Oscar-winning editors Jennifer Lame and Joe Walker lead the early race for the 2027 Academy Award for Best Film Editing, according to predictions updated by Variety on Thursday.
The early standings arrive as Hollywood enters the final weeks of the 2026 calendar year, positioning veteran cutters alongside massive franchise hopefuls and biographical epics. Preliminary voting for the Oscar shortlists across 12 categories runs from December 7 to December 11, followed by the shortlist announcement on Tuesday, December 15. The eligibility period closes on December 31, 2026.
- Jennifer Lame leads the category for her work on “The Odyssey,” followed by Joe Walker for the unreleased “Dune: Part Three.”
- Mikkel E.G. Nielsen enters the conversation for “Wild Horse Nine,” reuniting with director Martin McDonagh.
- A crowded field of contenders features biographical epics like “Michael” and nonfiction features such as “You Can See Everything.”
Oscar-winning editors dominate the initial tracking period. Jennifer Lame, who secured an Academy Award for “Oppenheimer,” claims the top spot with Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey,” starring Lupita Nyong’o. Close behind is Joe Walker for Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Three,” featuring Zendaya. Walker previously won an Oscar for “Dune” and earned nominations for “12 Years a Slave” and “Arrival.”
Following the front-runners is Mikkel E.G. Nielsen for “Wild Horse Nine.” Nielsen won an Academy Award for “Sound of Metal” and earned a nomination for “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Also contending in the early tier are two-time nominee Yorgos Mavropsaridis, recognized for “The Favourite” and “Poor Things,” alongside Anthony Boys for “The Invite.”
Adam Locke-Norton enters the editing discussion following the box-office success of the three-hour nonfiction epic “You Can See Everything.” If nominated, Locke-Norton would be only the third person to secure a film editing nomination for a documentary feature, following “Woodstock” in 1970 and “Hoop Dreams” in 1994.
Meanwhile, the billion-dollar biopic “Michael” features a massive editorial team. That roster includes past winners John Ottman for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Tom Cross for “Whiplash,” and Conrad Buff IV for “Titanic,” alongside “Minari” nominee Harry Yoon.
| Contender | Film | Notable Past Work |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Lame | “The Odyssey” | “Oppenheimer” (Winner) |
| Joe Walker | “Dune: Part Three” | “Dune” (Winner) |
| Mikkel E.G. Nielsen | “Wild Horse Nine” | “Sound of Metal” (Winner) |
| Yorgos Mavropsaridis & Anthony Boys | “The Invite” | “Poor Things,” “The Favourite” |
The Governors Awards will take place on Sunday, November 15, handing out honorary Oscars to Glenn Close and Ridley Scott. Nominations voting will run from January 11 to January 15, 2027, following the close of the December 31 eligibility period.
The official Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 21, 2027. The 99th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2027, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The ceremony airs live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
