Legendary Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook felt the Oscars' steep wall once again, missing out on another Academy nomination — while Netflix's K-pop–themed animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters (aka 'Kedehun') surged ahead with two major nods.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards via its official YouTube channel on the night of the 22nd KST. Among the most anticipated contenders, Park Chan-wook's film No Other Choice failed to make the final five for Best International Feature, marking a disappointing exit.
Park has repeatedly knocked on the Oscars' door: The Handmaiden was not submitted as Korea's official entry, and although Decision to Leave reached the shortlist, it did not secure a final nomination. Despite his global acclaim across the world's top three film festivals, the Academy continues to be the one stage that eludes him.
In contrast, 'Kedehun,' directed by Korean American filmmaker Maggie Kang, achieved a breakthrough with two nominations: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. In the 98th Academy nominations announced by AMPAS on the 22nd (local time), 'Kedehun' made the Best Animated Feature lineup and also landed a Best Original Song nod for the in-film track 'GOLDEN.'
In Best Animated Feature, 'Kedehun' will compete against 'Arco' — which drew buzz with Natalie Portman on board as producer — Pixar's Elio, the French feature Little Amélie, and the box-office powerhouse Zootopia 2.
The Best Original Song race is equally fierce. 'GOLDEN,' performed by the fictional in-movie group Huntrix, goes head-to-head with Diane Warren's perennial contender 'Dear Me,' Ludwig Goransson and Raphael Saadiq's collaboration 'I Lied to You,' Nicholas Pike's 'Sweet Dreams of Joy,' and 'Train Dreams' featuring Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner.
The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.