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It’s been a huge year for cinema, which after surviving months-long industry strikes, enjoyed the hit of the Barbenheimer phenomenon to give it a lift.

Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things and Killers Of The Flower Moon are among the films in the running at this year’s Academy Awards, while stars including Emma Stone and Cillian Murphy are shortlisted for acting prizes.

You can read our full story on what to expect from this year’s Oscars here and scroll down for the list of all the stars and films up for each prize.

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer. Pic: Universal Pictures
Image:
Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer, which leads the nominations. Pic: Universal Pictures

Best picture
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone Of Interest

NYAD. Annette Bening as Diana Nyad in NYAD. Cr. Liz Parkinson/Netflix ..2023
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Annette Bening as Diana Nyad in Nyad. Pic: Liz Parkinson/Netflix

Best actress
Annette Bening – Nyad
Lily Gladstone – Killers Of The Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller – Anatomy Of A Fall
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Emma Stone – Poor Things

Rustin.  (L to R) Jeffrey Mackenzie Jordan as Courtney and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. Cr. Parrish Lewis/Netflix .. 2023
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(L to R) Jeffrey Mackenzie Jordan as Courtney and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in Rustin. Pic: Parrish Lewis/Netflix

Best actor
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction
Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie. Pic: Warner Bros.
Image:
Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie. Pic: Warner Bros.

Supporting actor
Sterling K Brown – American Fiction
Robert De Niro – Killers Of The Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things

Da'Vine Joy Randolph stars as Mary Lamb in director Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. Pic: Focus Features/Seacia Pavao
Image:
Da’Vine Joy Randolph stars as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers. Pic: Focus Features/Seacia Pavao

Supporting actress
Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
America Ferrera – Barbie
Jodie Foster – Nyad
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers

Anatomy Of A Fall director Justine Triet. Pic: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP
Image:
Anatomy Of A Fall director Justine Triet. Pic: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP

Director
Justine Triet – Anatomy Of A Fall
Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things
Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
Martin Scorsese – Killers Of The Flower Moon
Jonathan Glazer – The Zone Of Interest

The Boy And The Heron. Pic: Studio Ghibli
Image:
The Boy And The Heron. Pic: Studio Ghibli

Animated film
The Boy And The Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Bobi Wine
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Pop star turned politician Bobi Wine

Documentary feature
Four Daughters
20 Days In Mariupol
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
The Eternal Memory
To Kill A Tiger

Zone Of Interest has received nine nominations at this year's BAFTAs. Pic: A24
Image:
The Zone Of Interest. Pic: A24

International feature film
Society Of The Snow – Spain
The Zone Of Interest – UK
The Teachers’ Lounge – Germany
Io Capitano – Italy
Perfect Days – Japan

Pic: Apple Original Films/Columbia Pictures/ Aidan Monaghan
Image:
Napoleon. Pic: Apple Original Films/Columbia Pictures/ Aidan Monaghan

Costume design
Barbie
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro. Pic: Jason McDonald/Netflix
Image:
Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro. Pic: Jason McDonald/Netflix

Make-up and hairstyling
Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society Of The Snow

Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.
Image:
Harrison Ford returned for the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise

Original Score
American Fiction
Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Billie Eilish poses on the pink carpet for the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For? is one of two films from Barbie up for best song

Original Song
The Fire Inside – Flamin’ Hot
I’m Just Ken – Barbie
What Was I Made For? – Barbie
Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) – Killers Of The Flower Moon
It Never Went Away – American Symphony

Lily Gladstone in Killers Of The Flower Moon. Pic: Apple TV+
Image:
Lily Gladstone in Killers Of The Flower Moon. Pic: Apple TV+


Production design
Barbie
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Sandra Huller stars in Anatomy Of A Fall
Image:
Sandra Huller stars in Anatomy Of A Fall. Pic: Les Films Pelleas/ Les Films de Pierre

Film editing
Anatomy Of A Fall
The Holdovers
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison in American Fiction. Pic: Claire Folger/Orion Releasing
Image:
Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison in American Fiction. Pic: Claire Folger/Orion Releasing

Adapted screenplay
Barbie
Poor Things
American Fiction
Oppenheimer
The Zone Of Interest

Teo Yoo, left, Celine Song and Greta Lee pose for a portrait to promote Past Lives. Pic: Matt Licari/Invision/AP
Image:
Past Lives director Celine Song (centre) with stars Teo Yoo and Greta Lee. Pic: Matt Licari/Invision/AP

Original screenplay
Anatomy Of A Fall
The Holdovers
Past Lives
May December
Maestro

Animated short film
Letter To A Pig
Ninety-Five Senses
War is Over! Inspired By The Music Of John & Yoko
Pachyderme
Our Uniform

Live action short film
The After
Invincible
Knight Of Fortune
Red, White And Blue
The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar

Cinematography
El Conde
Killers Of The Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Documentary short film
The ABCs Of Book Banning
The Barber Of Little Rock
Island In Between
The Last Repair Shop
Nai Nai & Wai Po

Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One
Image:
Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One. Pic: PA

Sound
The Creator
Maestro
Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone Of Interest

Visual effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3
Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon

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Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born 

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Pete Townshend's Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born 

Despite The Who’s Quadrophenia being set over 60 years ago, Pete Townshend’s themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

The album is having a renaissance as Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia A Mod ballet is being brought to life via dance at Sadler’s Wells East, and Sky News has an exclusive first look.

As Townshend puts it, the album he wrote is “perfect” for the stage.

Pete Townshend
Image:
Pete Townshend

“My wife Rachel did the orchestration for me, and as soon as I heard it I said to her it would make a fabulous ballet and we never really let that go,” he tells Sky News.

“Heavy percussion, concussive sequences. They’re explosive moments. They’re also romantic movement moments.”

If you identify with the demographics of Millennial, Gen Y or Gen Z, you might not be familiar with The Who and Mod culture.

But in post-war Britain the Mods were a cultural phenomenon characterised by fashion, music, and of course, scooters. The young rebels were seen as a counter-culture to the establishment and The Who, with Roger Daltry’s lead vocals and Pete Townshend’s writing, were the soundtrack.

More on The Who

Quadrophenia the album is widely regarded as an essay on the British adolescent experience at the time, focusing on the life of fictional protagonist Jimmy – a young Mod struggling with his sanity, self-doubt, and alienation. 

Townshend sets the rock opera in 1965 but thinks its themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

He says: “The phobias and the restrictions and the unwritten laws about how young men should behave. The ground that they broke, that we broke because I was a part of it.

“Men were letting go of [the] wartime-related, uniform-related stance that if I wear this kind of outfit it makes me look like a man.”

Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson
Image:
Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson

This struggle of modern masculinity and identity appears to be echoing today as manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, incel culture, and Netflix’s Adolescence make headlines.

For dancer Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy, the story resonates.

Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet
Image:
Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet

“I think there’s a connection massively and I think there may even be a little more revival in some way,” he tells Sky News.

“I love that myself. I love non-conforming to gender norms and typical masculinity; I think it’s great to challenge things.”

Despite the album being written before he was born, the dancer says he was familiar with the genre already.

“I actually did an art GCSE project about Mods and rockers and Quadrophenia,” he says.

“I think we’ll be able to bring it to new audiences and hopefully, maybe people will be inspired to to learn more about their music and the whole cultural movement of the early 60s.”

Read more from Sky News:
Tributes to ‘genius’ Kilmer
Richest billionaires named
Springsteen’s seven new albums

In 1979, the album was adapted into a film directed by Franc Roddam starring Ray Winstone and Sting but Townshend admits because the film missed key points he is “not a big fan”.

“What it turned out to be in the movie was a story about culture, about social scenario and less about really the specifics of mental illness and how that affects young people,” he adds, also complimenting Roddam’s writing for the film.

Perhaps a testament to Pete Townshend’s creativity, Quadrophenia started as an album, was successfully adapted to film and now it will hit the stage as a contemporary ballet.

It appears that over six decades later Mod culture is still cool and their issues still relatable.

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal from 28 May to 1 June 2025, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 June 2025 and the Mayflower, Southampton from 18 to 21 June 2025 before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 24 June running to 13 July 2025 and then visiting The Lowry, Salford from 15 to 19 July 2025.

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Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

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Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand has been charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.

The Metropolitan Police say the 50-year-old comedian, actor and author has also been charged with one count of oral rape and one count of indecent assault.

The charges relate to four women.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May.

Police have said Brand is accused of raping a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001.

He is also accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster in 2004.

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Ashna Hurynag discusses Russell Brand’s charges

The fourth charge alleges that a woman was sexually assaulted in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.

Police began investigating Brand, from Oxfordshire, in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations.

Read more from Sky News:
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Last UK blast furnaces days from closure
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The comedian has denied the accusations and said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.

He added in a video on X: “Of course, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”

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Tom Cruise leads moment of silence in tribute to ‘dear friend’ Val Kilmer

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Tom Cruise leads moment of silence in tribute to 'dear friend' Val Kilmer

Tom Cruise has paid tribute to Val Kilmer, wishing his Top Gun co-star “well on the next journey”.

Cruise, speaking at the CinemaCon film event in Las Vegas on Thursday, asked for a moment’s silence to reflect on the “wonderful” times shared with the star, whom he called a “dear friend”.

Kilmer, who died of pneumonia on Tuesday aged 65, rocketed to fame starring alongside Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, playing Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, a rival fighter pilot to Cruise’s character Maverick.

Tom Cruise, star of the upcoming film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," leads a moment of silence for late actor Val Kilmer during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Tom Cruise said ‘I wish you well on the next journey’. Pic: AP

Val Kilmer in 2017. Pic: AP
Image:
Val Kilmer in 2017. Pic: AP

His last part was a cameo role in the 2022 blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Cruise, on stage at Caesars Palace on Thursday, said: “I’d like to honour a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honoured I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick.

“I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.

“I wish you well on the next journey.”

The moment of silence followed a string of tributes from Hollywood figures including Cher, Francis Ford Coppola, Antonio Banderas and Michelle Monaghan.

Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes told the New York Times on Wednesday that the actor had died from pneumonia.

Tom Cruise takes part in the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Tom Cruise at Caesars Palace on Thursday. Pic: AP

Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, Kilmer discussed his illness and recovery in his 2020 memoir Your Huckleberry and Amazon Prime documentary Val.

He underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments for the disease and also had a tracheostomy which damaged his vocal cords and permanently gave him a raspy speaking voice.

Kilmer played Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever and received critical acclaim for his portrayal of rock singer Jim Morrison in the 1991 movie The Doors.

Read more from Sky News:
Tributes to ‘genius’ Kilmer
Richest billionaires named
Springsteen’s seven new albums

He also starred in True Romance and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, as well as playing criminal Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann’s 1995 movie Heat and Doc Holliday in the 1993 film Tombstone.

In 1988 he married British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met while working on fantasy adventure Willow.

The couple had two children before divorcing in 1996.

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