Sarah Taryam, Arts Editor

Life as we knew it is not showing any signs of returning to normalcy but the Hollywood award season stops for no man or woman, or, in this case, a pandemic.

The Academy Awards have been pushed to April 25 this year and it is going to be the first time in history that the contenders are films that are not being judged based on how well they did in cinemas. Who is going make it to land on the nominations list on March 15 is anyone’s guess, but this week we take a look at the most possible outcomes.

In the Best Picture category, “Nomadland” starring Frances McDormand is looking like a favourite since it was already a hit at this year’s festivals, winning the Golden Lion at Venice and the People’s Choice Award in Toronto.

Another film likely to win would be David Fincher’s “Mank,” which explores the Golden Age of Hollywood through the eyes of screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz, as he struggles to finish “Citizen Kane.”

In the Best Actress category, there could be quite a battle between previous Oscar winners Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) as well as Vanessa Kirby in “Pieces of a Woman” and Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Women.”

The Academy Award for Best Actor could very well go to Chadwick Boseman for his electrifying performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Other strong candidates in this category include Anthony Hopkins for his role in “The Father,” Delroy Lindo in “Da 5 Bloods” and Gary Oldman for “Mank.”