A Sacramento Oscars? 3 movies with area ties up for awards amid security increase
The 98th Academy Awards are set to be awarded this weekend, and Sacramento is well-represented among contenders for the top prize of the night.
Three films in the running for Best Picture — “Sinners,” “Marty Supreme,” and “One Battle After Another” — all have various ties to the capital region.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it plans to increase security at this year’s awards ceremony following reports that Iran may be planning retaliatory drone attacks on the California coast, according to PEOPLE.
State and federal officials were in agreement Thursday that California faces no imminent threat, but Oscars producers said in a news conference Wednesday that they “want everybody to feel safe and protected and welcome,” PEOPLE reported.
Here’s what to know if you plan to root for Sacramento at this year’s Oscars ceremony.
‘Sinners’
One of the favorites for the Best Picture award, and a record-breaking nominee, has a strong Sacramento connection.
“Sinners” was directed by Ryan Coogler, a Sacramento State alum and Northern California native. The renowned filmmaker — who has previously directed films like “Creed,” “Fruitvale Station” and the “Black Panther” movie series — received his first Best Picture Oscar nomination as a director this year.
Coogler also received his first Best Director and Best Original Screenplay Academy Award nominations for “Sinners.” The film was nominated for a record-breaking 16 Oscars in 2026.
‘Marty Supreme’
A Sacramento-area man provided vital support to the Josh Safdie-directed film “Marty Supreme.”
The picture stars Timothée Chalamet, portraying a fictional table tennis player inspired by a real table tennis professional, Marty Reisman. Carmichael resident and competitive table tennis player Scott Gordon was friends with Reisman and consulted as an expert on the sport for “Marty Supreme,” according to previous Bee reporting.
“Marty Supreme” is up for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Cinematography.
‘One Battle After Another’
The Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor-starred movie garnered significant attention across the capital region after it was partially filmed in the area.
To capture scenes around brutalist-style architecture, the film’s production team spent 16 days in downtown Sacramento shooting its opening sequence, according to previous Bee reporting.
“One Battle After Another” was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, the second-highest nominated film in 2026 behind only “Sinners.”
The Academy Awards will be held Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. ABC will air the ceremony live starting at 4 p.m. Pacific time, and Hulu will stream the awards on its platform for the first time ever.
