Oscar Predictions Begin: Scott Feinberg’s Early Take
The race for the 2026–2027 Oscars is beginning to attract attention as some of the year’s most important films prepare to make their first major appearances. The next few weeks are expected to be especially important for filmmakers, actors, and studios hoping to become strong contenders for the Academy Awards.
The competition will begin to take shape at several major international film festivals. The Venice Film Festival is one of the first major events on the calendar this week. It will be followed by the Telluride Film Festival on Friday, where several highly anticipated movies and performances are expected to receive attention from critics and awards voters.
A week later, the spotlight will move to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Toronto is known for showing a wide range of films and often becomes an important starting point for movies that later compete for major awards. The New York Film Festival, scheduled about two weeks later, will add another important stage for filmmakers and studios to present their work.
These festivals can have a major influence on the Oscar race. Strong reviews, audience reactions, and early awards buzz can help a film gain attention long before the final Oscar nominations are announced. A successful festival screening can also increase interest in an actor’s performance or a director’s work.
As the awards season begins, Hollywood studios will closely watch how audiences and critics respond to the major films. Some movies may quickly become early favorites, while others may struggle to attract attention. New contenders could also emerge unexpectedly during the festival season.
The beginning of this awards race also marks the return of the Feinberg Forecast, which will follow the Oscar competition throughout the season. The weekly coverage will examine which films, actors, directors, and other artists are gaining momentum and which contenders may be losing ground.
At this early stage, it is still difficult to predict the final Oscar nominees. Many films have not yet been released widely, and audience and critic reactions can change the competition quickly. However, the upcoming festivals will provide some of the first major clues about which movies could become serious awards contenders.
With Venice, Telluride, Toronto, and New York all taking place within a short period, the Oscar conversation is expected to become much louder. As more films are screened and more performances are reviewed, the competition for the biggest prizes in Hollywood will begin to take clearer shape.
The road to the 2026–2027 Academy Awards is only beginning, but the next few weeks could provide some of the season’s most important early signals.