Noor Nanji
Reporting from the Oscars

Image source, Reuters

Papal drama Conclave goes into tonight’s ceremony in a strong position, having won the top prizes at the Baftas and SAG Awards.

I met film editor Nick Emerson, from Northern Ireland, at a pre-Oscars party in LA this week. He told me why the film has struck a chord.

“It’s a good behind-the-scenes look at what’s quite a secretive process, and it’s also that the story is quite thrilling and engaging,” said Emerson.

“That’s all things that audiences want when they go to the cinema.”

Emerson, who is nominated for best film editing, said he was “very excited”, adding that if he wins, there will be “a few glasses of champagne” going down.

With the Pope recently being unwell, he added: “I wish him well.”

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

Influencers are giving the thespians a run for their money on the red carpet.

Fashion houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier are clamouring to dress influencers like Emma Chamberlain, while emerging designers know the power of their work being exposed to their millions of followers.

On the Oscars red carpet, Amelia Dimoldenberg continued her pastel preference in Versace, TikTokers Nic Kaufmann and Calum Harper repped their versions of the beige suit, and YouTuber Lena Mahfouf was an early contender for best dressed in custom Ashi Studio.

Image source, Getty Images

Noor Nanji
Reporting from the Oscars

Image source, UNIVERSAL

If Mikey Madison wins best actress tonight, you can expect her to shout out the sex worker community again – just as she did at the Baftas last month.

The 25-year-old Anora star relied on real-life strippers to help her perfect the part of a New York sex worker.

Ahead of tonight’s ceremony, I’ve been speaking to the actresses, strippers and dancers in the film about their experiences of working on it - and their thoughts on the finished product.

Some praised Sean Baker’s film as realistic, particularly in its portrayal of the rejection and exhaustion that sex workers often feel.

But others said the film was "limited", and that it (and other stripper films) fails to adequately explore the moral question, around men who buy sex.

• Read more: 'I didn't want to be in a bad stripper film'

Noor Nanji
Reporting from the Oscars

Image source, Getty Images

Lynette Howell Taylor, a British film producer and member of the Academy’s board of governors, lost her home during the LA wildfires.

But she is attending the Oscars tonight. She told me she’s “excited to have a night of joy”, talking about films rather than insurance claims.

“There will definitely be recognition for what the city has gone through,” she says.

“But ultimately the show will be about the celebration of the movies of the year, like it is every year.”

She says that despite the immense suffering, there was never any question that the Oscars would go ahead.

But she says support mechanisms and ways to donate would be visible throughout the show.

“So it’s not that the individuals who have lost their homes have been forgotten,” she says

“But absolutely we’ve moved to the place now where a celebration of the achievements of the work is the focus and priority for the show.”

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Jeff Goldblum must have skipped through some poppy fields on his way to the carpet, going for a busy floral motif alongside his wife, Emilie Livingston, in a bejeweled number.

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

Wicked and Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang knows that pink goes good with green - he’s paying homage to his Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, both of whom are nominated for their roles in Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Ethan Slater, who plays Boq, is in a traditional black tux, no doubt holding space for his partner, Grande, to stun when she arrives later in the night.

They met on the set of Wicked.

Tom Brook
Reporting from Los Angeles

I'm heading to Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the site of very first Oscars, to meet my colleague Peter Bowes for our live coverage of tonight's ceremony.

Everywhere I go people tell me how much they love Flow, an animated tale without dialogue of a cat facing an uncertain future.

It's not the favourite to win but I predict it will triumph - giving Latvia its first ever Academy Award.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aardman have arrived, with Richard Beek, Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham here for their film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, which is up for best animated feature.

A red carpet wouldn't be complete without the film's diminutive stars and of course the voice-activated, smart gnome Norbot.

Aardman recently won best animated film and best children's and family film at the Baftas, but can they repeat their success on US soil?

Noor Nanji
Reporting from the Oscars

When you find out you’re going to the Oscars, the big question is: What are you going to wear?

It’s my first ever Academy Awards and I decided to wear an Indian outfit, known as a lehenga (borrowed off a friend), primarily because it was the most glam option I could find!

Here’s a quick pic from outside the venue.

Bahman Kalbasi
Reporting from the red carpet

Iranian filmmakers Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani are finally on their way to Hollywood for the Oscars after delays getting their visas.

But will they make it to the show in time? Their film “In the Shadow of the Cyprus” is an Oscar nominee as the Best Short Animated Film.

They struggled to get an interview appointment with the US embassy and they were stranded for several days in Oman.

They finally got an appointment and are now due to land at LAX at 13:00 local time – just three hours before the Oscars begins.

Before they caught their flight, they spoke to me via zoom on the red carpet saying even if they make it, they have missed the crucial period of campaigning for their film to be seen by more members of the academy.

“Regardless it’s still a miracle that this short animation made it to the Oscars. This is a work of love that took more than 6 years to come together. It’s wonderful to see audiences far and wide connect with it.”

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

This is the comedian’s first time hosting the Oscars, and he’s following on from a safe pair of hands - TV host Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted for the past two years.

O’Brien is a pretty seasoned performer - he’s an Emmy-award winning writer and producer who spent years as a late-night television host. He’s also written for both Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

He‘s previously hosted the Emmy Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, and twice emceed the White House Correspondents' dinner.

He’s said he will be keeping in mind what Los Angeles has just been through with the wildfires.

"LA has just been through this traumatic experience," he told ABC News.

"There's a lot that's happening nationally that people are very tense about and it changes day to day. And so my job right now with my writers is to create possibilities.”

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter, at the Academy Awards

I’m in the media room backstage, which is where all the winners will be coming for interviews.

We’re not allowed to take pics here, but I can tell you it’s absolutely huge - and filling up fast.

There’s also a buffet being set up which I already have my eye on.

So, who do journalists here think will win best picture?

I’ve been asking around, and it’s a dead heat between Conclave and Anora (although one person did say The Brutalist).

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Firstly, where have you been?!?!

The broadcaster and YouTuber was last year’s official Oscars social media ambassador and red carpet correspondent, and it was clearly a success given she's back on the red carpet.

She’s already a hit on YouTube, where her series Chicken Shop Date has amassed a whopping 27 million hours of content watched.

Famous for her flirty, blunt and often playful tone, her show is a great leveller, as she shares a box of chicken and chips with celebrities.

Recent dates include Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Garfield (they have form on flirting with each other), Sabrina Carpenter, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Her combined following of 14 million across all platforms won’t be lost on Oscars organisers either, and they’ll be eager to capture younger viewers tuning in for her irreverent interviews.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg is back as the Oscars' red carpet correspondent this year.

She's just arrived and is wearing a classy powder blue cut-out Versace with diamante detailing.

Dimoldenberg had a successful stint in the same role last year.

Image source, Reuters

We just mentioned how the devastating LA fires have had an impact on the Oscars, and the Hollywood community at large.

And moments ago on the red carpet we saw some of those brave local firefighters.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Reuters

The announcement of this year's Oscar nominations was pushed back twice for those affected by the deadly LA wildfires in January.

Former Oscars host Billy Crystal is among the celebrities who have lost homes in the fires, as well as Oscar-winners Jeff Bridges, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson.

Oscars chiefs vowed to honour the city and its people at the ceremony: “We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry,” said CEO Bill Kramer and the Academy’s president, Janet Yang, in a statement.

Changes include a shift from live performances from each of the best song nominees to honouring the songwriters themselves, although we will have to wait and see what this might entail.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

While Netflix has been nominated several times for best picture in recent years and picked up more than 20 awards in other categories, it’s still chasing that elusive best picture win.

It only has a very slim chance of redeeming that this year with Emilia Pérez - the film’s campaign has been somewhat derailed by the recent scandal.

If Karla Sofía Gascón does pull off a shock win for best actress, she will be the first trans person to do so.

The musical she stars in is up against nine competitors including Wicked - in fact, it’s the first time there has been two musicals up for best picture since the 1969, when Funny Girl and Oliver! were both recognised.

And could Diane Warren finally win an Oscar for songwriting on her 16th - yes, 16th - attempt? She’s recognised this year for writing The Journey, from The Six Triple Eight.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Cast your mind back 12 months - the Barbenheimer viral trend had already peaked, when thousands of fans booked to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day.

The phenomenon undoubtedly breathed new life into last year’s film awards, attracting attention from fans of both films.

But in the end, Oppenheimer triumphedwith seven Oscar wins, including best picture, director, actor and supporting actor.

Barbie, 2023’s highest-grossing film, won only one of the eight prizes it was nominated for - best original song for What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish.

Poor Things won four, including best actress for Emma Stone, and The Zone of Interest won two awards, including best international film.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Universal

This age-old question is definitely less clear-cut than last year, when of course Oppenheimer was the stand-out.

Of the 10 nominees for best picture, it’s looking like Anora, Conclave or The Brutalist could win, although the Oscars known for surprises.

It doesn’t look like a single film will claim the lion’s share - Emilia Pérez has the most nominations, but the discovery of historic offensive tweets by lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón has caused caused significant fallout for its Oscars campaign.

The acting categories look pretty clear cut - Adrien Brody is a favourite to win best actor for The Brutalist, although Timothée Chalamet is one to watch for A Complete Unknown...best supporting actress is very likely to be won by Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez.

Best supporting actor is almost certainly going to be Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain, so the category all eyes will be on is best actress - The Substance’s Demi Moore and Anora’s Mikey Madison are both in hot contention for the prize. Popcorn to the ready!