Oscars Predictions: Best Cinematography – Is ‘Oppenheimer’ the Frontrunner or Could Two ‘Killers’ Charm More Voters?

This Week in Awards Buzz (Updated Sept. 14, 2023): Hoyte van Hoytema, the renowned cinematographer behind Christopher Nolan’s recent hits like “Dunkirk,” “Interstellar,” and “Tenet,” is now a strong contender for an Oscar. He’s set to receive the Creative Impact in Cinematography accolade at the upcoming SCAD Savannah Film Festival, catapulting him into the spotlight for this awards season. The Nolan feature “Oppenheimer” is already seen as a frontrunner, gaining even more momentum with “Dune Part Two” being pushed out of this year’s competition.

Also vying for the coveted cinematography award are industry stalwarts like Rodrigo Prieto, involved this year with “Barbie” and the much-touted “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Other seasoned pros in the mix include Dariusz Wolski for “Napoleon” and Łukasz Żal for “The Zone of Interest,” both of whom have fervent supporters.

Previous Oscar winners aren’t sitting this one out either. Erik Messerschmidt is back with two entries: Neon’s “Ferrari” and Netflix’s “The Killer,” aiming to secure one of the five nomination slots. He’s up against past winners like Linus Sandgren for “Saltburn” and Robert Richardson for “Air.”

Read More: The Critic Review: Ian McKellen Shines, but Script Lacks Depth.

Mark your calendars: The deadline for general category submissions is November 18, with the preliminary shortlist to be revealed on December 21. Voting for nominations kicks off on January 11, 2024, and the official nominees will be unveiled on January 23.