The Oscars shared details on how it will honor the city of Los Angeles amid the devastation caused by wildfires, along with other updates for this year’s ceremony.
In a letter sent to Academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Young outlined plans for the 97th Academy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, March 2. The announcement comes in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, with the Academy using the opportunity to highlight its commitment to the resilience of the film industry and its home city.
“Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the past few weeks,” the letter began, expressing our solidarity with those affected by the fires sweeping through Los Angeles County. Kramer and Yang also urged members to support ongoing relief efforts and provided information on aid resources.
The upcoming gala, which will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning comedian and former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien, promises to celebrate the transformative power of filmmaking while embracing themes of connection and collaboration.
In a departure from tradition, the Original Song category will forego live performances of nominated songs, a staple of past Academy Awards ceremonies. Instead, the show will highlight songwriters through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from the creative teams behind the music. This year’s contenders are expected to include songs from Jacques Audiard’s Spanish musical “Emilia Perez,” which includes numbers that would have been sung by Zoe Saldaña, Carla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez.
“We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the bands who bring these songs to life. All of this and more will reveal the stories and inspirations behind this year’s nominees,” Kramer and Yang wrote.
Returning this year are the “Fab 5” moments, a segment in which individual performers recognize and give a shout-out to the nominees. This tradition, introduced in recent years, has resonated with audiences celebrating the art across generations, bringing unforgettable moments like Academy Award winner Rita Moreno’s (“West Side Story”) tribute to nominated supporting actress America Ferrera (“Barbie.” ).
The academy also plans to “honor Los Angeles as a city of dreams, and showcase its beauty and resilience.”
The conclusion of the Academy’s message stressed the commitment to unity and optimism, especially in the face of recent challenges. “There’s a lot in store, including powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announced, and we greatly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.”
Academy Award nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT.
Full message below.
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Dear members of the Academy,
We sincerely thank you all for your compassion and support over the past few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those impacted by the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you would like to join the Academy in supporting ongoing relief efforts, please click here for a list of aid resources.
After ongoing consultation with ABC, our Board of Directors, and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, planning for the 97th Academy Awards continues on Sunday, March 2. This year’s Academy Awards will celebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and recognize those who bravely fought against the bushfires.
As a reminder, our 97th Academy Award nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT via global livestream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), and ABC’s Good. Morning America, ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) services will be available on YouTube.
In preparation for tomorrow’s announcement, we wanted to share with you a little about this year’s show. Hosted by the amazing Conan O’Brien, the 97th Academy Awards will be a celebration of connection and collaboration – a tribute to the unified spirit and creative synergy of filmmaking. We will highlight the transformative power of teamwork that brings cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we’re excited to bring back the “Fab 5” moments, where individual film artists get to know the nominees. Also, this year’s presentation for the Best Original Song category will move away from live performances and focus on songwriters. We’ll celebrate their artistry through personal reflections of the bands who bring these songs to life. All this and more will reveal the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.
We will honor Los Angeles as the City of Dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for more than a century. We will reflect on recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry.
There’s a lot more to come, including powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announced, and we greatly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Young