Yesterday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the shortlists in 10 categories of the 94th annual Academy Awards: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound and Visual Effects.
Of the 136 scores eligible this year, 15 advanced in the Original Score category, which Music Branch members will vote on to determine the final nominees. The composers include former Oscar nominees Kris Bowers (King Richard), Nicholas Britell (Don’t Look Up), Carter Burwell (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Alexandre Desplat (The French Dispatch), Alberto Iglesias (Parallel Mothers), Daniel Pemberton (Being the Ricardos), and the doubly listed Hans Zimmer (Dune; No Time to Die) and Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog; Spencer). The remaining composers are Germaine Franco (Encanto), Harry Gregson-Williams (The Last Duel), Daniel Hart (The Green Knight), Lichens (Candyman), and Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall).
Of the 84 songs eligible this year, 15 advanced in the Original Song category, which Music Branch members will vote on to determine the final nominees. The list includes all five Golden Globe nominees: Van Morrison for “Down to Joy” (Belfast), Lin-Manuel Miranda for “Dos Oruguitas” (Encanto), Beyoncé and Dixson for “Be Alive” (King Richard), Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for “No Time to Die” (No Time to Die), and Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, and Carole King for “Here I Am” (Respect).
Other songwriters from musical films are Sparks and Leos Carax for “So May We Start?” (Annette), Brian Wilson and Jim James for “Right Where I Belong” (Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road), Idina Menzel and Laura Veltz for “Dream Girl” (Cinderella), Amandla Stenberg for “The Anonymous Ones” (Dear Evan Hansen), and U2 for “Your Song Saved My Life” (Sing 2).
The writers from nonmusical films are Van Hunt, Brittany Hazard, and H.E.R. for “Automatic Woman” (Bruised), Nick Baxter, Siân Heder, Marius de Vries, and Matt Dahan for “Beyond the Shore” (CODA), Ariana Grande and Scott Mescudi for “Just Look Up” (Don’t Look Up), Diane Warren for “Somehow You Do” (Four Good Days), and Scott Mescudi and Jay-Z for “Guns Go Bang” (The Harder They Fall).
Nominations voting begins January 27 and ends February 1, with the slate for all Oscar categories announced February 8. The winners will be revealed in the March 27 awards ceremony at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, which will be televised live on ABC.