"The Wicked," "The Conclave," "Anora," and "The Brutalist" are among the films anticipated to secure Golden Globe nominations, which will be revealed on Monday.

As the first significant film awards to unveil their shortlist, the Golden Globes often provide early indicators of how the awards season might unfold.

This year boasts numerous formidable contenders, yet there remains no clear frontrunner for the coveted Best Picture award at the Oscars, set to take place on March 2.

US actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut are set to announce the Golden Globe nominations on Monday at approximately 7:15pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).

While the Golden Globes mark the first major milestone in the awards season, smaller events like the Gotham Awards and various critics' ceremonies have already taken place in recent weeks.

Unlike the Oscars and Baftas, the Golden Globes divide their awards based on genre, with films competing in either the Drama or Comedy/Musical categories. Additionally, each acting category features six nomination slots.

This format allows the Globes to highlight a total of 36 acting performances, significantly more than the 20 recognised at the Oscars, giving the ceremony room to celebrate a wider range of talent and minimise the risk of notable omissions.

The 2024 Golden Globe Awards are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on January 5.

Which films are in the running?

Unlike last year, when Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" dominated the awards season, this year presents a more competitive and unpredictable race, with several films vying for the top prize.

Among the frontrunners is "Anora," a gripping tale of a New York stripper who becomes romantically entangled with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch.

Equally praised by critics, "The Brutalist" tells the story of a Hungarian architect striving to rebuild his life in America after the devastation of World War II.

"Conclave," an adaptation of Robert Harris's 2016 novel, offers an intriguing portrayal of scheming cardinals as they gather in Rome to elect a new Pope.

Blockbusters are also in the mix this year, with "Wicked," a musical adaptation; "Dune: Part Two," a sci-fi epic; and "Gladiator II," a historical spectacle, all generating buzz thanks to their impressive box office performances.

Other contenders include "Sing Sing," which explores the lives of US prison inmates participating in a performing arts programme, and "Emilia Pérez," a musical about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes a gender transformation.

Several highly anticipated films are generating buzz this awards season, including "September 5," a dramatic retelling of the tragic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics; "A Real Pain," which examines the struggles of two cousins navigating familial loss; and "Nickel Boys," a poignant story about two friends enduring life in a reform school in 1960s Florida.

Other potential contenders include the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," the emotionally charged assisted-dying drama "The Room Next Door," the World War II epic "Blitz," the chilling body horror "The Substance," and the gothic vampire reimagining "Nosferatu."

Meanwhile, "Babygirl," an intense erotic drama exploring an age-gap romance; "I'm Still Here," which delves into the mysterious disappearance of a Brazilian congressman; and "Queer," a psychedelic romance set in the 1950s, might also find their way onto the nomination list.

Rounding out the mix are films like the dystopian drama "Civil War," the tennis love-triangle story "Challengers," the animated adventure "The Wild Robot," and "Saturday Night," an inside look at the chaos behind a live variety show.

Which actors could be nominated?

This year's Best Actress category is shaping up to feature compelling comeback narratives, with Demi Moore ("The Substance"), Angelina Jolie ("Maria"), and Marianne Jean-Baptiste ("Hard Truths") all anticipated to return to the awards spotlight.

However, the competition is fierce, with Karla Sofía Gascón ("Emilia Pérez"), Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked"), and newcomer Mikey Madison, who delivers a breakout performance in "Anora." Other strong contenders include Fernanda Torres ("I'm Still Here"), Tilda Swinton ("The Room Next Door"), Nicole Kidman ("Babygirl"), Lily-Rose Depp ("Nosferatu"), and Saoirse Ronan ("The Outrun").

In the Best Actor race, frontrunners include Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave"), and Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"). They may be joined by Hollywood heavyweights Daniel Craig ("Queer") and Timothée Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown").

Additionally, Jesse Eisenberg ("A Real Pain") and John David Washington ("The Piano Lesson") are possible contenders. Sebastian Stan could also land a nomination, with two standout performances in "A Different Man" and "The Apprentice."

In the Best Supporting Actor category, potential nominees include Kieran Culkin ("A Real Pain"), Denzel Washington ("Gladiator II"), Guy Pearce ("The Brutalist"), Yura Borisov ("Anora"), Jeremy Strong ("The Apprentice"), and Clarence Maclin ("Sing Sing").

For Best Supporting Actress, the competition is equally fierce, with Ariana Grande ("Wicked"), Isabella Rossellini ("Conclave"), Danielle Deadwyler ("The Piano Lesson"), and both Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez from "Emilia Pérez" expected to be strong contenders.

However, the category is packed with talent, including Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor ("Nickel Boys"), Saoirse Ronan ("Blitz"), Monica Barbaro ("A Complete Unknown"), Natasha Lyonne ("His Three Daughters"), and Felicity Jones ("The Brutalist") all vying for recognition.

The Golden Globes often favour star power, which means big celebrity names may have a higher chance of landing nominations even if their Oscar prospects are slimmer. This could include Hugh Grant ("Heretic"), Glen Powell ("Hit Man"), Kate Winslet ("Lee"), Paul Mescal ("Gladiator II"), Amy Adams ("Nightbitch"), and Zendaya ("Challengers").

Which TV shows could be nominated?

Unlike many other award shows, the Golden Globes honour achievements in television alongside film.

This year, the drama and limited series categories are expected to feature contenders like "Baby Reindeer," "Shogun," "The Penguin," "Ripley," "Slow Horses," and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

In the comedy realm, standout shows such as "Nobody Wants This," "Hacks," "The Bear," "Only Murders in the Building," and "Abbott Elementary" are likely to be in the spotlight.

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