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The 2025 Oscars are right around the recess , but after being at theSundance Film Festival , we ’re think in the lead to what 2026 will look like for likely nominee . Sundance has long been a launch pad for independent filmmaker and movies to be clean up for dispersion . In years past , movie likePast Lives , Brooklyn , andCODA , the latter two both won Best Picture , have been put forward in multiple categories .
There were several strong moving picture at the fete this year that will likely gather tending as they ’re picked up and market to a large audience and Oscars elector . There are plenty of individual carrying into action and screenplay that have gather aid and have the potential to make it all the way to next class ’s wash .
6Train Dreams
Best Picture; Best Actor
Train Dreamsis one of the good films to come out of 2025 ’s edition of Sundance and one of the only to nab a distribution deal . Netflix beak up the Clint Bentley - directed Joel Edgerton film , which is based on the lyric novelette by Denis Johnson . Even before its mess , though , it seemedTrain Dreamscould be earning praise come awards season .
Joel Edgerton ’s primal operation as Robert Granier is subtle yet masterful , praise as one of his skilful yet . Adolpho Veloso ’s cinematography has been compare to Terrence Malick film . It ’s concise but grandiose , a meet adaption in Bentley and atomic number 27 - writer Greg Kwedar ’s script .
Now , all of that has the backing of awards behemoth Netflix . Although the streamer has yet to cop a Best Picture win ( and it does n’t look like it will be doing that anytime soon ) , it has been able to labour its most jimmy films to record nominations and various winnings . It ’s easy to see them backingTrain Dreamsin the 2026 awards backwash and I ca n’t think of a better film ( at least right on now ) that deserve it . – Graeme Guttmann
5Sorry, Baby
Best Original Screenplay
Eva Victor , who shadowed the smart as a whip director Jane Schoenbrun on their acclaimed filmI go through The television Glow , won the screenplay prize out of Sundance for their quietly crushing and incisively uniqueSorry , Baby . The picture show follows Agnes , a college prof in New England , in the years before , during , and after a severely traumatic experience .
For anyone who used to watch Victor ’s videos on Twitter , they already knew she was a comedic gift , butSorry , Babyreveals a new bed to the multi - hyphenate . The film manage its sore issue issue with a dexterous hand , refusing to allow the harm define Agnes or the picture show while still deeply understand the effect an event like it would have on a person like her .
It ’s not hard to see Victor net award attention for her entry , which she directed and starred in as well . It ’s a muscular film , one that speak to a widely experienced trauma in a very specific way . With supporting turns from Naomie Ackie , Lucas Hedges , and John Carroll Lynch , the film is both a wonderful discovery and profoundly moving . – Graeme Guttmann
4The Wedding Banquet
Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Actress
A remake of the 1993 romantic comedy place by Ang Lee , The wedding ceremony Banquetis the palpate - honorable tearjerker of this twelvemonth ’s Sundance . The picture show has a starring casting in stars Kelly Marie Tran , Lily Gladstone , Joan Chen , Youn Yuh - Jung , Bowen Yang , and Han Gi Chan , but it ’s Tran who is the film ’s standout . She pass on a nuanced operation as the emotionally stunted Angela who ca n’t help but turn down the backing from her loving girlfriend , played with warmth by Gladstone .
Equally comical , specific in its experience , and emotional in its flavor at forward-looking queer dynamics , The hymeneals Banquethas the voltage to become a widely - loved hit that rides this momentum into awarding love .
The combination of cast & storytelling makes for an emotionally gorgeous , screaming , and touching film that you ’ll desire to rewatch over & over again .
Tran is really the breakout superstar , but everything from its accommodate screenplay to patronage twist from Gladstone , Yuh - Jung , and Chen could make waves total decline . After such a controversial award time of year this year , The wedding ceremony Banquetcould be a much - needed counterpoison . – Graeme Guttmann
3The Ugly Stepsister
Best International Film; Best Costumes & Hair/Makeup
The Ugly Stepsistersurprised everyone by just how respectable it bend out to be . It ’s a body horror with a great message and some positively gruesome moments that are sure to have people talking . The horror motion-picture show could sure gain enough adhesive friction to get a nomination at next year ’s Oscar for Best International Feature . The Ugly Stepsister , a Norse film , set about a slew of incontrovertible care arrive out of the fete . There was nowhere I endure where I did n’t see about how great it was from people — critics and general audiences likewise .
In summation to collar an International Feature nomination , The Ugly Stepsistercould also get nod for its costume invention and its fuzz and make-up , all of which are top - grade and memorable . The film is everything Oscar voter await for in a film — it ’s dramatic , gets its point across , and boasts stunning performances . ConsideringThe Substance ’s nominations at this year ’s Oscars , The Ugly Stepsisterhas a expert hazard of claiming the spotlight during awards time of year . – Mae Abdulbaki
2If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Best Actress, Rose Byrne
If I Had Legs I ’d Kick Youis a rollercoaster ride of emotions . It ’s surprising in its colored bodily fluid and adumbrate in its portrayal and perspective of Linda ’s ( Rose Byrne ) excited fall . Writer - theater director Mary Bronstein like an expert treat the open topic and Linda ’s journey , which is intense and anxiety - inducement at every turn . At the read/write head of the film is Byrne ’s stunning execution .
Byrne really has a grasp on her fiber ’s feeling , imbuing Linda with a common sense of paranoia , fear , and tiredness that permeate every setting and only escalates as the picture goes on . The actress has always been good , butIf I Had Legs I ’d Kick Youis a vocation - in force operation for Byrne , who ’s certain to be in contention when awards season roll around . She breathes so much into her character , give us a multidimensional portrayal that sticks with you . – Mae Abdulbaki
1André Is An Idiot
Best Documentary
Typically , flick about demise are deplorable and excited . André is an Idiotis a film about expiry that is filled with humor and withstand expectations . The documentary has a sincerity embedded into its narrative that elevates André ’s journeying at every good turn . It ’s a surprisingly fun moving picture and one that hearing could n’t stop talking about at the Sundance Film Festival .
Documentaries out of the festival have had success on the road to the Oscars . Porcelain War , which debut at the festival last year , wasnominated for the 2025 Oscars , while retiring Sundance documentary film like20 Feet From StardomandAn Inconvenient Truthhave succeed Academy Award in previous years . The journey from theSundance Film Festivalto the Oscars for documentaries has been fairly successful , soAndré is an Idiot , among others , has a good chance at being nominated in 2026 . – Mae Abdulbaki
