from master Park Chan-wook, but will the South Korean great EVER get some Oscar love?
• Jim Jarmusch's meditation on family FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER a winner - best reviewed American film in Competition!
• Guillermo del Toro's beloved FRANKENSTEIN dividing audiences, but everyone agrees Jacob Elordi steals the show!
• THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE's Amanda Seyfried looks to crash the Best Actress category
• Is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson really this year's "Brendan Fraser"? Stuns viewers with THE SMASHING MACHINE transformation, but will it be enough?
• Is Emily Blunt un-beatable for Best Supporting Actress? 
• Never doubt Kathryn Bigelow! Helmer returns with nerve-shattering A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
• Two female directors for Best Director AGAIN! An early analysis of the Kathryn Bigelow vs. Chloé Zhao narrative
• THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB poised for Venice breakout! Could be a major dark horse for Best Picture!
• Who will win the Golden Lion? We make our calls.