Oscars 2022 live updates | The Academy Awards are back in Hollywood; Red Carpet arrivals begin

After a year away from the Dolby Theatre due to the pandemic, the 94th Academy Awards are back in the heart of Tinseltown

The Oscars are back in Hollywood, as nominees from top contending films including “CODA,” “The Power of the Dog” and “Belfast” hit the red carpet Sunday for the movie industry’s biggest night.

After a year away from the Dolby Theatre due to the pandemic, the 94th Academy Awards are back in the heart of Tinseltown, where A-listers who have passed strict Covid-19 testing protocols arrived draped in their finest gowns and tuxedos once again.

The show, for the first time will be hosted by three women hosts- actor Regina Hall, and comedians Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. The oscars have been hostless since 2018, when talk show host Jimmy Kimmel emceed the show.

This years ceremony had also be sorrounded by controversy as the academy decided to cut out eight award categories from the main ceremony, to be given off-air, with clips being edited into the live telecast later. This was done in a bit to reinvigorate viewership after it dropped to record levels last year.

Dark, psychological Western “The Power of the Dog” had looked set to earn Netflix its much-coveted first best-picture statuette, but the race has been flung wide open in recent weeks.

“CODA” — an uplifting drama from Apple+ TV about an eccentric deaf family, and their musical daughter who can hear — has surged in popularity, and is now tipped by many industry insiders as the favorite. Either would be a historic first best-picture win for a streaming service.

Kenneth Branagh’s childhood-inspired “Belfast” also cannot be ruled out.