The Academy Awards are taking place this Sunday, 9 February, at the Dolby Theatre Hollywood; Highland Center in Hollywood. Here are some of the films that were left out of the nominations.

Award season is in full swing and will culminate in a night of glitz and glamour at the Oscars on Sunday. The ceremony will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

This year the Academy has been criticised for being predictable and honouring the same Hollywood stars who have been in the business for ages instead of showcasing diverse talent.

Representation and diversity of the awards have also been questioned after the majority of the nominations went to established white male stars. A case in point is The Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix, which was nominated for 11 awards, of which only two went to women.

After the nominations announcement, many publications wrote Op-Ed pieces on how far-removed the Oscars have become. New York Times critic Wesley Morris wrote: “If something’s not right with the Oscars, what about them is most wrong? The joylessly algebraic nomination process? All those old white voters? That we seriously call September to February awards season, like it’s (the) weather or the flu? Whatever it is, we’re looking at nine best-picture nominees and 19 actors that have got a lot of people rolling their eyes — people like me.”

Many films deserved a place amongst Hollywood greats in 2020 but here are just a few that should’ve been considered:

1. Us starring Lupita Nyong’o

The biggest Best Actress snub goes to Oscar darling Lupita Nyong’o for her acclaimed performance in the thriller Us. Nyong’o plays dual characters, one is a seemingly normal wife and mother, Adelaide Wilson, and the other is Adelaide’s nefarious doppelgänger, Red, who is at the complete opposite of the spectrum. Nyong’o won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Performance in a Movie, na MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, People’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress. The film, directed by Jordan Peele, received zero nominations at the Oscars this year, which does not make sense.

2. The Farewell starring Awkwafina

Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, starring awards season favourite Awkwafina, was also a surprise snub at the Oscars this year. The Academy overlooked the film in favour of scripts from Quentin Tarantino, Noah Baumbach, Rian Johnson, Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, and Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Awkwafina won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, a Satellite Award for Best Actress in Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, and a Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress.

3. Booksmart starring Beanie Feldstein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhd3lo_IWJc&feature=youtu.be

Despite great reviews, a Golden Globe nomination for Beanie Feldstein (Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical), and a Writers Guild of America nod for Best Original Screenplay, Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart didn’t crack the nod at the Oscars this year. Luckily, the coming of age film, also starring Billie Lourd, has the power to catapult to a cult status beyond the Oscars.

4. Hustlers starring Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez’s performance as Ramona, a stripper with big aspirations, in Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers, has been lauded as one of the best this year. To prove this point, she has been nominated ten times for the role including a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role. She won three awards: Best Actress at the National Film & TV Awards, Best Supporting Actress at the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award and Best Supporting Actress at the Los Angeles Critics Association.

5. Honey Boy starring Shia LaBeouf

Honey Boy’s director, Alma Har’el earned a Directors Guild of America nomination for Best First Feature. Although this wasn’t a huge indication that they would be nominated at the Oscars, LaBeouf’s screenplay about an actor confronting his traumatic past as both a child actor and the son of an alcoholic, deserved a mention. If the Oscars valued up and coming talent, LaBeouf and Noah Jupe would’ve been considered. Both were nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Indie Spirit Awards, where Har’el also earned a Best Director nod.