
When choosing which film to watch, many people instinctively turn to movies that have won an Oscar. The assumption is simple: if a film has received the most prestigious award in cinema, it must be among the best and most artistically accomplished. But is that always the case? How does a film actually end up on the list of Oscar nominees? What qualities must it possess, and what requirements must it meet?

This year’s Oscar nominations brought several records and the expected dominance of two frontrunners, but also a wave of surprises that turned the list of nominees into an event filled with unexpected twists and shocking omissions, particularly in the acting categories and among the Best Picture contenders.