According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, American film critics and industry media outlets are naming the drama “Train Dreams” as one of the top favorites for the “2026 Oscars” in the “Best Picture” category. This is reported by a number of American publications, including Entertainment Weekly, which are analyzing the nominees and potential winners of this year’s awards season.
“Train Dreams” is already being called one of the most poetic and emotional films of the season, reviewers note, highlighting the film’s atmosphere and understated acting.
The film tells the story of a lumberjack working on a railroad construction project in the American West in the early 20th century. Through his story, the director depicts a period of rapid change in the U.S.—industrialization, the development of railroads, and the transformation of society.
Critics note that the film combines a sweeping historical theme with a deeply personal story of loneliness, loss, and the search for meaning in life. It is precisely this dramatic depth, according to reviewers, that is traditionally well-received by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Special mention is made of the cinematography and the film’s atmosphere, which conveys the rugged beauty of the American wilderness. Many reviews compare the film to classic dramas about the “little guy” trying to find his place in a rapidly changing world.
Experts also point to another trend in modern Hollywood—a return to deep, auteur-driven stories. After several years of dominance by large-scale franchises, the industry is once again turning to intimate dramas where emotion and human stories take center stage.
The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on the night of March 15–16, Kyiv time, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It will be then that we will find out whether “Train Dreams” can confirm its status as one of the favorites of the awards season.
As reported, in Ukraine, the 2026 Oscars ceremony and the pre-show will be available to watch during the live broadcast, and actor and theater director Oleksiy Hnatkovsky will host the pre-show studio. It has also been revealed that for guests at the traditional Governors Ball reception following the ceremony, approximately 7,000 glasses of champagne and over 600 pizzas will be prepared. Earlier, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also announced the list of nominees for the “2026 Oscars.” Palestinian actor Motaz Malhis, who starred in the film The Voice of Hind Rajab, stated that he likely will not be able to attend the 2026 Oscars ceremony in the U.S. due to visa issues.
The host of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, Conan O’Brien, admitted that he removed a joke from his monologue about one of the nominated films after it failed to elicit the desired reaction during a test run in front of an audience. The 2026 Oscars are preparing a nostalgic surprise: “The Devil Wears Prada” may return to the stage
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1151461.html
