LOS ANGELES — Every year, before the stars walk the red carpet for the Oscars, a green carpet gets rolled out nearby in Los Angeles.
For the past 20 years, the Oscar Wilde Awards have celebrated Irish arts, culture and film.
This year’s awards took place at The Ebell of Los Angeles, and attendees included a handful of Oscar nominees.
For Richie Baneham, Sunday could bring his third Oscar for his work on the Avatar franchise.
The two-time Oscar winner is up for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
“I feel like this film was the most ambitious,” says Baneham. “Visually, and from a character standpoint, it’s the most complex.”
He won in 2010 for his groundbreaking work on ‘Avatar,’ and again in 2023 for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water.’
“I try to enjoy every minute,” says Baneham.
“That’s the lesson learned. The first time it went by too quickly. The second time was fun. Let’s hope the third one is fun too!”
John Kelly and Andrew Freedman are up for their first Oscar for Best Animated Short for their 7-minute film called Retirement Plan. It’s about a man navigating midlife fatigue and dreaming of his future.
“It’s a very personal film,” says Kelly. “It’s quite a modest film. In some ways, it’s not built for the awards season, but somehow it’s struck a chord with people.”
“It’s a bit of a dream,” says Freedman. “I think ever since I was interested in film, you always aspire towards the Oscars, so it’s been a 20-year run, and it’s amazing to be here now today.
It’s narrated by Domhnall Gleeson of Harry Potter, Star Wars and, recently, Taylor Swift fame (think ‘Ophelia’ video).
“I feel like Oscar dreams already came true,” says Gleeson.
“I think just getting invited to that party is pretty amazing. I think the dream really came true when the film came out, and it was really impactful. That’s a beautiful thing.”
How to watch The Oscars
Don’t miss Hollywood’s biggest night: The Oscars on ABC!
Our live Oscar pre-show, “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars,” begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15.
It will feature live interviews with the nominees, red carpet fashion analysis and more!
Then, watch the 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu, followed by “The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.”
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