The 2025 Academy Awards are shaping up to be a night of unpredictability and excitement, according to CEO Bill Kramer. With numerous wide-open races in several categories, including Best Picture, Kramer expressed hope that the drama will unfold only on Oscar stage itself.
This year’s award season has seen a flurry of sporadic winners, with few consistent frontrunners, particularly in the Best Picture category. The campaign for leading film “Emilia Pérez,” which leads with 13 Oscar nominations, was upended by past offensive tweets from its star Karla Sofia Gascón.
Despite controversy surrounding Gascón’s nomination, Kramer emphasized the groundbreaking nature of her being the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Oscar. He stressed that all nominees are invited to attend and highlighted the importance of celebrating their achievements.
Host Conan O’Brien was deemed the perfect choice due to his humanist approach, ability to stay apolitical, and balance between humor and respect. Kramer praised O’Brien’s ability to keep the show “above the fray” without making fun of people or film industry.
Performers such as Queen Latifah, Raye, Doja Cat, Lisa from Blackpink, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande will perform original songs at the 2025 Oscars. However, details about their performance are still unknown.
Kramer also assured that politics would not take center stage this year, with guidelines in place to encourage respectful statements during the ceremony. Reunions among A-list celebrities will be a highlight, but Kramer remained tight-lipped about specific names.
The event aims to celebrate Los Angeles’ resilience and raise funds for LA wildfire rebuilding efforts. With an estimated runtime of over three hours, the Academy Awards strive to include all disciplines on the show while maintaining entertainment value.
The 2025 Oscars will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, promising a captivating night of awards and surprises.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/28/entertainment/oscars-2-25-academy-ceo-what-to-expect/index.html