As the 97th Academy Awards approach, our team at Breck Film is dusting off our Oscar bingo cards and breaking out our best outfits for what’s sure to be another year of celebrating the best in film.
We believe that cinema has the power to entertain, educate, and inspire – and that’s true whether you’re watching a movie in a glitzy Hollywood theater or right here in our cozy Eclipse Theater in Breckenridge.
Outside our annual Breck Film Festival, Oscar season is one of our favorite times of the year, and it gives us a chance to showcase some of cinema’s most thought-provoking and ambitious films. We’re proud to have brought several of this year’s nominees to Summit County – continuing our 44-year tradition of connecting the high country audience with the world of film.
Want to catch one of the Oscar-nominated films from this year? Grab tickets for a showing at The Eclipse here!
Who Will Take Home Academy Gold in 2025?
This year’s Oscar race feels particularly unpredictable – with quite a few contenders fighting for the top prizes. There are intimate character studies like “Anora” to massive historical epics like “The Brutalist,” and, of course, the head-to-head musical matchups of “Wicked” and “Emila Perez.”
Through the end of February, we’re screening several Oscar nominees, including the acclaimed “Nickel Boys” and all three categories of the Oscar-nominated Short Films programs.
We bring these straight to our screens not just to entertain but to provide an open window to diverse perspectives and the latest in innovative filmmaking that may otherwise never reach our region!
The Films Everyone’s Talking About
Anora
Sean Baker’s intimate drama “Anora” has emerged as a surprising frontrunner in this year’s Oscar race.
The film follows a Brooklyn sex worker who finds herself in a modern Cinderella story after impulsively marrying the son of a Russian oligarch – and the tale has already amassed quite a few awards, including the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Critics Choice Best Picture award.
Mikey Madison’s star-making performance as the titular character has also gained significant attention, with her recent BAFTA win for Best Actress shocking many who considered Demi Moore the category favorite for “The Substance.”
The Brutalist
Brady Corbet’s sweeping historical drama “The Brutalist” has dominated most of the technical categories this awards season – in no small part due to its breathtaking cinematography and Adrien Brody’s lead performance.
The film chronicles the life of a Holocaust survivor who becomes an influential architect in post-war America. The story itself is one that often Academy voters’ attention through ambitious filmmaking.
Brody, who previously won Best Actor for “The Pianist,” seems poised for a potential second Oscar, having already collected Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and BAFTA awards for his nuanced portrayal of László Toth, a fictional architect inspired by real-life brutalist designers.
The Substance: Horror Gets Its Oscar Moment
Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” has been one of the most talked-about films at The Eclipse this month. This body horror sensation has shattered genre expectations and earned Demi Moore some of the best reviews of her career.
Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading star who turns to a black-market drug that creates a younger, more perfect version of herself (with increasingly grotesque consequences.)
Moore’s performance has earned her Golden Globe and Critics Choice wins, making her a contender in the Best Actress category – and the film’s makeup and visual effects have also garnered nominations in their respective categories.
Nickel Boys
Based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “Nickel Boys” chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of a reform school in 1960s Florida.
The film’s adapted screenplay by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes has been celebrated for its nuanced approach to difficult subject matter – earning it a nomination in the Adapted Screenplay category.
While it’s considered an underdog in the Best Picture race, “Nickel Boys” represents the kind of socially conscious storytelling that often resonates with Academy voters. Films like ‘Nickel Boys’ are precisely why we believe in the power of cinema. It’s not an easy watch, but a critical story must be told – and the film does it justice in more ways than one.
Conclave
A late-breaking contender, Edward Berger’s religious thriller “Conclave” is this year’s Oscars dark horse. After shocking wins at the BAFTAs for Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, and Outstanding British Film, this drama about Vatican politics has suddenly entered the Best Picture conversation fast.
In the film, Ralph Fiennes plays a cardinal tasked with overseeing the selection of a new pope – combining a political thriller with profound questions about faith, power, and tradition.
The film features a storing supporting performance by Isabella Rossellini, and Peter Straughan’s adapted screenplay is now considered a frontrunner in its category.
I’m Still Here: A Brazilian Dark Horse in the Oscar Race
Think “Conclave” has the dark horse win locked up? Think again! Another film making waves in the Oscar conversation is Walter Salles’s powerful Brazilian drama “I’m Still Here.”
Starring Fernanda Torres in a performance that earned her a Golden Globe win, the film tells the heart-wrenching story of the Paiva family living under Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s.
With nominations for Best Actress, Best International Film, and a surprising Best Picture nod, “I’m Still Here” has become one of this awards season’s most compelling underdog stories. The film has particular resonance in Brazil, where it became the highest-grossing homegrown release since the pandemic, taking in more than $25 million globally.
While “I’m Still Here” faces stiff competition in all its categories, don’t be surprised if it pulls off an upset, particularly in the International Feature category, where many consider it the frontrunner.
Oscar-Nominated Short Films
One of our most popular annual traditions at The Eclipse is our presentation of the Oscar-nominated shorts programs. These collections offer a unique opportunity to experience diverse storytelling styles and perspectives – condensed into bite-sized cinematic gems.
In the Animation category, keep an eye on “Magic Candies” from Toei Animation, which many predict will take home the Oscar. The Live Action category features the Netflix-backed “Anuja,” currently favored to win, while “I Am Ready, Warden” leads the Documentary Short predictions.
Other Films We Love
While the Oscar conversation often centers on the most-nominated contenders, several exceptional films this awards season have captured our hearts at Breck Film, even if they didn’t receive as much Academy recognition as we might have hoped.
Wicked
Jon M. Chu’s vibrant adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical “Wicked” has enchanted audiences with its spellbinding visuals and powerhouse performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Though it received nominations in several technical categories and for Erivo’s performance, we believe this magical reimagining of the Oz story deserved even more recognition.
A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore directorial effort “A Real Pain” may have received just one Oscar nomination (for Kieran Culkin’s supporting performance), but this tender, funny exploration of family dynamics deserves your attention.
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino’s tennis drama “Challengers” was completely overlooked by the Academy, which many of us at Breck Film consider one of this year’s biggest snubs.
Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist in a complex love triangle set against the backdrop of professional tennis, the film delivers sensual tension and athletic thrills in equal measure.
Don’t Miss The Year’s Best In Film
Want to experience the excitement of the Academy Awards with fellow film lovers? Then make sure to grab your tickets for one of the upcoming showings at The Eclipse Theater here in the heart of Breck! We’re happy to bring the best of cinema to our screen this Spring – from the blockbuster Oscar hopefuls to films that will push you to think outside the box. And watching them from The Eclipse is an experience that you won’t want to miss. Grab your tickets online today – and we’ll see you in the theater!