Final Oscars Predictions – Best Film Editing

The battle for Best Film Editing is one of the toughest to predict this year. And the eventual winner could signal which way Best Picture is heading. If Sean Baker (Anora) takes it home, it could be the start of him scoring four Academy Awards and tying the record with Walt Disney for the most Oscars won in one evening. If Nick Emerson wins, it might suggest Conclave is headed towards snatching the top prize. Or it could be that the winner means nothing to the rest of the evening and I’m just overthinking things…

With the ACE Eddie Awards postponed to after the Oscars ceremony and the Critics Choice Award winner (Challengers) not nominated by the Academy, we really only have BAFTA to help guide the way here. Was the victory of Conclave there indicative of an eventual Oscar win? Or did it simply have the home soil advantage?

As much as I believe Anora is looking likely to have a great night, I think the fact it’s a comedy hurts its chances in a category like film editing. It’s frustrating because timing is everything in a comedic film and the editor obviously plays a huge part in creating that. It’s clearly why Baker prefers to edit his own films. While you could classify Everything Everywhere All at Once as a comedy, this Oscar generally goes to intimate dramas or sweeping action epics. Naturally, that works in the favour of a gripping thriller like Conclave where timing and pacing are integral to the film’s success. It’s another coin flip category so just go with your gut.

BEST FILM EDITING PREDICTIONS:
1. Conclave – Nick Emerson (Focus Features) – ACE, BAFTA, CCA
2. Anora – Sean Baker (Neon) – ACE, BAFTA, CCA
3. The Brutalist – Dávid Jancsó (A24) – CCA
4. Emilia Pérez – Juliette Welfling (Netflix) – ACE, BAFTA
5. Wicked (Universal Pictures) – ACE

Will win: Conclave
Should win: The Brutalist
Possible shocker: Wicked