Oscars 2025: Emilia Perez and Karla Sofia Gascón at the Center of Controversy

Image credits: María Porcel | Los Ángeles

The 97th Academy Awards are just around the corner, and the tension is building, especially around the film "Emilia Perez", which has 13 nominations and a trail of controversies. The production, directed by Jacques Audiard, has been embroiled in a series of polemics that have put its chances of taking home multiple statuettes in doubt. The participation of Karla Sofia Gascón has generated rejection among academics due to her comments on social media, considered by many to be racist. The director's statements about the Spanish language have also been criticized.

Despite the multiple nominations, the general perception is that "Emilia Perez" could win few awards due to the polarization it has generated. In the midst of the storm, Zoe Saldaña, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Emilia Perez", has made a call for team unity. During a meeting of nominees at the Hollywood Academy Museum, the actress expressed her desire to finish the project as a team and then each person can follow their own path, whether it's one of redemption or not. This call includes Karla Sofia Gascón, who will finally attend the gala. The film industry is watching closely to see how this situation will unfold.

The gala of the Oscars is approaching, and all eyes will be on "Emilia Perez" to see if, despite the controversy, it manages to take home any statuettes, and to see if Zoe Saldaña manages to obtain the award for Best Supporting Actress. The Academy has a difficult decision to make, and the outcome is far from certain. The awards ceremony will be a night to remember, with many talented actors and filmmakers vying for the top prizes. In the end, it will be up to the Academy members to decide who will take home the coveted Oscars.

Netflix, the platform behind "Emilia Perez", has reduced Karla Sofia Gascón's presence in the awards campaign, focusing on more "commercial" actresses like Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña. This responds to a classic public relations dilemma: when the conversation about the film focuses more on its protagonist than on the story itself, the strategy can deviate. In this case, the press and the film community have intensely debated the representation of trans people in cinema and whether Karla Sofia Gascón should be promoted as the first trans actress to win an Oscar. Netflix, on the other hand, has preferred to maintain the narrative of the film as a whole.

Here is a list of the main nominees for the 97th Academy Awards:

• Emilia Perez (13 nominations)
• El Conde de Montecristo
• Corazones rotos
• Borgo
• La historia de Souleymane