Del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Wins Costume and Makeup Oscars Amidst Competitive Field

Despite a strong showing from other contenders, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein secured two Academy Awards at the 98th Academy Awards: Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film garnered nine nominations but was overshadowed by Sinners, which led the night with 16 nominations, and One Battle After Another, with 13.

Oscar Wins for Frankenstein

Kate Hawley received the Oscar for Costume Design for her work on Frankenstein. Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey were awarded the Oscar for Makeup and Hairstyling for the same film.

Other Notable Wins

The Oscar for Animated Short went to The Girl Who Cried Pearls, while KPop Demon Hunters won the award for Animated Feature. Amy Madigan won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Weapons.

The Ceremony

Conan O’Brien hosted the 98th Academy Awards. Performances included songs from Sinners (“I Lied to You”) and KPop Demon Hunters (“Golden”). An extended In Memoriam segment honored recently deceased stars, including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Catherine O’Hara, Terence Stamp, and Brigitte Bardot.

Irish Representation

Irish talent and productions were well-represented at the awards. Maggie O’Farrell was nominated for Adapted Screenplay for Hamnet, and Blue Moon received nominations for Ethan Hawke (Best Actor) and Robert Kaplow (Best Original Screenplay). John Kelly and Andrew Freedman were nominated for Best Animated Short for Retirement Plan. Jessie Buckley was a strong favorite to win Best Actress for Hamnet.

Industry Context

The Academy Awards serve as a marketing event for the film industry, highlighting glamour and artistry. The awards are not necessarily about objective merit but about promoting the industry as a whole.

As Natalie Portman noted, many critically acclaimed films directed by women were overlooked during the nomination process, including Sorry, Baby, Left-Handed Girl, Hedda, and The Testament of Ann Lee.

Screen Ireland representatives were in Los Angeles promoting Ireland as a location for film co-productions, discussing opportunities with Netflix, Sony, Amazon MGM, and Paramount.