The Oscars race is taking shape amid a weaker-than-usual festival season, with studios increasingly avoiding major premieres to limit the risk of poor reviews and reputational damage. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is expected to be a major contender, but early attention has instead focused on films emerging from Sundance and other festivals, including Olivia Wilde’s The Invite and Josephine.

The Invite has built strong momentum after a successful Sundance premiere, an A24 acquisition, solid summer box office and sustained word of mouth; Wilde could become the first woman nominated for both acting and directing. John Turturro is also receiving praise for The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, while Sundance winner Josephine has earned acclaim for Channing Tatum’s performance but faces obstacles because of its disturbing subject matter and inexperienced distributor.