Oscars 2022 Irish talent in contention as nominations set to be announced
over 3 years in The Irish Times
The Irish film community is anticipating a significant showing when the nominations for the 94th Academy Awards are announced in Los Angeles at lunchtime.
After landing on best picture short lists for such prestigious organisations as the Directors Guild of America, The Producers Guild of America and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast seems likely to show up in a number of categories. Caitríona Balfe and Ciarán Hinds have a good chance in the supporting actress and supporting actor categories. Branagh himself could break the record for nominations in most categories over a career if he secures nods in best original screenplay and (as producer) best film. Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, the film’s editor, is also in prime position for a nomination.
Jude Hill in the Kenneth Branagh film Belfast. Photograph: Rob Youngson/Focus Features
Belfast, a production of Northern Ireland Screen, is not the only competing project with Irish talent. Ruth Negga, from Limerick, who received a best actress nomination five years ago for Loving, has reasonable hopes of landing in best supporting actress this year for her turn in Rebecca Hall’s Passing.
The nominations, which emerge at dawn in LA to catch the morning shows on the East coast, will be hosted by Leslie Jordan, the sitcom actor, Tracee Ellis Ross, star of Black-ish. They will stream live from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s website and at the Academy’s YouTube page. It is estimated that around 9,800 industry professionals are eligible to vote. The nominations will begin at 1.18pm Irish time.
Director Jane Campion is a likely contender for best director with her film The Power of the Dog. Photograph: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Other films hoping to score highly this afternoon include Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part One is, however, likely to secure the most nominations thanks to an expected strong showing in technical categories.
Following another round of voting, the Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 27th.
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