Will the 2025 Oscars Ignore a Groundbreaking Trans Film Amidst Historic Representation?

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As a cinema enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the 97th Academy Awards, which are just around the corner on the 2025 TV schedule. This year holds the potential to spark many conversations about transgender representation at the Oscars – a topic that has been under discussion for nearly a decade since the viral #OscarsSoWhite campaign.

While Hollywood’s grandest night has indeed been granting more golden statuettes to a wider range of individuals recently, 2025 could mark a significant stride towards more trans people being acknowledged – though it might overlook one exceptional film from our community that truly deserves recognition.

This Oscar season, the chatter surrounding Emilia Pérez and Will & Harper has been particularly loud. It’s exciting to consider this year as potentially groundbreaking for transgender representation in award-winning films. However, it’s disappointing that I Saw The TV Glow seems to be overlooked amidst all the buzz. Let’s discuss it further.

The History Of Trans Representation At The Oscars So Far

For approximately a century since the inception of the Oscars, films featuring transgender characters have gained prominence, yet frequently it is non-transgender actors who receive accolades for portraying these roles.

Movies such as “Dog Day Afternoon” from 1975, “The World According to Garp” in 1982, “The Crying Game” in 1992, “Transamerica” in 2005, “Albert Nobbs” in 2011, “Dallas Buyers Club” in 2013, and “The Danish Girl” in 2015 have all tackled the subject of transgender individuals, some even winning Oscars. It’s crucial that these narratives are shared, but it’s equally important that members of the transgender community have the chance to share their own stories, which has been quite uncommon up until now.

There have been several cases where individuals from the transgender community have received Oscar nominations. For example, Angela Morley was the first openly transgender person to be nominated in 1974 for her work on the music for The Little Prince, and she was also nominated again in 1977 for The Slipper and the Rose—The Story of Cinderella.

In the year 2017, Yance Ford made history as the first openly transgender man to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary feature with “Strong Island”. Similarly, Anohni garnered a nomination for Best Original Song in 2015 for the documentary “Racing Extinction”, becoming the first transgender individual to achieve this honor. It’s important to mention that Elliot Page had an Oscar nomination for “Juno” in 2008, but this was before they publicly identified as transgender in 2020.

Karla Sofía Gascon Is Poised To Be The First Trans Woman To Be Nominated In Acting

In a shift from past debates about cisgender actors portraying trans characters, such as Eddie Redmayne expressing remorse for his role in “The Danish Girl,” this year could mark the inaugural nomination of an openly trans actor for an Academy Award. Karla Sofía Gascon is anticipated to be among the contenders in the Best Actress category at this year’s Oscars, recognized for her performance in “Emilia Pérez.” In this film, Gascon portrays a drug cartel leader who chooses to feign death and undergo gender-affirming surgery to authentically live as a woman.

Based on the rankings from Gold Derby, she is placed third in her category, following Mikey Madison’s performance in “Anora” and Demi Moore’s performance in “The Substance”. This positions her strongly for a nomination, as one of the five slots up for grabs. This year’s category is particularly competitive, with Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked”, Fernanda Torres from “I’m Still Here”, Marianne Jean-Baptiste from “Hard Truth”, Pamela Anderson from “The Last Showgirl”, Kate Winslet from “Lee”, Nicole Kidman from “Babygirl”, and Angelina Jolie from “Maria” also in the running. A nomination would be a significant achievement, as this is one of the most prestigious awards of the evening.

This year’s Oscars could mark a significant moment in history for a less-represented segment of the LGBTQ+ community, but the movie and its protagonist, Gascon, have been mired in controversy over the portrayal of its trans character. Critics, such as GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), have expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out that it doesn’t offer good trans representation. Many reviews against the film echo Autostraddle’s sentiment that it includes every stereotypical portrayal of a trans character imaginable.

And, Will & Harper Is In The Running For Best Documentary

A potential Academy Award-nominated film focusing on trans themes at the 97th Oscars is Will & Harper. This movie chronicles the journey of Will Ferrell, who embarks on a road trip with his longtime friend and collaborator, now known as Harper Steele after her transition. Throughout their cross-country adventure, Ferrell finds himself in a position to ask Harper sincere questions about how the transition impacts their friendship and her future, adopting a realistic, day-to-day approach to portraying the joys and challenges faced by trans individuals.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the documentary that made TopMob’s list of best films in 2024. However, given its current ranking at No. 6 on Gold Derby, behind titles like “No Other Land,” “Sugarcane,” “Daughters,” “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” and “Dahomey,” it may not be the frontrunner for nomination. Yet, this film presents an exceptional opportunity to bring a trans narrative into the limelight, potentially even securing a win. It’s heartening to see such compelling stories being discussed in award conversations.

The Academy Will Likely Overlook One Great 2024 Trans Film

Despite this potentially significant year for trans representation at the Oscars, it’s regrettable that another film from the trans community isn’t receiving recognition during awards season, with nominations soon to be announced.

In a compelling and chilling manner, the drama “I Saw The TV Glow” portrays the intense emotion experienced by filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun during their pre-transition years, as they felt out of place in their body. This movie centers around a secluded teenager named Owen, skillfully portrayed by Justice Smith, who navigates the ’90s era while finding solace and kinship with another high school student over a television series called “The Pink Opaque“, inspired by Jane’s childhood affection for Buffy The Vampire Slayer .

Using striking cinematic techniques, Schoenbrun effectively conveys the apprehension that trans individuals may feel before transitioning in a poetic and visually captivating film. This film has garnered praise from Martin Scorsese as one of his favorites for 2024. On Gold Derby, the movie ranks at No. 33 for Best Picture odds, while Schoenbrun is ranked at No. 41 and Justice Smith at No. 17. Given these rankings, it seems improbable that this title will make it onto the Academy’s list of choices.

2024 may be seen as a pivotal year for trans narratives in cinema, despite initial reservations within the LGBTQ+ community regarding the focus at this year’s Oscars. The production and discussion of these films mark significant progress, and it is crucial that they are being made, as they offer increased visibility to the trans community, allowing their stories to be told and sparking dialogue in mainstream media.

Emilia Pérez and Will & Harper can be found on Netflix at the moment, whereas I Saw The TV Glow is currently available for streaming to those who have a Max subscription.

Academy Award nominations drop January 23 and the show will be on March 10.

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2025-01-17 22:08