As YMCinema’s tradition dictates, it is time for the Oscars’ camera segmentation. We made a list of the cameras that shot the Oscars 2023 (95th Academy Awards) prominent films. That means the movies that are predicted to be nominated for Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Large format compact cinema cameras are at the top: ARRI Mini LF, and Sony VENICE. Explore the charts below.

Oscars 2023

The 95th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honor films released in 2022 and is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 12, 2023. The ceremony will be hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, for the third time, after having done so for the 89th and 90th editions of the ceremony.

The cameras behind Best Picture and Cinematography Predicted Nominees

There are many predictions about the nominated films (nominees will be announced at the end of the month). However, we took the Variety list of the Best Picture and Best Cinematography predictions and made a chart of the cameras that shot them. First, let’s explore the list below (Best Picture and Cinematography films, and the cameras):

The predicted nominees for Best Picture are:

1. “Top Gun: Maverick”: Sony VENICE
2. “The Fabelmans”: ARRIFLEX 16 ST, ARRIFLEX 416, Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
3. “The Banshees of Inisherin”: ARRI ALEXA Mini LF
4. “Everything Everywhere All at Once”: ARRI ALEXA Mini
5. “Tár”: ARRI ALEXA 65, ARRI ALEXA Mini LF
6. “Elvis”: ARRI ALEXA 65, ARRI ALEXA LF
7. “Avatar: The Way of Water”:  Sony VENICE
8. “Women Talking”: Panavision Millennium DXL2
9. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”: Sony VENICE
10. “All Quiet on the Western Front”: ARRI ALEXA 65, ARRI ALEXA Mini LF

The predicted nominees for Best Cinematography are:

1. “Top Gun: Maverick”: Sony VENICE
2. “Avatar: The Way of Water”: Sony VENICE
3. “The Fabelmans”: ARRIFLEX 16 ST, ARRIFLEX 416, Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
4. “Tár”: ARRI ALEXA 65, ARRI ALEXA Mini LF
5. “Empire of Light”: ARRI ALEXA Mini LF

Oscars 2023: Camera chart

Explore the Oscars 2023 camera chart, based on the list above:

Discussion

First — large format rules. Top filmmakers have chosen to shoot with compact cinema cameras that have large sensors (ARRI ALEXA Mini LF, and Sony VENICE). As for the VENICE, this is the first time that this camera stars that much in an Oscars list. Hence, it constitutes a solid achievement for Sony Cine. BTW, the VENICE has a very high chance to take this ‘contest’ as this camera is responsible for top-grossing films of the year (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, “Top Gun: Maverick, and “Avatar: The Way of Water”). DPs well utilized the Rialto to get ultra-creative shots in order to immerse audiences right into the action. Also, it appears that filmmakers admire the look of the huge sensor of the ALEXA 65, which is responsible for the films “Tár”, “Elvis”, and “All Quiet on the Western Front”. In our personal opinion, we think that the ALEXA 65 has been creating the most beautiful look of all other cameras. Indeed, cinematographers have been using the ARRI 65 in very elegant ways, to tell fascinating stories on the big screen. As for film cameras, not surprisingly, were utilized by the acclaimed director Steven Spielberg in the beautifully shot “The Fabelmans”. Unfortunately, Spielberg is the sole director that chose to shoot on film (from this specific list). On a side note, as this camera list is dominated by large format cinema cameras, it will be interesting to explore how the ALEXA 35 fits in if any. Lastly, the list lacks RED cameras. For the first time, since Oscars 2020, there’s not even one RED in the list. Nevertheless, these are predictions and not official nominations. We’ll update the chart when the nominees of the Best Picture and Best Cinematography are announced. Stay tuned.

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