The Art Directors Guild has a large advantage in predicting the Oscar race. With twenty nominees (the five in animated really don’t have a chance), they have a pretty sterling track record. You usually have to take at least 3 of the period nominees and add in one or two of either the fantasy or contemporary ones to hit the final Oscar nominees. Sometimes things come out of left field, but not always. The biggest mystery exclusion is Jingle Jangle, but we weren’t expecting a lot of it to begin with.

The Nominations

Best Period Art Direction

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Mulan
News of the World
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Fantasy Art Direction

Birds of Prey
The Midnight Sky
Pinocchio
Tenet
Wonder Woman 1984

Best Contemporary Art Direction

Da 5 Bloods
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Palm Springs
The Prom
Promising Young Woman

Best Animation Art Direction

The Croods: A New Age
Onward
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

Art Directors Guild Data

Year Founded: 1937
First Awards: 1996 (25)