The Panther’s 2021 Academy Award predictions, winners

The Panther staff voted on who we think will win and who we are hoping will win at this year’s annual Oscars April 25. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director

The 93rd Academy Awards is finally planned for April 25, after uncertainty surrounding the event due to COVID-19 restrictions and diminished film releases during the pandemic. While the industry has taken a hit, it’s been a monumental year in terms of diversity this awards season, and the field is wide open for multiple contenders to snatch an Oscar. 

Here are The Panther staff’s predictions and picks for this weekend’s awards show.

Best International Feature Film 

What we think will win: “Another Round” (Denmark)

What we hope will win: “Better Days” (Hong Kong)

“Another Round,” starring acclaimed actor Mads Mikkelsen and following a drinking experiment gone wrong, has been a film to look out for. Director Thomas Vinterberg snagged Best Director nomination for his work. 

“Better Days” tells the emotional story of a bullied high schooler dealing with the stress of her college entrance exams and an unlikely friend she meets along the way. It has garnered many international accolades, but the film had a hard time getting released due to censorship concerns.

Best Animated Film

What we think will win: “Soul”

What we hope will win: “Soul”

To little surprise, Disney has dominated the animation category with two strong contenders for this award, “Soul” and “Onward.”

If “Soul” wins, this will be Disney’s 14th win in the 20 years since the category’s iteration in 2001.

Best Adapted Screenplay: 

What we think will win: “Nomadland” (Chloé Zhao)

What we hope will win: “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (Sacha Baron Cohen and seven other writers)

“Nomadland” is adapted from a nonfiction book about the rise of nomad culture after the Great Recession. While the main character, Fern (Frances McDormand), is fictional, writer and director Chloé Zhao brought in the perspective of real nomads to play themselves in the film.

“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” is technically an original screenplay but is automatically entered into the adapted screenplay category due to it being a sequel to the 2006 film “Borat.” The film took home the Writers Guild of America award, but was otherwise disregarded in the screenplay category at other awards shows.

Best Original Screenplay

What we think will win: Tie between “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Aaron Sorkin) and “Promising Young Woman” (Emerald Fennell)

What we hope will win: “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Aaron Sorkin)

Aaron Sorkin, who wrote and directed “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” has won one other Academy Award for his adapted screenplay of the iconic film “The Social Network,” which just had its 10-year anniversary last year.

However, newcomer Emerald Fennell is a strong competitor after winning the top honor of Best Original Screenplay at the Writers Guild of America Awards for her revenge drama, “Promising Young Woman.”

Best Director

Who we think will win: Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”)

Who we hope will win: Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”)

Zhao is the first woman of color to be nominated for “Best Director” at the Oscars. 

She has already taken home the Best Director award at the biggest Academy Award precursors, including the British Academy Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, the Golden Globes and the Director’s Guild of America — the last one notable because it’s voted on by her directorial peers. 

It’s safe to say that she’ll be going home with the title, making her just the second woman to take home the award, behind Kathryn Bigelow for her work on “The Hurt Locker.”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Who we think will win: Olivia Coleman (“The Father”) 

Who we hope will win: Olivia Coleman (“The Father”)

Olivia Coleman’s career has taken off since her Best Actress win in 2019 for her role as a lesbian queen, literally, in “The Favourite.” In this year’s Academy Awards, she’s competing head-to-head again with eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close for her role in “Hillbilly Elegy,” who famously lost Best Actress to Coleman when Close was predicted to win for her performance in “The Wife”.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Who we think will win: Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”)

Who we hope will win: Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

No one seems to have any idea who’s going to win Best Actress in a Leading Role this year, with the award going to different actresses at precursor award shows.

Viola Davis won the Screen Actors Guild Award, while Frances McDormand won the BAFTA. If Davis wins, she will be only the second Black actress to win for Best Actress in a Leading Role, after Halle Berry for “Monster’s Ball” in 2002.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role 

Who we think will win: Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)

Who we hope will win: Tie between Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) and Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)

Daniel Kaluuya has earned deserving praise for his portrayal in “Judas and the Black Messiah” of Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, who was assassinated by the FBI in 1969. This is his second nomination since his breakout role in Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.”

Leslie Odom Jr. is the only actor in the category that does not star in a film nominated for Best Picture. He is also nominated for Best Original Song for the song he composed for “One Night in Miami” called “Speak Now.”

Best Actor in a Leading Role: 

Who we think will win: Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Who we hope will win: Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Chadwick Boseman, known for his role as King T’Challa — or the Black Panther — in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sadly passed away last summer after a fight with colon cancer. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is one of his last performances, and many feel it contains some of Boseman’s finest work.

This is Boseman’s first individual Oscar nomination.

Best Picture: 

What we think will win: “Nomadland”

What we want to win: “Minari”

Both “Nomadland” and “Minari” highlight the beauty of Southern America and comment on the capitalistic struggles everyday citizens face in the country. However, “Nomadland'' appears to be in a strong lead after taking home the Best Picture award at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. 

Either way, it’ll be another monumental year for Asian filmmakers after Bong Joon Ho’s history-making awards sweep for “Parasite” last year — marking another astounding year for film in general despite all its challenges.