18 Apr FINAL 2021 Oscar Predictions: Animated Feature, International Feature, Documentary Feature
ANIMATED FEATURE
With the Annie award yesterday, Soul has completely swept this category and it seems close to impossible that anything else can win.
Nominees:
Soul – GG, CCA, PGA, BAFTA, Annie
Wolfwalkers
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon
Pick: Soul
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
This one also seems like a no-brainer since Another Round’s Thomas Vinterberg earned a nomination in Best Director. The movie obviously has a lot of love and while it would probably be more satisfying for Vinterberg to earn his Oscar recognition for something like Festen or The Hunt, it’s great that he’s finally getting his due from the Academy.
Nominees:
Another Round – BAFTA
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Collective
Better Days
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Pick: Another Round
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
2020 – American Factory – DGA
2019 – Free Solo – BAFTA, ACE
2018 – Icarus
2017 – OJ: Made in America – ACE, CCA, DGA, PGA
2016 – Amy – BAFTA, ACE, CCA, PGA
2015 – Citizenfour – BAFTA, ACE, DGA
Even though it doesn’t seem to be a tough to predict race going by the precursors that My Octopus Teacher has won, I could easily see every other nominee, except for The Mole Agent, pulling away with a victory. Collective and Time are critical favorites and Crip Camp has the Obamas behind them but none of them have won any major precursors. I think that what is happening is that those “message” films are essentially splitting votes with one another and the comparatively lighter My Octopus Teacher is benefitting as a result. Another thing to mention is that no winner in this category in the past six years has won without a nomination at both BAFTA and DGA and this year the only film that fits that criteria is My Octopus Teacher.
Nominees:
My Octopus Teacher – BAFTA, PGA, ACE
Collective
Time
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
Pick: My Octopus Teacher