Oscars 2017: Five Films That Could Make An Impact Next Year

Another awards season has been and gone, meaning blockbuster season is hurtling towards us like a speeding bullet, but before Superman takes on Batman - let’s lay down a few predictions for next year’s Oscar ceremony.

This far out we want to keep things relatively simple, so we’ve found five films we suspect will be major players come 2017’s awards season, starting with one already primed to be a favourite.

‘The Birth Of A Nation’

Director, writer and star Nate Parker’s historical biopic tells the story of Nat Turner - who led the most successful slave rebellion in US history in the state of Virginia in 1831.

The film proved a success at the Sundance Film Festival in January, leading to Fox Searchlight purchasing the worldwide distribution rights to the movie for $17.5 million (£12.2m) - a festival record.

Given the #OscarsSoWhite race controversey which engulfed this year’s show, 'The Birth Of A Nation’ seems primed to tackle that issue head on when awards season kicks into gear later this year.

'Silence’

Six of Martin Scorsese’s last seven films have been nominated for at least the Best Picture Oscar prize, with many accumulating many more nominations and wins. So, it’s no stretch to say the legendary director’s next feature will probably be a contender next year.

'Silence’ is a historical drama set in the seventeenth century about two Jesuit priests travelling to Japan to spread Christianity and locate their mentor. The film stars Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver.

'Sully’

If there’s one thing the Oscars love more than white people, it’s specific white person Tom Hanks - who will be hopeful of being an Oscar contender for his role as real-life American hero Chesley 'Sully’ Sullenberger in a biopic directed by Clint Eastwood.

The mix of Hanks, Eastwood and American heroism should make 'Sully’ a sure-fire contender at the 89th Academy Awards.

'Snowden’

Finally, a politically-charged potential contender from Oliver Stone - the most politically-charged director in Hollywood - about Edward Snowden, who leaked documents revealing the extent of the US government’s surveillance of its own people and major figures around the world.

Joseph Gordon-Levit plays Snowden, with Shailene Woodley as his girlfriend Lindsay Mills and an all-star cast including Scott Eastwood (that guy again!), Nicolas Cage, Tom Wilkinson, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto and Timothy Olyphant.

'The Circle’

Tom Hanks also has a role in 'The Circle’ - James Ponsoldt’s adaptation of Dave Egger’s novel about a terrifying, but all-too-possible future in which a single tech company invades every aspect of human life.

Hanks is the biggest name attached to a cast full of young talent, including Emma Watson in the starring role, John Boyega, Karen Gillan and Ellar Coltrane. It’s the kind of film bound to find mass appeal but which could also be a player come awards season.

The 2017 Oscars will take place on 26 February 2017.

Picture Credits: WENN / Open Road Films.