The contract spans four years, concluding in 2033, and includes the main ceremony along with red carpet programming, backstage footage, and Governors Ball coverage. Additional content includes the Governors' awards, nomination reveals, the nominees' Luncheon, student Academy Awards, interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, educational programming, and podcast material.

In a joint declaration, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor stated, "We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming." The executives added, "The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible – which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community."

Recent years have witnessed the Academy diversifying its voting membership, with international voters now comprising 21% of the electorate.

Neal Mohan, YouTube's chief executive, indicated the collaboration would "inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars' storied legacy." He described the Academy Awards as "our essential cultural institutions."

The streaming platform has reached record viewership levels in the US throughout this year, sustaining its status as the top-performing streamer amid declining network television audiences, The Guardian reported. YouTube broadcast its first live NFL game in September, drawing over 17 million viewers. By April, the service had accumulated 9.4 million subscribers.

A network spokesperson commented, "ABC has been the proud home to the Oscars for more than half a century." The statement continued, "We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show's centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success."

In 2023, Netflix obtained the rights to the Screen Actors Guild Awards, rebranding them as the Actor Awards and transferring them from broadcast to streaming. Variety reported that Netflix and NBCUniversal had also competed for the Oscars' rights.

This trend has drawn sharp criticism from Hollywood. Screenwriter Daniel Kunka wrote on X in response to the announcement of the contract with YouTube: "YouTube broadcasting the Oscars is like shaking hands with the guy who's trying to kill you." An insider told Variety: "They can do whatever they want. You can have a six-hour Oscars hosted by MrBeast," referring to the widely successful American YouTuber.

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Here's another way to get a coveted European passport: direct a successful film that compliments one of the EU countries. That's exactly what Jesse Eisenberg did, the American-Jewish filmmaker behind the moving comedy-drama "A Real Pain." In the film, Kieran Culkin and Eisenberg, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar this week for his role, play two Jewish cousins who embark on a journey in Poland after their grandmother's death, and connect with their roots.

Eisenberg (41), who wrote the screenplay for "A Real Pain" and is of Polish descent, based the plot on his coming-of-age period and his family's history during the Holocaust. Last year he applied for Polish citizenship, and now – and we hope it's not just because his film won an Oscar – his application has been approved. In a ceremony held on Tuesday in New York, Eisenberg was granted the citizenship he so desired by none other than the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime honor and something I've wanted very much for two decades," Jesse said in his speech upon receiving citizenship and added: "When we filmed the movie in Poland, I walked the streets and started to feel a bit more at ease in the country. I realized that my family lived in this place longer than we've lived in New York. Of course, it ended in tragedy, but in addition to that historical tragedy, there's also the tragedy that my family no longer felt connected to Poland."

"It made me very sad and clarified for me that I really want to try to connect with it more. I hope that this ceremony and this great honor tonight is a first step for me, on behalf of my family, to reconnect with this beautiful country," Eisenberg concluded.

Later this year we'll see Eisenberg on the big screen once again, in the thriller sequel "Now You See Me 3" in which he'll star alongside Morgan Freeman, Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson, and others – nearly a decade after he last collaborated with this impressive cast.

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The 97th Academy Awards ceremony held Sunday night in Los Angeles brought together the best celebrities who came to see and especially to be seen, as well as to win 2025 Oscar awards.

Let's start with the most dazzling point of the night. Singer Doja Cat replaced the Balmain leopard print dress she wore on the red carpet with a garment – if one can call it that – made entirely of Swarovski chains, delivering the most talked-about look of the evening.

Doja Cat wrapped her body in diamond threads that covered all the necessary areas. The jewels hung on a sheer nude-colored dress that included a deep strapless neckline and a trailing train. She paired this brilliant masterpiece with matching strappy heels and a massive diamond ring.

After admiring this unique look, we can go back to slightly more traditional and refined dresses. These are the actresses who stole the show on the red carpet at the Oscars ceremony, starting with our Israeli star, Gal Gadot. Gadot wore a red strapless dress with pleats and pockets, in a look that somewhat references the Queen character in Snow White. There's no doubt she looked amazing.

Demi Moore, who didn't take home the statuette, shined in a custom Giorgio Armani Privé dress embellished with crystals featuring a plunging neckline and pleated embellishments at the waist that led to a dramatic train.

Ariana Grande, who also didn't win an award, stood out in a sculptural Schiaparelli Haute Couture dress in her signature pink color from the brand's Spring 2025 collection.

Zoe Saldaña, who won the Best Supporting Actress award, wore a Saint Laurent dress by Anthony Vaccarello that included a rhinestone-covered top and tiered wine-colored skirt. Sheer opera gloves and Cartier jewelry added even more drama.

Selena Gomez sparkled in a Ralph Lauren Collection dress adorned with hand-sewn crystals and more than 16,000 glass droplets crafted by a team of 12 artists. Bulgari jewelry added even more shine to the look.

Miley Cyrus brought her rock star style in a custom Alexander McQueen embellished dress.

Emma Stone glittered in a hand-knit champagne-colored Louis Vuitton dress.

Cynthia Erivo wore a forest green velvet dress with a royal collar, bow detail, and a puffy skirt. Note the manicure.

Elle Fanning brought a breath of old Hollywood glamour in a white lace dress with a sweet neckline and a black bow.

And there's no doubt that the star of the evening is Mickey Madison, who won the Oscar for Best Actress. Madison appeared in a custom Christian Dior Haute Couture dress.

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Israel will have patriotic representation at the Oscars this year, but from the presenter's podium: It was reported Wednesday that Gal Gadot has joined the prestigious lineup of award presenters at Hollywood's most glamorous cinematic event of the year, scheduled for March 2, marking the ceremony's 97th iteration.

While the specific award Gadot will present remains undisclosed, her inclusion represents a significant honor. Among other newly announced presenters are Hollywood heavyweights Harrison Ford, Samuel Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Andrew Garfield, Margaret Qualley, and notably Rachel Zegler, who stars alongside Gadot in Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of "Snow White" premiering next month (the pairing of these two actresses at the ceremony hardly seems coincidental). These stars will join previously announced presenters including Ben Stiller, Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Willem Dafoe, and Ana de Armas, with Conan O'Brien hosting the evening and Nick Offerman serving as the ceremony's announcer.

The announcement of Gadot's participation comes shortly after The Brigade – a pro-Israel organization active in Hollywood – declared they would not remain passive if ceremony attendees wear the red hand pin associated with the controversial pro-Palestinian initiative Artists4ceasefire, which critics have linked to imagery reminiscent of the blood-stained hands of those who perpetrated the Ramallah lynching in 2000.

Questions have emerged about whether Gadot will wear the yellow hostage pin after her decision not to wear it while presenting at the Golden Globe Awards last month sparked criticism. Initial reports claimed the Israeli actress was prohibited from wearing symbols that might be interpreted as politically charged, but Gadot refuted this on her Instagram account, stating: "I was never forbidden from wearing the pin. Some chose to tell a fabricated story. I prefer to focus on what truly matters – our hostages. My heart is with the families waiting for them."

The announcement generated significant reaction across social media platforms. One user on Threads wrote: "Dream scenario: Gal Gadot will present the Best Documentary award to a film about the Israeli occupation of Palestine," referring to "No Other Land," a documentary produced by a Palestinian-Israeli collective with Norwegian backing that's considered a frontrunner for the award. A Reddit user commented: "I know Guy Pearce (nominated for his role in 'The Brutalist,' portraying a despicable and racist character), who was among celebrities vocal in supporting a ceasefire, has no chance of winning, but imagine how uncomfortable Gal would be if she had to present him with the award."

The 97th Academy Awards will be broadcast exclusively on yes and STING+. Viewers can watch the ceremony live or in an edited, translated version. The live broadcast begins overnight between Sunday and Monday, March 2-3, at 2:00 a.m. on yes Movies Drama, including comprehensive "red carpet" coverage.

The complete ceremony will be available on Monday, March 3, on yes and STING+, with the edited and translated version airing on March 4 at 9:00 p.m. on yes Movies Drama.

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Pro-Israeli Hollywood collective known as "The Brigade" has issued a strongly-worded response to Artists4Ceasefire's campaign urging Oscars attendees to wear red pins in support of Gazans. In their statement shared on Monday night, The Brigade – comprising approximately 700 producers, actors, agents, and filmmakers – criticized the timing of the Artists4Ceasefire initiative, which was sent to Hollywood celebrities on February 20, the same day Hamas returned the bodies of the Bibas children.

"In 2000, Palestinian terrorists in Ramallah lynched two innocent Israelis, ripped them apart limb by limb, and held up their blood-soaked hands to a cheering mob. That infamous image is now your 'ceasefire' badge. Is this ignorance? Or is this deliberate, calculated malice?" wrote The Brigade.

Artists4Ceasefire had previously explained their pin's meaning: "The red background symbolizes the urgent call to save lives, the orange hand represents the diverse community that has come together to support us, and the heart at the center of the hand is an invitation to lead with our hearts, in love." The Brigade described the red hand pin as "no symbol of peace" but rather "the emblem of Jewish bloodshed."

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 "On February 20th, the same day the world learned 10-month-old Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel were strangled to death by their terrorist captors in Gaza, you doubled down-urging celebrities to proudly wear your bloodstained red hand pin. Have you no shame?" the statement asked. The group drew connections between the hand symbol on the pin and the deaths of the Bibas children, stating they were "strangled to death by the terrorist's bare hands."

The pro-Palestinian group's name clearly supports a ceasefire so the statement specifically addressed what they described as Hamas' "grotesque, sadistic ceasefire tactics," citing instances where hostages were returned "on the brink of death, frail, bruised, and starved" and "executed after a ceasefire was reached."

At the previous Oscars ceremony, Artists4Ceasefire successfully convinced artists like Mark Ruffalo and Billie Eilish to wear the pin.

The message from The Brigade directly challenged Hollywood figures planning to wear the pins at the March 3 Oscars ceremony, asking if they would "proudly wear the emblem of a lynching."

The Brigade's statement concluded with a direct appeal to those in the entertainment industry: "To those who wore it without knowing – now you know. To those who knew and wore it anyway – we see you and we will not be silent."

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 3, with observers now watching closely to see how many attendees choose to wear the controversial red pins.

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In a delayed announcement due to devastating Los Angeles wildfires, and against the backdrop of Donald Trump's dramatic White House return, the 2025 Oscar nominations were revealed Thursday in Hollywood, marking a watershed moment for international cinema.

The critically acclaimed "Emilia Perez," directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, dominates this year's nominations with an unprecedented 13 nominations – setting a new record for a film not in English. This groundbreaking musical chronicles a Mexican drug baron's journey through gender transition, masterfully blending crime drama with intimate personal transformation.

In a historic achievement, Karla Sofia Gascon makes Oscar history as the first transgender performer nominated in the acting category. Her co-star Zoe Saldana secured a supporting actress nomination, while the film swept nearly every eligible category, including dual nominations for best original song.

Close behind with 10 nominations each are the box office phenomenon "Wicked" and the powerful historical epic "The Brutalist," directed by Brady Corbett. The latter presents a compelling narrative of a Jewish architect's post-Holocaust immigration from Hungary to America.

"Wicked" stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both earned unexpected but well-deserved acting nominations – Erivo for lead actress and Grande for supporting actress. Meanwhile, "The Brutalist" garnered recognition for its stellar cast, with Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce all receiving acting nominations, alongside nods for original screenplay, cinematography, music, director, and best picture.

Director Edward Berger's tense Vatican thriller "Conclave" accumulated 8 nominations, including a worthy best actor nomination for Ralph Fiennes. The Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" matched this total, featuring Timothee Chalamet's second career nomination for his portrayal of the enigmatic Jewish musician.

Notable contenders include "Anora" with 6 nominations, and "The Substance" with five, including recognition for stars Mikey Madison and Demi Moore – the latter having already claimed a Golden Globe with a memorable acceptance speech. Coralie Farge, who helmed "The Substance", stands as this year's sole female directing nominee. Denis Villeneuve's "Dune 2" secured 5 nominations, including best picture.

In the documentary category, while director Alexis Bloom's "The Bibi Files," featuring investigation footage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, missed the cut, "No Other Land" by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor earned a spot among the final five. The film, documenting IDF operations in Masafer Yatta, despite winning two Berlin Festival awards, remarkably still lacks US distribution – though this nomination will likely change that.

Other significant nominations include Kieran Culkin for Jesse Eisenberg's "A Real Pain" in the supporting actor category, following his recent Golden Globe win. Sebastian Stan surprised with a best actor nomination for his portrayal of Donald Trump in the contested film "The Apprentice."

The animated feature "The Wid Robot" impressed with 4 cross-category nominations, while Brazilian director Walter Salles' "Ainda Estou Aqui" ("I'm still here" in Portuguese) earned nominations for Best Foreign Film, Best Picture, and Best Leading Actress – with star Fernanda Torres already claiming a Golden Globe.

The most striking omission was Luca Guadagnino's erotic sports drama "Challengers," previously considered a front-runner for original score. Angelina Jolie's performance as opera legend Maria Callas in "Maria" also failed to secure a nomination.

The 97th Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled for March 2, will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.

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Richard M. Sherman, the acclaimed songwriter who, alongside his late brother Robert, crafted the iconic melodies for Disney's most cherished cinematic gems, including "Mary Poppins", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", and "The Jungle Book", has died at the age of 95.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sherman, who co-wrote the popular "It's a Small World (After All)" and the Ringo Starr hit "You're Sixteen", passed away on Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to age-related illness, as confirmed by Disney.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipients of the National Medal of Honor, the Sherman brothers composed an estimated 1,000 songs and scores for 50 films, earning them an unparalleled legacy as the most prolific writers of movie musical numbers in history.

Their crowning achievement came in 1964 when they won an Academy Award for their contributions to "Mary Poppins", taking home Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song for "Chim Chim Cheree". The duo, handpicked by Walt Disney himself and working closely with the Hollywood legend for nearly a decade, garnered additional nominations for their work on films like "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", and "The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella".

Born in Manhattan in 1928 to Russian Jewish immigrants, Richard Sherman and his brother nurtured their musical talents from an early age, with their mother, a Broadway actress, and their father, a composer whose songs were recorded by luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.

Even in his later years, Sherman's creative spark burned bright. Most recently, he collaborated with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli on a song for Andreas Deja's 2023 animated short, "Mushka".

Sherman is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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Jimmy Kimmel, the show's first solo emcee in five years, is hosting for the third time. The late-night comedian has promised to make some jokes about The Slap; it would be "ridiculous" not to, he said. Bill Kramer, chief executive of the film academy, has said that it was important, given what happened last year, to have "a host in place who can really pivot and manage those moments." "Nobody got hit when I hosted the show," Kimmel bragged tongue in cheek Thursday on "Good Morning America." "Everybody was well-behaved at my Oscars."

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Kimmel will preside over a ceremony that could see big wins for the best-picture favorite, "Everything Everywhere All at Once." Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert's action-comedy indie hit comes in with a leading 11 nominations, including nods for Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan.

Producers are giving some aspects of the Oscars a makeover. The carpet is champagne-colored, not red. The broadcast has been planned to be more interactive than ever. The awards will also have some star wattage in the musical performances. Fresh off her Super Bowl performance, Rihanna will perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Lift Me Up," from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

The Oscars are trying to reestablish their position as the premier award show. Last year's telecast drew 16.6 million viewers, a 58% increase from the scaled-down 2021 edition, watched by a record low 10.5 million. But the academy, still trying to find its footing after several years of pandemic and rating struggles, is also hoping for a smoother ride than last year. A crisis management team has been created to help better respond to surprises. The academy has called its response to Smith's actions last year "inadequate." Neither Rock, who recently made his most forceful statement about the incident in a live special, nor Smith, who's been banned by the academy for 10 years, are expected to attend.

The Academy Awards will instead attempt to recapture some of its old luster. One thing working in its favor: This year's best picture field is stacked with blockbusters. Ratings usually go up when the nominees are more popular, which certainly goes for "Top Gun: Maverick," "Avatar: The Way of Water" and, to a lesser extent, "Elvis" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

But the late-breaking contender that may fare well in the technical categories – where bigger movies often reign – is Netflix's top nominee this year: the German WWI epic "All Quiet on the Western Front." It's up for nine awards, tied for second most with the Irish dark comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin." Netflix's "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" also looks like a shoo-in for best-animated film.

Usually, the previous year's acting winners present the awards for best actor and best actress. But that won't be the case this time. Who'll replace Smith in presenting best actress is just one of the questions heading into the ceremony.

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The dramatic film "Let It Be Morning" will be Israel's official submission to next year's Academy Awards after winning Best Picture at the Ophir Awards in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night.

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The winner of the Ophir Awards is automatically selected as Israel's entry for the Oscars in the international feature category.

"Let it Be Morning," directed by Eran Kolirin and based on an eponymous novel by Palestinian writer Sayed Kashua, won a total of seven awards, including best director and screenplay. Stars Alex Bakri and Juna Suleiman took home awards for best actor and actress, respectively.

Kolirin's 2007 film "The Band's Visit" also won best picture at the Ophir Awards, but was disqualified from competing in that year's Academy Awards because more than half of the dialogue was in English. Instead, the Academy chose Joseph Cedar's "Beaufort" to represent Israel that year and it received an Oscar nomination.

This year's ceremony marked the 30th anniversary of the Ophir Awards, named after the late Israeli actor Shaike Ophir.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland" continued its tour of dominance through awards season Saturday night, when Zhao took top honors at the 73rd annual Directors Guild Association Awards.

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She is the second woman to earn the honor and the first woman of color to do so, all but solidifying her frontrunner status leading up to the Oscars on April 25.

Zhao was up against Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman," Aaron Sorkin for "The Trial of the Chicago 7," Lee Isaac Chung for "Minari" and David Fincher for "Mank."

Zhao's lyrical film about transient workers in the American West starring Frances McDormand started its awards journey winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the People's Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Golden Globe for best drama, and best director and the top honor from the Producer's Guild.

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