Best Film Editing Oscars Predictions (February)

While Chloé Zhao has continued to clean up editing awards from the critics groups, I can’t shake this nagging feeling she may be heading for an Alfonso Cuarón-style snub. The editing branch showed its bizarre aversion to directors who edit their own films, and Zhao could suffer the same fate. I’m keeping her in my final five, but I’m nervous. Very nervous.

There’s still a huge question mark hovering over The Father and whether it will score nominations across the board or just be acknowledged for its two actors and screenplay. The time-bending editing is flashy enough for the Academy’s tastes and that should be enough to see it nab a spot.

There’s likely a surprise or two set to occur here, particularly if films like News of the World, Promising Young Woman, and Sound of Metal overperform. It’s becoming rarer to see non-Best Picture nominees in the film editing category. Something like Tenet could easily drop out to make room for a Best Picture contender.

BEST FILM EDITING PREDICTIONS:
1. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Alan Baumgarten
2. Mank (Netflix)
Kirk Baxter
3. Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Chloé Zhao
4. Tenet (Warner Bros.)
Jennifer Lame
5. The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Yorgos Lamprinos

MAJOR CONTENDERS:
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Adam Gough
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)
Kristan Sprague
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Andrew Mondshein
The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione
Minari (A24)
Harry Yoon
News of the World (Universal Pictures)
William Goldenberg
One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Tariq Anwar
Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Frédéric Thoraval
Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen