Most promising 2018 Oscar nominees

From Dunkirk and The Shape of Water, to A Fantastic Woman, and In the Fade; here are the film nominees to look out for at the Oscars

A Fantastic Woman for Best Foreign Language Film

The LGBT-focused narrative film A Fantastic Woman, which was directed by Sebastián Lelio, is a strong contender for the best foreign-language film.The film follows Marina (Daniela Vega), a transgender opera singer and waitress whose older boyfriend suddenly dies. As she begins to put her life back together, Marina finds herself forced to deal with her lover’s ex-wife and son, both of whom openly disparage her, revealing their rampant transphobia.The film contains long shots of its protagonist in several situations; at night clubs, on streets, on stage, and in musical fantasy sequences. Maria starts a relationship with a man called Orlando.The film starts a journey of disapproval by his family.

I-Tonya for Best Film Editing

In 1991, talented skater Tonya Harding becomes the first American woman to complete a triple axel during a competition. In 1994, her world comes crashing down when her exhusband conspires to injure Nancy Kerrigan,a fellow Olympic hopeful,in a poorly conceived attack that forces the young woman to withdraw from the national championship. Harding’s life and legacy instantly become tarnished as she is forever associated with one of the most infamous scandals in sports history.

Last Men in Aleppo for Best Documentary

Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Academy Awards and winner of the Grand Jury documentary prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Syrian filmmaker Feras Fayyad’s breathtaking work—a searing example of boots-on-the-ground reportage—follows the efforts of the internationally-recognised White Helmets, an organisation consisting of ordinary citizens who are the first to rush towards military strikes and attacks in the hope of saving lives. Incorporating moments of both heart-pounding suspense and improbable beauty, the documentary draws us into the lives of three of its founders—Khaled, Subhi, and Mahmoud—as they grapple with the chaos around them and struggle with an ever-present dilemma.

The Shape of Water for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress

This monster romance took home the most nominations of the bunch: a whopping 13. Director Guillermo del Toro’s love story about a lonely janitor (played by Sally Hawkins) who falls in love with a strange, amphibious creature may very well end up being the biggest winner on 4 March.

In the Fade for Best Foreign Language Film

FatihAkin’s In the Fade is a thriller about a woman whose life collapses after the death of her husband and son in a bomb attack.The police arrest two suspects: a young neo-Nazi couple,and,starting there,the woman seeks justice and revenge. In the Fade celebrated its world premiere by competing at the 70th Cannes Film Festival, where leading actress Diane Kruger was honoured as best actress.Katja and Nuri Sekerci (Kruger and Numan Acar) are a happy couple. Nuri’s Kurdish background, however, proves reason enough for right-wing radicals to murder him. Akin’s movie deals with the series of murders undertaken by the neoNazi group National Socialist Underground (NSU) across Germany between 2000 and 2007.

Call Me By Your Name nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor

22-year-old Timothée Chalamet, who plays 17-year-old Elio in the film Call Me By Your Name, is the third-youngest actor in history to be nominated for Best Actor. The coming-of-age romance by director Luca Guadagnino is also up for best picture.

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor

The enthralling crime drama about a mother (played by Frances McDormand) is up for five awards. McDormand has the chance to take home an Oscar for Best Actress, while both Sam Rockwell (pictured) and Woody Harrelson could win in the Best Supporting Actor category.The film is also up for the Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing awards.

Meryl Streep: Best Actress in The Post?

Meryl Streep is arguably Hollywood’s leading lady. As such, it is hardly a surprise that she received her 21st Oscar nomination (this time for Best Actress). In The Post, Streep plays Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham as she deals with the fallout of publishing the Pentagon Papers.

Lady Bird gets a nod for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress

This charming comedy-drama by Greta Gerwig is up for five awards. Actress-turned-director Greta Gerwig is only the fifth woman to be nominated in the Best Director category.

Get Out for Best Picture, Best

Actor, Best Director

In addition to being nominated for Best Picture, the film Get Out is also up for Best Director. Jordan Peele is the fifth black filmmaker to receive that nomination and only the third to direct a Best Picture nominee in the Oscars’ 90-year history. He follows Barry Jenkins, who was nominated last year for Moonlight.

Dunkirk for Best Picture, Best Director

Christopher Nolan’s nail-biting World War II drama humanises an epic battle; a sign of its success is the eight Oscar nominations it received. Notably, the film also features famous British pop star Harry Styles in a rare serious role.In addition to the big categories, it is also considered for Best Cinematography, Best Soundtrack, and Best Editing, among other awards.

Blade Runner 2049 for Best Cinematography

This futuristic follow-up to the sci-fi classic Bladerunner is a strong nominee for Best Cinematography.This marks the 14th nomination for cinematographer Roger Deakins, who still has not taken an Oscar home. Is 2018 finally his year?

Loving Vincent for Best Animated film

This animated film about the life of the tormented impressionist was nominated for Best Animated Film. As the world’s first fully painted feature film, it seems to deserve that designation. The film was painted entirely in oils. Other films in the category include Pixar’s Coco and The Breadwinner by Nora Twomey.

Willem Dafoe for Best Supporting Actor

Dafoe has participated in more than 100 film productions, enriching them with his expressive performances and formidable presence.His enormous technical range as an actor extends all the way from the personification of the unfathomably evil to the portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth. In addition to his celebrated cinematic appearances, Dafoe has also pursued a parallel career in theatre, his other passion. Dafoe’s role in the much-feted feature The Florida Project (directed by Sean Baker) earned him both a nomination for the British BAFTA Awards and recently his third nomination for an Academy Award, in the category of Best Supporting Actor.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S NAILBITING WORLD WAR II DRAMA HUMANISES AN EPIC BATTLE