The 2025 Oscars: Everything You Need to Know
The countdown is on for Hollywood’s most prestigious night! The 97th Academy Awards are set to take place live from Los Angeles on Sunday, March 2, at 4 p.m. PST / 7 p.m. EST. This year, comedy icon Conan O’Brien will take on hosting duties for the first time, bringing his signature wit to the ceremony.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the biggest night in film.
How to Watch the Oscars in Canada
Once again, Bell Media holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the Oscars in Canada, meaning you can catch the show on CTV and CTV2. If you prefer streaming, you can watch via CTV.ca and the CTV app on Android, iOS, and connected TV devices. However, access to CTV’s digital platforms will require logging in with a TV provider.
For those who love the glamour of the red carpet, Etalk, Bell’s entertainment news show, will provide pre-show coverage across its social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Meanwhile, U.S. audiences will have the option to live-stream the ceremony on Hulu for the first time, though this option won’t be available in Canada due to Bell’s exclusive agreement with Disney (which owns ABC, the Oscars’ U.S. broadcaster). Unfortunately, this also means that Canadian Disney+ subscribers won’t have access to the show.
The 2025 Oscars present a fascinating lineup, led by Emilia Pérez, a Netflix-produced Spanish-language musical crime drama that has made history with 13 nominations, including Best Picture—the most ever for a non-English-language film.
Netflix has been vying for a Best Picture win for years, especially after competitor Apple TV+ triumphed with CODA in 2021. However, Emilia Pérez has not been without controversy. The film has faced backlash from Mexican and trans communities over perceived stereotypes, and its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón (a Best Actress nominee), has been criticized for resurfaced offensive social media posts regarding George Floyd, diversity, and Muslims.
Another leading contender, The Brutalist, which has received 10 nominations, has also sparked debate. The film employed AI to refine Hungarian dialogue and design certain architectural elements, prompting discussions about ethical AI use in cinema.
Best Picture Nominees
Here are the ten films competing for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards:
Anora (Alex Coco, Samantha Quan & Sean Baker)
The Brutalist (Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim & Brady Corbet)
A Complete Unknown (Fred Berger, James Mangold & Alex Heineman)
Conclave (Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell & Michael A. Jackman)
Dune: Part Two (Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe & Denis Villeneuve)
Emilia Pérez (Pascal Caucheteux & Jacques Audiard)
I’m Still Here (Maria Carlota Bruno & Rodrigo Teixeira)
Nickel Boys (Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Joslyn Barnes)
The Substance (Coralie Fargeat & Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner)
Wicked (Marc Platt)
Canada is well represented in this year’s nominations. Director Denis Villeneuve, who hails from Quebec, earned nods as a producer, co-writer, and director for Dune: Part Two. Additionally, fellow Canadians Patrice Vermette and Shane Vieau were nominated for Best Production Design for their work on the sci-fi epic.
Other notable Canadian nominees include Samantha Quan, one of the producers of Anora, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie for Best Documentary Feature with Sugarcane (which explores residential schools in British Columbia), and Toronto’s Linda Muir, nominated for Best Costume Design for her work on Nosferatu.
For a full list of nominees, visit the Academy Awards’ official website.
The Oscars are as much about celebration as they are about spectacle, and this year’s presenters include some of the biggest names in entertainment. Expect to see:
Halle Berry
Sterling K. Brown
Willem Dafoe
Ana de Armas
Robert Downey Jr.
Elle Fanning
Whoopi Goldberg
Selena Gomez
Scarlett Johansson
Cillian Murphy
Amy Poehler
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Ben Stiller
Emma Stone
Oprah Winfrey
Live Performances
Musical performances are a key highlight of the Oscars, and this year’s lineup does not disappoint.
As widely anticipated, Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will take the stage to perform a number from the film, likely including fan-favorite “Defying Gravity.”
Other confirmed performers include:
Lisa (BLACKPINK) – fresh off her acting debut in HBO’s The White Lotus
Doja Cat
Queen Latifah
Raye
Final Thoughts
With historic nominations, star-studded presenters, and an exciting musical lineup, the 2025 Oscars promise to be a night to remember. Whether you’re tuning in for the awards, the performances, or just the fashion, this year’s ceremony is set to deliver entertainment at its finest.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Sunday, March 2, and get ready to celebrate the best of the big screen!
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