The most prestigious evening in cinema has arrived, and the films and performers who have dominated awards season are preparing to compete at the year's most coveted ceremony, The Academy Awards. Some of the industry's most prominent figures will gather at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, March 15, where several will conclude the evening with fresh accolades to complement their achievements.

Heading into Oscars night, certain contenders appear destined for victory after commanding the entire season to date, whilst others are unexpected challengers that could potentially overturn complete categories following surprising triumphs elsewhere. So who will emerge victorious? Here are our forecasts for the evening's winners.

Best Picture

Nominees: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams.

Will win: One Battle After Another: The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn and more, has overwhelmingly been the frontrunner throughout awards season, collecting prizes at virtually every major precursor ceremony. Its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, is also tipped to claim best director, and the Academy seldom divides the honour between director and film, providing it with a distinct advantage.

Could win: Sinners: After clinching the Actor Award for best ensemble, often seen as a precursor to victory, Sinners could spring a surprise upset at the eleventh hour and snatch the moment that has been building for One Battle After Another all season. Whilst the other film still holds the advantage, it's not beyond the realms of possibility for Sinners to triumph, even if Anderson secures Best Director.

The Academy has divided the awards 25 times in the past, most recently in 2021.

Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees: Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme; Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another; Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon; Michael B. Jordan, Sinners; Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent.

Will Win: It's a close call between Timothée Chalamet and Michael B. Jordan, with a slight lean towards Chalamet.

Why it's a close call: Chalamet has bagged at least two major awards in the run-up to the Oscars, securing both Golden Globe and Critics' Choice wins for his role, but Michael B. Jordan caused a surprise upset at the Actor Awards, which has significantly boosted the likelihood he could clinch the Oscar as well.

The balance could still tip slightly in favour of Chalamet, however, due to his regular appearances at awards shows and knack for nominations each year. Marty Supreme marks his third Best Actor nomination following Call Me By Your Name and A Complete Unknown-and the Academy does have a habit of trying to reward frequently nominated stars at some point. Jordan, on the other hand, is a first-time nominee.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another; Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein; Delroy Lindo, Sinners; Sean Penn, One Battle After Another; Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value.

Will Win: Sean Penn: Penn is well-positioned to claim his third Oscar following his most recent nominations, having previously secured Lead Actor awards for both Mystic River and Milk. Now, in his first nomination in nearly two decades, he stands as the frontrunner to triumph for his portrayal of Steven J. Lockjaw.

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet; Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You; Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue; Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value; Emma Stone, Bugonia.

Will win: Jessie Buckley. The phrase "it's just an honor to be nominated" has rung true at every other awards show this season, as those who have gone up against Buckley have yet to stand a chance at winning.

The only other one to take home a trophy was Byrne at the Golden Globes-but she and Buckley were in separate categories.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees: Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value; Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value; Amy Madigan, Weapons; Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners; Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another.

Will Win: Amy Madigan: Amy Madigan looks set to prevail following her Critics Choice and Actor Award victories, and remains the overall favourite, though she could face a surprise upset.

Could Win: Wunmi Mosaku. If anyone stages an upset, it is Mosaku, who secured the BAFTA.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Nominees: Bugonia, Will Tracy; Frankenstein, Guillermo Del Toro; Hamnet, Chloe Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell; One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson; Train Dreams, Clint Bentley and Greg Kewdar.

Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson. Mirroring his commanding presence as director, Anderson has claimed every previous Adapted Screenplay honour. He remains the frontrunner.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Nominees: Blue Moon, Robert Kaplow; It Was Just An Accident, Jafar Panahi; Marty Supreme, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie; Sentimental Value, Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier; Sinners, Ryan Coogler.

Will Win: Ryan Coogler. Whilst Paul Thomas Anderson has commanded the adapted screenplay category, Coogler has enjoyed identical success in the original screenplay division, establishing him as the favourite here.