Academy Awards: Early Oscar predictions emerge as fall movie season begins

The fall movie season has commenced, marking the beginning of the campaign period for next March’s Academy Awards. Following initial momentum from the Cannes Film Festival in May, the industry is now focused on major fall festivals in Venice, Telluride, and Toronto to gauge potential contenders.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is currently considered a major contender for Best Picture, following the success of his previous film, “Oppenheimer.” However, some analysts suggest the Academy may favor smaller films over this epic, noting that maintaining front-runner status for over six months is difficult.

New York City is expected to be a significant setting for several notable upcoming releases, including Jordan Firstman’s “Club Kid,” James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” and “The Only Living Pickpocket” starring John Turturro. Other mentioned titles include the documentary “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” and “Digger” starring Tom Cruise.