The show itself took a few missteps, cutting off some acceptance speeches in favour of prolonged comedy bits. However, the night overall felt like the celebration of the past year in film that the Oscars should always strive to be, and what a great year it was. As Paul Thomas Anderson said at the BAFTAs:

Here are some of the highlights from the night:

Ryan Coogler Wins His First Oscar

The award for Best Original Screenplay went to the man behind Sinners, and it is truly his movie. Inspired by the blues and set in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners draws on some of Coogler’s personal experiences.

It was good to see that Coogler would definitely go home with a well-deserved Oscar for the film. There is no doubt that he will be back to pick up that directing award in the near future; he is still only in his 30s and only getting better as a filmmaker. The success of Sinners should ensure he will be able to make whatever he wants.

3 Time Oscar Winner Ludwig Göransson

Coogler has continued to work with a close group of peers, including longtime friend and collaborator Ludwig Göransson. The pair were roommates at university, and Göransson has scored all of his films, including Oscar-winning work for Black Panther and now Sinners. With their latest film being so musically strong, this win felt somewhat inevitable.

Göransson is also a regular collaborator of Christopher Nolan, and his work on Oppenheimer is what earned him his second Oscar two years ago. With The Odyssey set to be a huge release this summer, Göransson could stand a real chance of back-to-back wins.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw Becomes the First Woman to Win an Oscar for Cinematography

Having become the first woman of colour to be nominated for Best Cinematography, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made further history as the first woman ever to win the award. This marked a long-overdue milestone for women in film that should encourage further recognition in the future. During her acceptance speech, Arkapaw asked all the women in the room to stand, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is without them, a touching moment that was met with huge applause.

After falling in love with test footage, Arkapaw and Coogler decided to shoot exclusively on film, using two different camera systems during a challenging production. Sinners marked the first time that a film has combined the 70mm IMAX and Ultra Panavision 70 formats.

Michael B. Jordan, the Most Popular Winner of the Night?

With so many great performances in 2025, including standouts such as Jesse Plemons in Bugonia, not even nominated, Lead Actor was perhaps the most open race of the night. Despite not being heavily tipped throughout the year, it was his first nomination and first win for Michael B. Jordan for his performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Sinners, and he proved to be a hugely popular winner.

In addition to the obvious technical challenges of playing two characters in the same scene, a crucial part of Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners performance was clearly differentiating the twins, something that the film itself hinges on. Jordan has described his meticulous preparation, including writing detailed diaries to understand backgrounds and perspectives, and while filming, he wore different-sized shoes for each character to help define their physical movements and mannerisms.

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Michael B. Jordan on Instagram: "A kid, a dream and a burger 🍔"

A Win for Weapons and a Record for Amy Madigan

Best Supporting Actress was another unpredictable category heading into the Oscars, with the Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards and Actor Awards all having different winners. Amy Madigan picked up gold on the night, having already set a new record for the longest gap between nominations for an actress.

Although Madigan as Aunt Gladys was an instantly memorable performance, this was another win that was not widely predicted when Weapons hit cinemas last August and can certainly be seen as a big victory for the horror genre.

Jessie Buckley Sweeps

There was one category throughout awards season that did feel wrapped up from the very beginning, and that was Best Actress. Jessie Buckley’s performance in Hamnet was nothing short of spectacular. Having already claimed gold at the Golden Globes, the Critics’ Choice awards, the BAFTAs and the Actor Awards, Buckley became the first Irish winner of Best Actress at the Oscars. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated her win to “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.” Fittingly, the ceremony took place on Mother’s Day in Ireland and the UK.

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The Academy on Instagram: "Admiring her new friend. Jessie Buck…

PTA Finally Gets His Oscar

Going into the ceremony, Paul Thomas Anderson had 14 Oscar nominations to his name without a single win. Those nominations have come over the course of almost 30 years for films such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread. We often see the Academy award those who are “overdue,” whilst the work itself is perhaps not up there with the recipient’s best. For example, Martin Scorsese won for The Departed despite being nominated for Goodfellas 16 years prior. There is no doubt that PTA should have had an Oscar in his hand before now, but there is a very compelling case to be made that One Battle After Another is his finest work.

Paul Thomas Anderson picked up the awards for best adapted screenplay, best director and best picture on the night.

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The Academy on Instagram: "Triple the gold for Paul Thomas Ande…

One Battle After Another Wins Best Picture

It’s always nice when a widely agreed film of the year goes on to win Best Picture. In the case of One Battle, it is truly one of the films of our time despite being written over the course of 20 years. PTA has said it felt like he was waiting for Chase Infiniti to make the film, having reportedly taken 8 years to cast the role of Willa with casting director Cassandra Kulukundis, who is now also an Oscar winner. Chase Infiniti landed the role after 6 months of callbacks, which included karate classes and shaving Leonardo DiCaprio’s face. In her first feature, she delivers a truly amazing performance that helps to deliver the emotional arc of the film.

When picking up his award for adapted screenplay, Paul Thomas Anderson said:

With the Oscars excitement over, the book is closed on this year’s awards season. It has been a truly incredible year for film. However, Cannes is just over 6 weeks away. The dust will settle quickly; it won’t be long before it all starts again, and from what we know already, 2026 promises to be another great year.

You may notice the Glastonbury-sized hole in the calendar this year, the festival is taking a fallow year to let the natural environment recover and regenerate. We think you’ll be just fine though, there are plenty of stacked line-ups on offer this summer.

Join us as we run you through our favourites ahead of the UK’s famous festival season.

Wolf Alice picked up their second Group of the Year win at the Brit Awards in February, and after taking their award-winning new album The Clearing around the world, they return to where it all started. The group will play Finsbury Park on the 5th July, with support from The Last Dinner Party, Keo, Florence Road and more. The North London quartet have been on an upward trajectory since the release of their debut album My Love Is Cool, and with the success of their latest release, this homecoming feels like more of a victory lap.

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TRNSMT Festival on Instagram: "Level up your Rockstar Energy pr…

TRNSMT returns to Glasgow Green this July, with another eclectic range of artists. The festival has seen its fair share of iconic sets since it arrived in 2017, and has quickly become a standout name on the UK festival calendar. Headliners across the weekend include Richard Ashcroft and Kasabian, before hometown hero Lewis Capaldi closes the show on Sunday. Other acts include Loyle Carner, Sonny Fodera and festival icons Two Door Cinema Club, who are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their hit debut album Tourist History. TRNSMT showcases one of the strongest line-ups across any festival this year, with more artists yet to be announced.

@edensessionsofficial

Eden Sessions on Instagram: "No holding back – @sportsteam are …

Eden Sessions is truly the only event of its kind in the UK. The Eden Project, where the event is held, is a world-renowned educational charity focusing on sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change education. Since 2001, the project has held Eden Sessions, a series of live music events held in the heart of the project. Previous line-ups have seen the likes of Paul Weller, Oasis and Florence and the Machine. It’s held in high regard by many, including The Evening Standard, who describe the event as “the nearest you can get to watching a gig on the moon.” This year’s offering includes Pixies, Wolf Alice and CMAT amongst others, with dates spanning across June and July.

@manc_wanderer

Manc Wanderer on Instagram: "@sam_fender playing Castlefield Bo…

Manchester is often hailed as the music capital of the world, and since 2013, Sounds of the City has helped hold that reputation down. The Castlefield Bowl has previously hosted performances from Noel Gallagher, Sam Fender and New Order. This year the event runs from early-to-mid July, and sees Wet Leg, Johnny Marr, The Streets and more take to the stage. The event’s unique inner-city setup is hugely popular amongst Mancunians, with many also travelling in from afar to see iconic acts over the years.

@allpointseastuk

All Points East on Instagram: "ON SALE NOW 💖

JORJA SMITH · TE…

All Points East has quickly become a major event in the capital since its launch in 2018. Held over two weekends in August, each day tends to cater to a different genre, making it much easier for fans to choose when to attend. This year will see Tyler, The Creator make history as the first artist to headline multiple days of the event, on Friday 28th & Saturday 29th. Other lineup highlights include Jorja Smith, Lorde, Djo, and Brit Award-winning PinkPantheress.

Since the early 2020’s, the iconic three stripes of adidas have been everywhere you look. The brand has become a staple of everyday streetwear, having experienced a huge resurgence in the popularity of its classic footwear models. First with the Samba, and then followed by the likes of the Gazelle and the Handball Spezial. A revival charged by the simple versatility of the shoes. Anybody could wear them with anything. Even today, they may not dominate conversation in the way they did a couple of years ago, but the shoes are still on everyone’s feet.

Following this success, adidas has aimed to relight the fire of another iconic shoe with the Superstar model. In February, they launched a campaign which Annie Barrett, Vice President of Marketing at Adidas Originals, said will “continue to show the relevance of [the] sneaker across music, fashion, sport, and art.” An aim which seems to be shared across the entire Originals range. The Spring/Summer Superstar campaign features stars like Olivia Dean, and at its centre is a film directed by Thibaut Grevet, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Proving the brand’s desire to operate across industries, while influencing and celebrating culture.

The Superstar was originally created for basketball, but many of the Adidas silhouettes have their roots in football culture, including the Samba, the Gazelle and the Spezial. Football has always influenced fashion, but in recent years, a direct correlation has surfaced.

Streetwear brands like PLACES + FACES, Drama Call, and Y3 are securing partnerships with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid. These collaborations have produced several groundbreaking campaigns and helped introduce audiences to a world where regular partnership between football and streetwear is possible.

To gain a deeper insight from within the industry, we wanted to speak to someone who is truly tapped into the topic of discussion, and who better than Jordan Clarke, CEO and Founder of Footballer Fits. Since the project started in 2020, Footballer Fits has become a driving force behind football and fashion culture, and is the leading platform advocating for athlete self-expression on and off the pitch.

Why do you think the cultural fusion of football and fashion works so well?

“I think football and fashion work so well together because football is a game of self-expression. When [people] are playing it, they want to have fun, they want to try things, they want to be creative. That then ties into how people dress, [and] the music people listen to, so the culture as a whole really connects with football in that way, I think. The coolest football players on the pitch are usually the coolest off it as well, so I think there’s that element of confidence that sort of aligns between the two.

Recently, where the clubs and leagues are getting involved in the fashion space, I think [because] the cooler they make their jerseys look and the cooler they make their leagues look, the higher revenue they’re bringing in. With the rise of social media, everyone wants to make content, everyone wants to look cool, [and] everyone wants to be the best dressed in their friend group.

Naturally, as the most-watched sport on the planet, the game has long been a staple of pop culture and has always had its trailblazers. The likes of Beckham and Baggio spring to mind in eras gone by. However, through social media, it has never been easier for players to connect with fans and express their personality away from the field.

Footballers are more comfortable than ever in sharing their personal tastes online. Why do you think that is?

“There [are] more platforms, there [are] more people, more audiences demanding that sort of content now. So, with the rise of social media, brands covering athletes and what they wear, including ourselves as a shameless plug there, I think that [means] the players are more well-received when doing it compared to 5, 10 years ago, when players having interests outside of the game was a no-go, it was all-in on football, [bad] results meant players had to go quiet. I think now we’re evolving into that basketball, [more] American culture where athletes are supported for their personalities and self-expression off the pitch.

So with that growing demand…from young football fans to connect with their favourite athletes, I think a lot of people are now seeking that over the performances, over the highlights…because [fans] can feel a real connection to the players themselves when they dress like them, walk like them, talk like them, listen to the same music.

Obviously, not everyone can relate to being a professional footballer, so seeing the human element to the players through the rise of social media has been massive in that.”

adidas have always been a giant in both football and fashion, but recently it seems as if they’ve taken a lead over their competitors. What is it that they do so well?

“I think what adidas is doing best right now is humanising their athletes. The likes of Nike, etc. have stopped their football push in terms of signing athletes [compared to the] days when they had Neymar, Ronaldo, etc. all under one roof. Now, it’s very much brand-focused or product-focused. Whereas I think adidas is continuing to sign the coolest players in the game, telling their stories and also putting the players before the product. The interest is in the players, so the campaigns hit more, the retention rate is higher…and then in turn you actually end up promoting the product more. So, for me, I think it’s really key that adidas is promoting their athletes first and humanising them.”

“I also think adidas is doing this across multiple sports, with Anthony Edwards, [which] is a huge one. The campaigns they are doing with him in basketball are just like football, really, really cool and again [it goes] back to that point of humanising the players so people can connect with them, and if you connect with the player then you connect with the product they’re wearing.”

On March 20th, adidas unveiled the official away kits for all 25 of their partner federations, including the 13 nations who qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The designs pay homage to each nation’s unique culture, with references to their architecture, landscapes and history, whilst simultaneously reinterpreting classic adidas aesthetics in a modern, contemporary style. In addition, the shirts feature the iconic adidas Originals trefoil logo for the first time in 36 years.

Japan’s away strip is brought to life through its compelling visual identity. The design features 12 distinct colours, combining to represent the collective bond of the nation, on and off the pitch.

4 years on from their triumph in Qatar, World Cup holders Argentina receive a kit that draws from their rich artistic heritage, featuring a distinct swirling blue graphic pattern inspired by the nation’s traditional motifs.

Spain’s away jersey design taps into the nation’s illustrious literary history. It features an intricate all-over pyrite colour pattern, inspired by the drawings and graphics found in classic books and manuscripts.

As part of the global launch, adidas hosted an immersive event in Los Angeles, bringing together athletes, creators and cultural figures from football, music and street culture. Taking over the Lower Grand Tunnel in Downtown LA, the brand turned a traditional kit launch into a high-energy street party. The night featured a performance from Kaytranada and a headline show from Baby Keem, transforming a usual standstill of cars into a vibrant celebration of culture.

We are certainly set for another summer of the three stripes on people’s feet and football shirts being worn as fashion items. The only question is how does the crossover between streetwear and football culture evolve next.

After thanking his mother first and foremost, Chalamet went on to say, “I can’t downplay the significance of this award because it means the most to me, and I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats. I’m inspired by the greats here tonight. I’m as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, and I want to be up there. So I’m deeply grateful. This doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel. It’s a little more ammo to keep going. Thank you so much.” Unsurprisingly, opinion was divided instantly with strong feelings on both sides. It simply wasn’t something we were used to seeing. The almost guaranteed acceptance speech script had not just been changed but ripped up.

Chalamet’s references to sporting legends were indicative of the nature of the speech itself; it felt like something that would usually be heard at a post-game press conference. We know he’s a sports fan, he hasn’t been supporting the Knicks so animatedly for nothing, and it’s clear the influence sporting culture has had on him. However, there are some key differences that opened Chalamet up to criticism. In sport, it is (mostly) all about winning, and the difference between winning and losing is black and white. That’s not the same in the arts. Awards season is a chance to celebrate great work, but ultimately there are winners and losers. However, the main distinction is that art is subjective; there are no black and white answers as to who was better. Simply winning does not define greatness within film and there are countless examples of actors who are considered greats that have never won an Oscar. Not to mention the working actors who will never be fortunate enough to even be in the room. So if greatness is Chalamet’s primary desire, some of the criticism and cries of arrogance sent his way become valid, but I don’t think that it is.

For many, including myself, the speech was refreshingly sincere and a welcome break from some of the fake humility we are accustomed to. Acknowledging the award as a motivator rather than an apex and illustrating his desire to work hard in order to be mentioned alongside those big names are arguably examples of the humbleness people claimed was lacking. However, it was the sense of passion and motivation that was infectious, and those two factors led to the speech leaving a particularly inspirational feeling. He didn’t claim Oscar gold in the end, but what became clear was that this wasn’t just an isolated moment but a sign of things to come from Timothée Chalamet.

Half a year later, having spent the summer making a small film in the desert with Denis Villeneuve, he was back on the promotional trail. Debuting a new buzz-cut look while being surrounded by orange ping pong balls, it didn’t happen subtly. Having tested several guerrilla-style marketing tactics and stunts while promoting A Complete Unknown, Chalamet refined that same approach and took things to a completely new level in the run-up to the release of Marty Supreme. He became the face and spearhead of a campaign which embodied the spirit of the film itself. The campaign produced one of the most in-demand fashion items of the year while also featuring a rap music video. On paper it wouldn’t have made much sense, but it worked, and created a feeling around the film that ultimately led to it becoming a huge event, particularly amongst younger audiences.

Timothée plays Marty Mauser in the film, who is not someone to be idolised. However, using that character’s energy as a vehicle to promote the idea of going after the things you want to achieve, while feeling unashamed of being seen to try really worked. Having spoken about becoming more well-rounded as an artist, treating the promo with the same importance as the performance itself, it does feel like the Marty Supreme era gained Timothée Chalamet a new level of support. In fact, much of the film’s audience was made up of casual or even non-moviegoers.

Just as many looked unfavourably upon his SAG speech, it’s clear that again this approach has not been for everyone. On a couple of occasions he has given fuel to those critics, particularly when he spoke about his belief of the quality of his recent performances. There was some debate as to whether that was a character moment, but either way it crossed the line into overconfidence. Perhaps something that was inevitable given that at times he was operating so close to that line.

However, there is no doubt that with every appearance promoting Marty it genuinely felt like he was putting his all into it, and not only is that authenticity again refreshing, it continues to feel like something people are really connecting to. In a world that doesn’t always feel like it’s built for younger people to succeed, there’s definitely a frustration, but equally a desire to make something for ourselves and to reach for our aspirations. I think it’s that same feeling being echoed by Chalamet that is really generating a response, and him going and doing it just elevates that further.

I think it’s undeniable the experience of filming A Complete Unknown and Marty Supreme back to back had an impact on him; he’s said as much himself. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence the SAG speech happened shortly after Marty had wrapped, given that film and character particularly are somewhat reflective of his own career and desires.

Hollywood is often a million miles away, and Timothée Chalamet himself is extremely fortunate to be in the position he’s in, but he shows an attitude that suggests he is aware of that and choosing to make the most of the opportunities he has been afforded. He certainly doesn’t play it safe. During a recent Q&A, Ben Affleck said of Chalamet, “I don’t think there’s any need to apologise for trying to do something great. Nobody ever did anything great just accidentally.”

Some will no doubt misinterpret all this as Chalamet being a new face for toxic hustle culture, but he isn’t that. This is a theatre kid after all. He has simply become a face for trying, for showing up and unashamedly giving things your all.

Timothée Chalamet is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role alongside Wagner Moura, Michael B. Jordan, Ethan Hawke and Leonardo DiCaprio at the 98th Academy Awards, which take place on the 15th March 2026.

There aren’t many words to describe the hard-work and raw talent it takes to produce such a plethora of work, so consistently, for such a long time, but I’ll try.

I first discovered Moses’ work in early 2023 and even then, I felt late to the party. By that time, he had his foot well in the door and was preparing for the launch of his debut exhibition “Regina”. From then, the ball kept rolling and we’re now at a point where it feels disrespectful to label his rise as ‘meteoric’ due to the volume of creative output that got him to this position, but it sure feels that way.

Often when celebrating an upcoming artist, we reference collaborations with multiple household-name brands as a way to understand the scale of their success. Whilst GM has this in abundance, I can’t help but feel it’s the sheer quality of his work that propels him forward.

The artist partners with Instagram for ‘Ask it Anyway’, a sit-down talk series that has previously hosted music powerhouses Fred Again.. and Tyler, The Creator. Sat before a group of aspiring creatives in NYC, the director, photographer and filmmaker discusses his early career, the creative process and how he stays true to his vision.

NY based actor and writer Aspen Narain asks Moses at what point young artists should feel comfortable expressing their opinion in the creative process, to which he responds:

When discussing his early career, Moses recalls a time where he was “the target audience and the director at the same time.”

This certainly explains the cult following that GM seems to have amongst young creatives, he produces work that they resonate with on a deeper level and for that, he is appreciated. Furthermore, his presence in the heart of pop culture can’t be denied, his work with the likes of Skepta, Rihanna and Travis Scott play a huge part in his collection of imagery.

The artist goes on to explain that if he can walk into a room, be modest, have good manners and still produce the same great work, it will help towards changing the narrative surrounding young people in the creative industry. These words are certainly backed up with action. To me, it seems as if he feels a sense of responsibility to make the journey easier for those that will come after him.

Twice in two years, GM has joined forces with Nike to launch the Gabriel Moses Educational Programme, a two-day seminar covering topics including but not limited to: Creative Partnerships, Campaign Ideation and Culture as Commerce, with a group of young creatives.

“I come from a place where a lot of people don’t try. We’ve been told this is how we’re meant to live, this is our ceiling - and a lot of people don’t try.”

In a wider sense, there’s definitely been a shift in mentality in terms of, creating things and trying to build something for your own interest has become cool again. Not that it was necessarily un-cool, but the general reaction to someone trying to better themselves or work on a ‘side-hustle’ was a negative one. It won’t work for everyone, but more people are trying and I think that will always be cool, no matter what.

GM tells the youngsters that they should perhaps have more trust in the internet to take their ideas into the places they desire, with my favourite quote of all:

Whatever comes next for Gabriel Moses, it’s refreshing to have an artist who isn’t afraid of connecting with fellow creatives and sharing truly priceless knowledge. On this trajectory, it’s hard to see a world where he doesn’t become a ‘great’, much like those he looks up to.

The photographer and filmmaker concludes the interview with, “You get out what you put in.”

For me, it’s one of those interviews whereby after listening, you just get that feeling. One similar to when you watch a great film for the first time, or listen to a great album. That surge of motivation to do the thing you’ve been putting off for a while. It definitely motivated me and it’s probably the reason this article has been published.

You can watch the full interview on YouTube here.

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With 001, we have chosen films that explore the themes of ambition and chasing dreams.

For 001, we have selected a mix of tracks. Some that align with the themes explored, and some that were simply the soundtrack to creating this project.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify:

In addition, we felt that in 2026 culture is moving faster than ever, and there can be a lot of noise. Most of what we see and hear are simply fleeting moments, moved on quickly by the machine to make room for the next thing. Leading to a bit of a disconnect at times.

So in that spirit, we wanted this project more broadly to be one that celebrates interests and passions, encourages a more personal connection to them, and serves as a platform to dive into the diverse range of topics that encompasses.

With these ideas in mind we began to work on a concept. It has taken several months of hard work to get to this point, during which the project has taken on many forms. Now it becomes real as Frontrunner, a digital publication that explores and celebrates Film, Music and the wider arts. Created for and by young people.

With work from a range of contributors, each new edition will be loosely anchored by a central theme and will cover an eclectic array of subjects, If we think it’s cool, we’re going to cover it.

So we launch today as something small, but encouraged by the fact that you can simply start, and see where things take you. It took us perhaps too long to get to that point of realisation, so if anything what we would like to celebrate with this first edition are the ideas of starting, and chasing ambitions.

Frontrunner 001 is now live.

We encourage anyone to submit original work, or to pitch us an idea.

Email us at contact.frontrunneruk@gmail.com or send us a message on Instagram @frontrunner.uk