9 March
"Goodness is Compassion for Others" - Interview with Kevin Craig West 
March 2, 2026 K-Pop Demon Hunters: When Music Becomes the Weapon
February 24, 2026 Send Help (2026) - The Best Horror Comedy I´ve Seen in a While
February 10, 2026 A Private Life
Calling the Winners 🎬 A Film Critic´s Intuition at the 2026 Academy Awards
March 23, 2026
By Bessy ADUT
The 2026 Academy Awards celebrated the very best of cinema, honoring films that pushed artistic boundaries and delivered powerful, lasting stories. But for me, this year’s Oscars felt deeply personal.
The reason for this was that many of the night’s most celebrated films were not new discoveries. They were stories I had already encountered, written about, and believed in long before the awards were announced.
This was not just a celebration of film. It was a confirmation of instinct.
🌟 The Big Winners of 2026
At the center of the night was One Battle After Another, which dominated the ceremony, winning Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. The film also earned recognition for casting, with Cassandra Kulukundis winning in the category’s inaugural year.
Sinners emerged as another defining force, with Michael B. Jordan winning Best Actor, and Ryan Coogler taking home Best Original Screenplay. In a historic moment, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win Best Cinematography for her work on the film.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her deeply moving performance in Hamnet, a film that resonated with emotional depth and quiet power.
Animation saw a vibrant win with KPop Demon Hunters taking home Best Animated Feature, highlighting the global evolution of storytelling through music, culture, and genre-blending creativity.
International cinema was also recognized, with Sentimental Value winning Best International Feature Film, further proving that powerful storytelling transcends borders.
Additional honors included Best Supporting Actress for Amy Madigan for Weapons, and Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
✍🏽 Writing the Winners Before They Won
With two additional reviews underway, this brings my coverage to a growing number of 2026 Academy Award-winning films.
What makes this year extraordinary in my journey as a film writer is the realization that I had already written about several of these films during their early release and critical moments.
My review of Hamnet explored not only the film’s emotional core but also the inspiration behind it, honoring filmmaker Chloé Zhao and the legacy of storytelling she represents. You may read it here.
In my piece on KPop Demon Hunters, I reflected on how music and narrative intertwine to create something both entertaining and culturally impactful. You may read it here.
I also explored the intensity and cinematic ambition of One Battle After Another, recognizing early on its bold storytelling and award-worthy direction. You may read it here.
And in my review of Frankenstein, I examined the darker, psychological layers of storytelling that continue to shape modern cinema. You may read it here.
⚡ Expanding the List: Calling Them in Real Time
As the awards season unfolded, I also found myself continuing to track and respond to emerging winners.
I am currently working on new pieces covering Sinners and Sentimental Value, further expanding my engagement with this year’s most celebrated films.
This is the nature of film criticism at its best. It is not static. It evolves in real time, just as cinema does.
And sometimes, recognizing a film’s impact does not wait for the ceremony. It happens in the moment you experience it.
🎥 Seeing What Stays
There is something powerful about recognizing a film’s impact before the awards, before the headlines, before the consensus.
This year reminded me that being a critic is not just about analysis. It is about connection. It is about sensing when a story carries weight, when a performance lingers, when a film speaks to something deeper.
The Oscars confirmed what I had already felt.
💫 A Continuing Journey
As I continue developing Searching for Goodness and expanding my work as both a filmmaker and journalist, this moment stands as a quiet but meaningful milestone.
Not because I predicted the winners.
But because I believed in them early.
And in storytelling, that belief is everything.
I am proud to be a film critic who covered multiple Oscar-winning films before they received Academy recognition. At times, it even makes me feel like a kind of "movie psychic," guided by instinct and emotional connection to storytelling.
Just as importantly, I have done so without approaching cinema through negativity. I believe in honoring the work, the risk, and the dedication behind every film. Every artist brings something forward, and that effort deserves to be seen with respect.
🙏 A Note of Gratitude
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to my editors, Ivo and Janet, for their continued support, trust, and encouragement of my voice as a film writer. Their belief in thoughtful storytelling makes space for perspectives like mine to grow and reach wider audiences.
Related News
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Golden Globes 2026 Review
With ´Hamnet´ recognized for its leading performance and ´One Battle After Another´ winning awards in multiple categories, the Globes offered a clear read on Hollywood´s current creative priorities and emerging trends.
6 January
Stranger Things: A Reflection
In this personal reflection, writer and creator Bessy Adut explores why Stranger Things became more than a nostalgic hit. Blending cultural critique with lived experience, she examines the series´ emotional intelligence, its vision of collective courage, and the values of unity and empathy that continue to resonate beyond the screen.
