The nominees for this year’s Academy Awards  were officially revealed earlier today, setting the stage for Hollywood’s most prestigious celebration of film. The announcement took place in Beverly Hills, where industry members, press, and fans alike tuned in to see which films, performances, and creative teams rose to the top after a year packed with ambitious storytelling, box office triumphs, and breakout talent. While a few races remain tight, this year’s nominations largel

Written by Klep Napier for WeAreCritiX.com The 2026 Oscar season is officially in motion, and among the rising contenders is a small but powerful short film making big waves across the festival circuit. After Dark , directed by Iain Forbes , recently won Best International Short Film  at the 2024 Foyle Film Festival , qualifying it for potential nomination at this year’s Academy Awards . I sat down with Forbes and his lead actor Simen Båstad   to discuss the film’s inspiratio