The 2025 Oscars race is intensifying, with Hamnet and Rental Family gaining momentum after standout premieres at the Middleburg Film Festival. Meanwhile, AFI Fest and SCAD Savannah are set to introduce fresh contenders, making this awards season one of the most unpredictable in years.
Middleburg’s Standouts: ‘Hamnet’ and ‘Rental Family’ Lead the Pack
The Middleburg Film Festival, a key Oscar bellwether, highlighted two films with strong awards potential:
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Hamnet: Directed by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), this historical drama adapts Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel about Shakespeare’s family. Critics praised Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley’s performances, along with its breathtaking cinematography and emotional depth. Early buzz suggests it could dominate Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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Rental Family: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (Shoplifters) Japanese indie explores loneliness in the digital age, with Kōji Yakusho delivering a moving lead performance. A strong contender for Best International Feature, its subtle storytelling has resonated globally.
The split reactions at Middleburg hint at a potential showdown between epic historical drama (Hamnet) and intimate contemporary storytelling (Rental Family).
AFI Fest and SCAD: New Contenders Enter the Fray
With Middleburg setting the tone, upcoming festivals AFI Fest and SCAD Savannah will introduce more Oscar hopefuls:
AFI Fest Highlights
- The Brutalist: An architectural drama starring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones—likely a player in Best Actor/Actress.
- We Live in Time: Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield reunite in this romantic drama, already generating acting buzz.
- Kind of Kindness: Yorgos Lanthimos’ anthology film with Emma Stone could be a dark horse for Best Original Screenplay.
SCAD Savannah’s Key Premieres
- The Nickel Boys: Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) adapts Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-winning novel—potentially a Best Picture frontrunner.
- The Outrun: Saoirse Ronan’s portrayal of addiction recovery in Scotland has Best Actress written all over it.
Oscars 2025: Early Category Predictions
- Best Picture: Hamnet, The Nickel Boys, and Rental Family lead, but surprises loom.
- Best Actor: Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Kōji Yakusho (Rental Family), Andrew Garfield (We Live in Time).
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun), Florence Pugh (We Live in Time).
- Best International Feature: Rental Family (Japan) faces competition from France’s The Taste of Things and Germany’s The Teachers’ Lounge.
Final Thoughts
While Hamnet and Rental Family are early favorites, AFI Fest and SCAD could shake up the race. Stay tuned to NextMinuteNews for updates as Oscar season unfolds!
— By [Your Name], NextMinuteNews
