The Oscars 2026: A Night to Remember

​The 98th Academy Awards proved to be a monumental occasion. With Sinners nominated for a record-breaking sixteen awards, the first Irish woman to win a Best Actress award, the first woman and first woman of colour to win an award for Best Cinematography, and the introduction of the Academy Award for Achievement in Casting, it truly was an event to remember. Alongside One Battle After Another (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson) receiving the award for Best Picture, here are some more of last night's winners:




Michael B. Jordan - Actor in a Leading Role (Sinners)


Jordan began his career as a child model in commercials, before landing roles in shows such as The Sopranos and The Wire. After a critic stated Jordan reminded him of a “young Denzel Washington” when reviewing his performance in Fruitvale Station, Michael B. Jordan was named as a breakout star.


With his dual performance as criminal twin brothers Smoke and Stack, Jordan won his first Oscar at last night's ceremony. Similarly known for his performances in the likes of Black Panther and Creed, Jordan acknowledged fellow Black Oscar winners in his acceptance speech:


“I stand here because of the people that came before me. Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. To be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys.”


Other nominees were: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).




Jessie Buckley - Actress in a Leading Role (Hamnet)


As a child, Buckley participated in school productions and acting workshops and later appeared as a contestant on I’d Do Anything (a talent show centred around the search for an unknown actress to play the role of Nancy in the 2009 West End revival of Oliver Twist) on which she came second. She later attended RADA, a prestigious drama school in London.


Portraying Agnes Shakespeare and starring alongside Paul Mescal, Buckley is the first Irish woman to win an award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Buckley thanked fellow female professionals during her speech:


“Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside; I am inspired by your art and your heart, and I want to work with every single one of you.”


Casting director and nominee for the new Best Casting award, Nina Gold was the one to cast Buckley in Hamnet. In an interview for The Credits, she said:


“I have always loved Jessie Buckley. I’ve cast her a couple of times before, and I’ve watched every single thing she’s ever done. I’ve gotten to know her quite well over the years. She’s so phenomenal, and everything about her seemed to cry out that she should be Agnes.”


Other nominees were: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia).




Sean Penn - Actor in a Supporting Role (One Battle After Another)


At the start of his career, Penn utilised his father’s status as a successful director in order to cement his own place in the film industry as an actor, appearing in episodes of Little House on the Prairie, and creating short films with his childhood friends (including Charlie Sheen, another successful Hollywood actor).


Now a three time Academy Award Winner, Penn was not present for the event, with Kieran Culkin collecting the award on his behalf.


Other nominees were: Benicio Del Toro (One Battle after Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) Delroy Lindo, (Sinners), and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value).




Amy Madigan - Actress in a Supporting Role (Weapons)


Madigan took part in school plays as a child, before attending acting school as an adult. She is known for her roles not only in film and television, but also on Broadway- her most notable theatrical role being Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire (in which Alec Baldwin also starred).


With a forty year gap between her other nomination in 1986, Amy Madigan was overjoyed to finally win the award and thanked her family and her colleagues for their support. Her dynamic performance as Aunt Gladys in Weapons, was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.


Other nominees were: Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value) Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle after Another).




Autumn Durald Arkapaw - Best Cinematography (Sinners)


Arkpaw is the first woman and first woman of colour to receive the award for Best Cinematography in the Academy’s history. Her decision to shoot on 65mm film was groundbreakingly successful, as Sinners features stunning visuals- enhancing the atmospheric ambience of the Southern Gothic vampire horror film.


In her speech she thanks both director Ryan Coogler, and all of the women who helped her along the way:


“I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and have gotten to meet so many people and I just feel like moments like this happen because of you guys and I want to thank you for that.”




Other nominees were:  Dan Laustsen (Frankenstein), Darius Khondji (Marty Supreme), Michael Bauman (One Battle after Another), and Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams).




Cassandra Kulukundis - Best Casting (One Battle After Another)


Announced in February 2024, the award for Best Casting is the first new category since 2001. Kulukundis is the first ever recipient of the award and, in her acceptance speech, she highlighted the fight for more recognition of those who work in casting, dedicating her award to all the casting directors who have been gone unnoticed by the Academy for their services over the years:


“I dedicate this to you and to the casting directors who never got a chance to get nominated, who didn’t even get a chance to get their name on the movie. So this is for you guys.”


A proposal for a casting award was rejected back in 1999 but, after the Casting Directors Branch at the Academy was established in 2013, the call for an award was significantly revived. On the announcement of the addition of the casting award, a spokesperson from the academy said:

“Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate.”


Other nominees for the inaugural award were: Nina Gold (Hamnet), Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme) Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent) Francine Maisle (Sinners).




What’s next?


As a whole, this year’s awards have rewarded outstanding talent and championed diversity and inclusion, with Mediaversity scores of the nominated films in the range of A to C-, an improved score compared to previous years. The unexpected victory of the horror genre, examples of beautiful cinematography and soundtracks, and phenomenal performances made this year’s results really stand out.


With the closing of last night’s ceremony, critics and film buffs have already been speculating about the films that will be nominated next year. Upcoming films such as The Odyssey, Digger, and Dune: Part Three top the list of 2027 Oscars predictions for Best Picture.


The Academy, established in 1928, has developed a loyal following over the decades, and are due to celebrate their centenary in 2028. Following the trend of introducing the casting award, the 100th Academy Awards will include the new Best Stunt Design category- a certain sign that the award ceremony is continuing to recognise the unsung heroes of the film industry.

Author

Isabelle Gribbin