The 90th annual Academy Awards are fast approaching, and moviegoers wait in anticipation to see which nominated films will take home the golden trophies.

Diversity floods this year’s nominations list. Leading with thirteen nominations, Guillermo Del Torro’s “The Shape of Water” tells the love story between a mute woman and a amphibious creature in government captivity. The other romantic film in the running for Best Picture is “Call Me By Your Name,” a coming-of-age story about a homosexual first love. The coming-of-age theme does not rest there; Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” takes home five nominations, most notably, a nomination for Best Director. Gerwig remains the only female director in this category and would be the first woman to receive this award should she win. Additionally, historical and true narratives make up a large number of this year’s list. Both “Dunkirk” and “Darkest Hour” both convey different perspectives of the British government and army during World War II, while both “I, Tonya” and “Molly’s Game” recount true stories of eminent women: professional figure skater, Tonya Harding and leader of underground poker games, Molly Bloom.

The clear variety in subject matter and the lack of a clear frontrunner make predicting this year’s winners extremely difficult. However, I believe “Get Out” deserves to take home the Oscar for Best Picture. This original, relatively low-budgeted film was released in February of 2017, the earliest of any other nominated films. Jordan Peele, a black first-time writer and director, highlighted the issue of racism in an unique and profound way. It represents the very best of what Hollywood is capable of, and it reached the nominations list by sheer popularity and force.

As much as I would love to see Greta Gerwig become the first female to win an Academy Award for Best Director, I predict the Oscar will go to Guillermo Del Torro for “Shape of Water” and justifiably. He was able to get this abstruse vision across in a beautiful and significant way. This is especially prevalent through the acting of Sally Hawkins, who delivered emotional monologues in sign language.

This complex role gives Sally Hawkins a good shot at taking home the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, however, Frances McDormand may give her a run for her money. McDormand’s performance in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” has won her both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. She portrays a grieving mother desperate for police help in solving her daughter’s murder.

Gary Oldman seems to be the frontrunner for Best Actor in a Leading Role after also winning both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance as Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour.” Almost unrecognizable, Oldman’s transformation into acclaimed former British prime minister has astounded audiences.

Despite who goes home with the golden trophies, each film presents its own message with beauty and originality, and I anxiously await the ceremony on March 6.