As the race for the 2025 Academy Awards heats up, several films have emerged as strong contenders for Best Picture, including 'Emilia Pérez,' a Spanish-language musical crime comedy favored at 2/1 odds, and 'Anora,' which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and holds 9/4 odds. The 4/1 shot 'Sing Sing' and the historical drama 'The Brutalist' at 5/1 are also in the mix, alongside anticipated releases like 'Joker: Folie a Deux.' Meanwhile, around 50 countries are submitting films for the Best International Feature Film category, with notable entries from Algeria and Armenia. The unpredictable nature of this year's race is highlighted by the absence of a clear frontrunner, as films like 'The Life of Chuck,' which won the People's Choice Award at TIFF, lack distribution. With several high-profile festivals behind us, speculation continues about which films will ultimately secure nominations and potential wins in January 2025.