Oscars 2025: ‘Conclav’ Challenges ‘Anura’ for Best Picture After SAG Win

Film enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the 97th Academy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. East Coast time. While “Anura” was considered the frontrunner for Best Film, “Conclav’s” victory at the SAG Awards for Best acting Crew has significantly altered the landscape. Demi Moore and Timothy Shalmeh are now strong contenders in the acting categories. The unexpected win for “Conclav” has injected uncertainty into the race for the coveted Best Picture award.

SAG Awards 2025: A Turning Point in the Oscar Race?

The 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards introduced a notable twist. “Conclav,” a political drama directed by Edward Berger, unexpectedly clinched the award for Best Acting Crew. This victory poses a direct challenge to “Anura,” previously the leading contender for the Academy Award for Best Film. The SAG Awards often provide insights into potential Oscar winners, making “Conclav’s” win a noteworthy development.

Beyond the Best Film race, the SAG Awards also highlighted shifts in the acting categories. Demi Moore’s performance in “The Substance” has bolstered her position in the Best Actress race, while Timothy Shalmeh’s recent recognition has intensified the competition for Best Actor.

Impact on the Acting Categories

Demi Moore’s SAG Award win for “The Substance” has solidified her status as a leading contender for the Academy Award for Best Actress. However, Mickey Madison, star of “Anura,” remains a strong competitor. Madison’s earlier win at the “Pavta” awards suggests a potential division in the Academy’s votes. While Moore has garnered acclaim with wins at the Golden Globe Awards and from various critics’ groups, Madison’s performance in a film considered a Best Picture frontrunner keeps her firmly in the running.

The Best Actor race has become even more intriguing following Timothy Shalmeh’s SAG Award victory. While Adrian Brody was initially considered the favorite, Shalmeh’s win has injected uncertainty into the category. Brody’s earlier Golden Globe Award win, along with recognition from PAABATA and critics’ circles, still makes him a formidable contender. Shalmeh’s portrayal in “A Complete Unknown,” where he embodies Bob Dylan, could prove to be a decisive factor, but Brody’s momentum and past Academy Award win keep the race wide open.

in the supporting acting categories, Kiran Kulkin and Zoe Saldana appear to be on a path to victory. Colinn has swept the major preliminary awards, positioning him as a likely winner. Saldana’s success is expected to boost the profile of “Emilia Perez” at the Oscars, despite the controversies surrounding the film and its star, Carla Sofia Gaskoun.

The Best Picture Race: A Shift in Momentum

For months, “Anura” seemed poised to dominate the Oscars, having secured key wins from the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Producers Guild of america (PGA), and Writers Guild of America (WGA). Thes awards often serve as strong indicators of success at the Academy Awards. “Anura” further solidified its position with wins at the “Indian Spirit” awards. Though,”Conclav’s” victory at the “BAFTA” awards,followed by its unexpected win at the SAG awards,has introduced a new level of uncertainty into what appeared to be a settled race.

Historically, the SAG Award for Best Acting Crew has not always been a reliable predictor of the Academy Award for Best Picture.Only 15 out of 29 films that won the SAG award ultimately went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. The last time a film lost the SAG award but won the PGA, DGA, and WGA awards and then the Oscar was in 2018 with “The Shape of water,” giving “Anura” some hope. Still, “Conclav” shares similarities with films like “ARGO” and “Green Book,” which managed to win Best Picture despite not receiving a nomination for Best Director.

“Conclav” and the Best Adapted Screenplay Category

While “Conclav’s” chances of upsetting “Anura” in the Best Picture category remain uncertain, its prospects in the Best Adapted Screenplay category appear stronger. The film has already secured significant wins in this category at the “BAFTA” and “Golden Globe” awards. With “Dune: Part Two” absent from this category, “Conclav” has emerged as a leading contender.

Though, a crucial factor could influence “Conclav’s” chances: voting for the Academy Awards concluded before the SAG results were announced. This means that “Conclav’s” victory at the SAG awards may not have had the chance to sway Academy voters. Despite this, expectations still favor “Anura,” but in a year marked by surprises, anything is absolutely possible.

Looking Ahead to the Oscars 2025

As the 97th Academy Awards approach, “Anura” remains the frontrunner, but the “Conclav” team has reasons to be optimistic. The acting races seem largely settled, with Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, and Kiran Colkine expected to win. The Best Actor award,however,remains up for grabs. Should “Conclav” manage to secure the Best Picture award, it would be a surprise, but not without precedent. As Hollywood has shown time and again, nothing is certain until the final envelope is opened on Oscars night.

Oscar Buzz 2025: Will “Conclav” Upset “Anura” for Best Picture Glory?

Hollywood is abuzz—this year’s Academy Awards race is far from predictable! While “Anura” initially seemed a shoo-in, the recent SAG Awards have thrown a major wrench into the works.

Interviewer: Dr. Amelia Stone, renowned film critic and awards season expert, welcome to World Today News. The Oscars are fast approaching, and this year’s Best picture race is shaping up to be incredibly exciting. Let’s unpack the unexpected surge of “Conclav” in the face of “Anura’s” seemingly insurmountable lead. What factors contributed to “Anura’s” early dominance?

Dr. Stone: “Anura’s” initial frontrunner status stemmed from a powerful trifecta of pre-Oscar wins: the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), and Writers Guild of america (WGA) awards. These accolades often serve as strong indicators of success at the Academy Awards, as they represent critical votes from different facets of the film industry – directors, producers, and screenwriters. Further bolstering its position were wins at the prestigious indian Spirit Awards, emphasizing the film’s critical acclaim and cultural impact. this cumulative recognition painted a picture of a film poised for Oscar success.

Interviewer: the SAG Awards provided a crucial turning point. Can you elaborate on the impact of “Conclav’s” unexpected victory for Best Acting Crew on the overall Best Picture race?

Dr.Stone: The SAG Awards win for “Conclav’s” Best Acting crew is highly significant, even if the correlation between this award and Best picture isn’t always perfect (only approximately 50% of films winning the SAG award for best Acting Crew have afterward won Best Picture). The key takeaway here is the shift in momentum. “Conclav’s” stunning win injected a considerable element of uncertainty into what had seemed like a foregone conclusion. it signals to Academy voters that “Conclav” possesses considerable strength and widespread industry support, making it a viable competitor rather than a distant second. The win acts as a powerful counter-narrative to “Anura’s” established dominance.Therefore, it demonstrates the value of recognizing collective cinematic achievement and its impact on overall recognition within the awards circuit.

Interviewer: Beyond the Best picture race, how have the SAG Awards shifted the landscape of the acting categories?

Dr. Stone: The SAG Awards have undeniably shaken up the acting categories.Demi Moore’s compelling performance in “The Substance” propelled her into strong contention for best Actress, building on her Golden Globe win and critical praise.Similarly, Timothy Shalmeh’s recognition for “A Complete Unknown” has made the Best Actor race a far tighter contest than initially expected, particularly against the previously favored contender, Adrian Brody.These developments highlight the fluid and dynamic nature of awards season,where unexpected wins can fundamentally alter perceptions and predictions.

interviewer: let’s delve into the Best Picture race specifically. Given “Anura’s” previous wins and “Conclav’s” late surge, what are the key factors that will ultimately decide the outcome?

Dr.Stone: Predicting the Best Picture winner is a complex endeavor, as Academy voters are known for their unpredictable choices. However, some crucial elements will be at play:

the Academy’s Voting Timeline: The key consideration affecting “Conclav’s” chance of winning, is that Academy voting concluded before the SAG Awards results were announced. Therefore,their SAG win may have had minimal direct impact on the electorate.

The Weight of Prior Wins: “Anura’s” significant accolades from the DGA, PGA, and WGA still carry considerable weight. Historically,

Oscars 2025: Will “Conclav” Steal the Show from “Anura”? An Exclusive Interview

Hollywood is buzzing – this year’s Academy Awards race is anything but predictable! While “Anura” initially dominated, “Conclav’s” recent SAG win has thrown a major curveball.

Interviewer: Dr. amelia Stone, renowned film critic and awards season expert, welcome to World Today News. The Oscars are fast approaching, and this year’s Best Picture race is shaping up to be incredibly exciting. Let’s unpack the unexpected surge of “Conclav” in the face of “Anura’s” seemingly insurmountable lead. What factors contributed to “Anura’s” early dominance?

Dr. Stone: “anura’s” initial frontrunner status stemmed from a powerful trifecta of pre-Oscar wins: the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), and Writers Guild of America (WGA) awards. These accolades often serve as strong indicators of Academy Award success, representing critical votes from diffrent sectors of the film industry – directors, producers, and screenwriters. Further bolstering its position were wins at the prestigious Indian Spirit Awards, highlighting the film’s critical acclaim and cultural impact. This cumulative recognition painted a picture of a film poised for Oscar success. Essentially, “Anura” had built important momentum through a series of prestigious early wins.

Interviewer: The SAG Awards provided a crucial turning point. Can you elaborate on the impact of “Conclav’s” unexpected victory for Best acting Crew on the overall Best Picture race?

Dr. Stone: The SAG Awards win for “Conclav’s” Best Acting Crew is highly significant, even if the correlation between this award and best Picture isn’t always perfect (historically, only approximately 50% of films winning the SAG award for Best Acting Crew have later won Best Picture). The key takeaway hear is the shift in momentum.”Conclav’s” stunning win injected considerable uncertainty into what had seemed like a foregone conclusion. It signals to Academy voters that “Conclav” possesses considerable strength and widespread industry support, making it a viable competitor rather than a distant second. The win acts as a powerful counter-narrative to “anura’s” established dominance. Therefore,it demonstrates the value of recognizing collective cinematic achievement and its impact on overall recognition within the awards circuit.”Conclav” whent from an underdog to a serious contender practically overnight.

Interviewer: Beyond the Best Picture race, how have the SAG Awards shifted the landscape of the acting categories?

dr. Stone: The SAG Awards have undeniably shaken up the acting categories. demi Moore’s compelling performance in “The Substance” propelled her into strong contention for Best Actress, building on her Golden Globe win and critical praise. Similarly, Timothy Shalmeh’s recognition for “A complete Unknown” has made the Best Actor race a far tighter contest than initially expected, particularly against the previously favored contender, Adrian Brody. These developments highlight the fluid and dynamic nature of awards season, where unexpected wins can fundamentally alter perceptions and predictions. The SAG Awards have injected fresh excitement and uncertainty into the acting categories, making any prediction less certain.

Interviewer: Let’s delve into the best Picture race specifically. Given “Anura’s” previous wins and “Conclav’s” late surge, what are the key factors that will ultimately decide the outcome?

Dr. Stone: Predicting the Best Picture winner is a complex endeavor, as Academy voters are known for their unpredictable choices. Though, some crucial elements will be at play:

The Academy’s Voting Timeline: A key consideration affecting “Conclav’s” chances is that Academy voting concluded before the SAG Awards results were announced. Therefore, their SAG win may have had minimal direct impact on the electorate.

The Weight of Prior Wins: “Anura’s” significant accolades from the DGA, PGA, and WGA still carry considerable weight. These awards often serve as strong predictors of success at the Academy Awards.

The Narrative Shift: “Conclav’s” SAG win created a compelling narrative of an underdog challenging a dominant frontrunner, which could sway some voters.

The Overall Quality of the Films: Ultimately, the quality of the films themselves and the individual preferences of Academy voters will play the most significant role.

interviewer: So, what is your prediction, Dr. Stone? Can we expect an upset?

Dr. Stone: While “Anura” still holds a strong advantage due to its earlier wins, “Conclav’s” late surge has undeniably added intrigue and made the race far more competitive than anticipated. It’s entirely possible we’re in for a surprise. The Academy is known for its unpredictable choices, and 2025 could certainly be a year of significant upsets.

Interviewer: Thank you so much, Dr. Stone, for sharing your expert insights.This has been incredibly illuminating.

Concluding Thought: The 2025 Oscars best Picture race is a nail-biter, with “Anura” and “Conclav” neck and neck. what are your thoughts? Share your predictions in the comments below!