Our Oscar Predictions — From the Sutudu Acquisitions Team — Sutudu Blog

It’s that time again!! The night where film fans stay up way too late, Twitter goes absolutely mad, and someone somewhere gets robbed of an Oscar they fully deserved. Yep, We're talking about the 2026 Academy Awards. Grab a snack, get comfy, and let’s chat about who we reckon is taking home the big shiny statues this year. Right, first things first — the big one. Best Picture Nimo My pick to win Best Picture is Sinners . Now listen, I know a lot of people are backing One Battle After Another , and fair play — that film has been sweeping awards all season. But Sinners has that energy about it. You know when a film just catches fire culturally and suddenly everyone is talking about it? That’s the vibe. It’s bold, it’s stylish, and it’s got a proper emotional punch. If the Academy wants a film that people will actually remember in ten years, this might be the one. Liz From the very first moment I watched Sinners at the Chicago AMC theater, I knew it would be my top pick for Best Picture. This film reminded me why I fell in love with movies in the first place. The cinematography, the performances, the score — every element feels intentional. It’s truly a love letter to cinema and Black culture, and to the incredible artistic legacy that surrounds it. Best Director Nimo I’m giving this one to Ryan Coogler for Sinners . Technically speaking, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another is probably the safer prediction, but Coogler pulled off something special here. The scale, the atmosphere, the way the film blends genres — it just works. If the Oscars want a moment, this could be it. Liz This one was tough for me, but Paul Thomas Anderson takes it. His direction in One Battle After Another is simply perfection. Best Actor Nimo This one feels almost locked in for Michael B. Jordan for Sinners . The performance is intense, layered, and honestly a bit terrifying at times. He carries the entire film on his shoulders and still makes it look effortless. It also feels like one of those career-moment wins where the Academy says, “Yeah, it’s your time now.” Liz We all know the Academy’s standards keep evolving, and voting closed before the Timothée Chalamet allegations surfaced. I’ve been a huge Timothée fan since the beginning of his career, and his performance in Marty Supreme is honestly one of his best. So my vote goes to Timmy . But don’t get me wrong — Michael B. Jordan was incredible in Sinners as well and he's definitely my next pick. Best Actress Nimo My pick is Jessie Buckley for Hamnet . If you’ve seen the film, you’ll understand. Her performance is heartbreaking in that quiet way that sneaks up on you. Not flashy, not over-the-top — just pure emotional devastation. Proper acting, basically. Liz I mean… isn’t it obvious? She’s already won most of the major awards this season. Jessie Buckley — Hamnet. Amazing performance. No notes. Completely deserved. Best Supporting Actress Nimo I’m rooting for Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners . She brings so much soul to the film. Every scene she’s in hits harder because of her presence. There’s a grounded strength in her performance that balances the chaos happening around her. If she wins, it’ll honestly be one of the most deserved Oscars of the night. Liz My pick is Teyana Taylor . I absolutely loved her performance. It’s always interesting when a character that feels like a lead doesn’t quite have enough screen time to qualify for Best Actress. So when they land in the supporting category, it almost feels inevitable. And she truly delivers. Best Supporting Actor Nimo I think Sean Penn might take this for One Battle After Another . He’s exactly the kind of actor the Academy loves — big dramatic presence, a serious performance, and a lot of emotional weight behind it. Classic Oscar territory. Liz My pick is Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein . His performance was incredibly moving, beautiful, and honestly very unpredictable. It’s the kind of role that could have easily felt familiar, but he brought something completely fresh and emotional to it. It stayed with me long after the film ended. Absolutely insane performance. Best Original Screenplay Nimo This one should go to Sinners . The writing is bold and unpredictable, mixing horror, history, and drama in a way that shouldn’t work — but somehow absolutely does. Liz Sinners . No notes. If you’re someone who loves reading screenplays like I do, this one is a masterpiece. Best Adapted Screenplay Nimo I’m leaning toward One Battle After Another . It’s dense, layered, and very much the type of writing the Academy tends to reward. Liz One Battle After Another. It’s just… insane. Completely unique writing. Bold, layered, and completely original, the kind of screenplay that reminds you why writing is still the backbone of great cinema. Best Cast (First Year of the Category) This year introduces something new: the first-ever Academy Award for Best Cast — a category many people in the industry have been hoping to see for years. Liz Personally, I love the idea of recognizing ensembles. Some films work not because of a single standout performance, but because the entire cast creates something together that feels completely alive on screen. My pick, of course, is Sinners . Huge kudos to the entire cast and crew for such a brilliant ensemble. A Few Quick Bonus Predictions Best Score Nimo: Ludwig Göransson — Sinners Liz: Sinners Best Cinematography Nimo: Frankenstein Liz: Frankenstein Best Visual Effects Nimo: Avatar: Fire and Ash Liz: Frankenstein Final Thoughts Nimo Honestly, the Oscars are chaotic. Someone unexpected always wins, someone brilliant always gets snubbed, and there’s always at least one speech that goes on for about twelve business days. But if my predictions land, Sinners might walk away as the film of the night, Michael B. Jordan might finally get his Oscar, and we could be talking about this ceremony for a long time. Anyway — those are my picks. If I get half of them right, I’m calling it a victory. Liz If you’re like us and you’re getting ready for the best night of the year for cinephiles, enjoy it. It’s a beautiful thing to watch art being recognized and celebrated. And it’s even more beautiful to simply sit back, appreciate the craft, and have fun with the experience. Now the real question is… Who do you think is winning? From your favorite cinephile girlies who somehow turned their obsession with movies into a job. Liz Sanchez Head of Acquisitions & Festival Director — Sutudu Nimo Kanyare Acquisitions & Programming — Sutudu