The Oscars shared details about how it will honor the city of Los Angeles amid the devastation caused by wildfires, along with other updates about this year’s ceremony.
In a letter to Academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang outlined plans for the 97th Oscars ceremony, scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 2nd. The announcement comes on the heels of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, and is an opportunity for the Academy to highlight its commitment to the resiliency of the film industry and its local city.
“Thank you very much for your compassion and support over the past few weeks,” the letter began, expressing solidarity with those affected by the fires across Los Angeles County. Mr. Kramer and Mr. Yang also urged members to support ongoing relief efforts and included information on resources for assistance.
The upcoming ceremony, 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 break with tradition, live performances of the nominated songs, which have been a staple of past Oscar ceremonies, will be canceled in the original song category. Instead, the show spotlights songwriters through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from the creative teams behind the music. This year’s nominees are expected to include songs from Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Perez,” featuring numbers that would have been sung by Zoe Saldaña, Carla Sofia Gascón and Selena Gomez. has been done.
“We celebrate the artistry of the teams who brought these songs to life through personal reflections on them. All of this, and more, is the story and inspiration behind this year’s nominations.” ,” write Kramer and Yang.
The “Fab 5” moment will be back again this year. In this corner, individual artists will recognize and pay tribute to the nominated works. The recently introduced tradition has resonated with audiences who celebrate artistry across generations, with Oscar winner Rita Moreno (West Side Story) joining Best Supporting Actress nominee America Ferrera (Barbie) ), which led to some memorable moments.
The academy also plans to “celebrate Los Angeles as the city of dreams and showcase its beauty and resilience.”
The conclusion of the Academy’s letter emphasized a commitment to unity and optimism, especially in the face of recent challenges. “We have so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect film’s rich history to a bold and moving future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to see the nominations announced. We deeply appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and the film community. We are stronger together.”
Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 23rd at 5:30 a.m. PT.
The full text of the letter is below.
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Dear Academy Members,
We deeply appreciate your compassion and support over the past few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those affected by the recent Los Angeles area wildfires. If you would like to join the Academy and support ongoing relief efforts, click here for a list of aid resources.
After continued consultation with ABC, the Board of Directors, and key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, planning continues for the 97th Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 2nd. This year’s Oscars celebrates the films that unite us as a global film community and pays tribute to those who bravely fought the wildfires.
The 97th Oscar Awards nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT globally on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), and ABC’s Good. Announcements will be made via livestream. Morning America, ABC News Live, Disney+, Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) services will be available on YouTube.
Before tomorrow’s announcement, I would like to tell you a little about this year’s show. Hosted by the wonderful Conan O’Brien, the 97th Oscar Awards will be a celebration of connection and collaboration, celebrating the cohesive spirit and creative synergy of filmmaking. We focus on the transformative power of teamwork to bring cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we’re excited to bring back our “Fab 5” moment, where individual film artists recognize their nominated films. Additionally, this year the Best Original Song presentation will move away from live performance and focus on songwriters. We celebrate the artistry of the teams who brought these songs to life through personal reflections. All of this and more will reveal the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominations.
And we celebrate Los Angeles as the City of Dreams, flaunting its beauty, resilience, and role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for more than a century. We reflect on recent events, highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that define Los Angeles and our industry.
There’s plenty more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect film’s rich history to a bold and moving future. We hope you will be able to watch the nomination announcement tomorrow morning. We also deeply appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and the film community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang
