▲ This poster of film "Sinners: Sinners," directed by Ryan Coogler, is provided by Warner Bros Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- The 98th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday (U.S. time) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, drawing global attention to which films will take home the coveted Oscar statuettes.

 

Among the frontrunners are "One Battle After Another" by director Paul Thomas Anderson and "Sinners: Sinners" by Ryan Coogler, while family-centered dramas such as "Sentimental Value" and "Hamnet" are also widely considered strong contenders for best picture.

 

Although no South Korean films were invited this year, attention is also focused on whether two works linked to Korean content — the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" and the Hollywood remake "Bugonia" — will win awards.

 

"One Battle After Another," a leading contender for both best picture and best director, has been nominated in a total of 13 categories, including adapted screenplay, cinematography and film editing.

 

The film follows a former revolutionary father who embarks on a pursuit to rescue his kidnapped daughter, confronting a series of political and moral dilemmas along the way.

 

The performances of stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn, along with timely themes such as immigration crackdowns and white supremacist clubs, have drawn particular attention.

 

Having already won best picture and best director at major ceremonies including the Golden Globe Awards, the BAFTA Awards and the Critics Choice Awards, the film is widely expected to perform strongly at the Oscars as well.

 

Its most formidable competitor is Coogler’s "Sinners: Sinners."

 

The film received 16 nominations — including best picture, best director and best screenplay — setting a record for the most nominations in the history of the Academy Awards.

 

The horror film depicts a single night when twin brothers who have returned to their hometown after dismantling a Chicago gang in 1932 host the grand opening party of a bar. It has also been nominated in categories such as film editing, makeup, production design and original score for its visually striking direction.

 

Actor Michael B. Jordan has been nominated for best actor, while Delroy Lindo is nominated for best supporting actor and Wunmi Mosaku for best supporting actress.

 

Meanwhile, "Sentimental Value," directed by Joachim Trier, has received nine nominations, including best picture, best director, best screenplay, acting awards for all principal cast members, international feature film and film editing.

 

The film tells the story of a reclusive filmmaker father and his two daughters who reconnect through filmmaking and confront one another after years of emotional distance. It won the Grand Prix after being invited to the competition section at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

Its cast — including Renate Reinsve (best actress), Elle Fanning (best supporting actress), Stellan Skarsgård (best supporting actor) and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (best supporting actress) — has also been nominated across acting categories.

 

Other nominees for best picture include "Marty Supreme" starring Timothée Chalamet, "Frankenstein" directed by Guillermo del Toro and "Hamnet" by Chloé Zhao.

 

While no Korean films are competing, two projects connected to Korean content have emerged as notable talking points.

 

"KPop Demon Hunters" has been nominated for best animated feature and best original song. The film already won animation and original song awards at the Golden Globes in January and also took home a prize at the Grammy Awards last month, marking the first win for a K-pop genre work at the ceremony.

 

The singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who performed vocals for the fictional girl group HUNTRIX in the film, are scheduled to perform the nominated theme song "Golden" at the ceremony.

 

The film became the most-watched title among all Netflix films and shows last year, raising expectations over whether it will cap the "Huntrix" craze with an Oscar win.

 

Meanwhile, "Bugonia" — a Hollywood remake of the 2003 South Korean film "Save the Green Planet!" by director Jang Joon-hwan — has been nominated in four categories: best picture, best actress, adapted screenplay and original score.

 

It marks the first time a film based on a South Korean movie has been nominated in the adapted screenplay category at the Academy Awards.

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