A nod of appreciation to some of the most remarkable Academy Award runner-ups

The 96th Annual Academy Awards was held on Mar. 10, 2024, at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre. With an array of exceptional performances and films, it’s impossible to crown them all. These are some of the distinguished nominees that merit just as much admiration as their fellow competitors.

READ: The 2024 Oscars highlight reel

“Poor Things” – Robbie Ryan

Oscars 2024: Screencap from “Poor Things” — Screencap from “Poor Things” | Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

(Best Cinematography Winner: “Oppenheimer” – Hoyte van Hoytema)

Cinematographer Robbie Ryan stretches the surreal possibilities of the fantastical world of “Poor Things.” The visuals gracefully walk the tightrope of magical childlike wonder and unsettling mutated horror. Making use of varying lens dimensions and vibrant expansive backdrops, this is arguably the most experimental Ryan has been in his artistic career.

“Barbie” – Jacqueline Durran

Oscars 2024: A showcase of different Barbie dolls in "Barbie" — A showcase of different Barbie dolls in “Barbie” | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

(Best Costume Design Winner: “Poor Things” – Holly Waddington)

Audiences were awestruck as they watched their childhood toys come to life. Durran was determined to avoid straying too far from the familiar, instead remaining true to the material: colorful, ambitious, and fashionable Barbie dolls.

READ: Dressed to impress: The 9 most fashionable stars at the 2024 Oscars

“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” – Scott George “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Scott George with his fellow Osage singers at the 96th Academy Awards | Photo via Vogue

(Best Original Song Winner: “What Was I Made For” – Billie Eilish, FINNEAS “Barbie”)

“Killers of the Flower Moon” director Scorsese indicated the need to exhibit the Osage culture that continues to live on until today. “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” is composed by Scott George and performed by fellow Osage singers to demonstrate the survival of their Indigenous community. This historically significant composition documents the expression of their people, becoming the first-ever nomination for a member of the Osage Nation.

“Past Lives” – Celine Song

Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro in “Past Lives” | Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute

(Best Original Screenplay Winner: “American Fiction” – Cord Jefferson)

A tale of love, distance, and timing, “Past Lives” explores how fate pulls people towards connections that transcend lifetimes. This personal and heartfelt story marked Song’s directorial debut as it scored over 40 awards, including Best Picture from the National Society of Film Critics. Her future as a director and writer looks promising as she gears towards her new and upcoming project, “Materialists.”

Lily Gladstone

(Best Actress Winner: Emma Stone)

Many predicted Gladstone to take home the Oscar for their lead role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” in which she was critically praised and honored at the Golden Globe Awards where she won Best Actress for the same role. This would have been the first Academy Award won by a Native American, but the recognition of their outstanding performance still calls for celebration as it opens doors for Indigenous personalities in cinema.