The San Diego Film Festival screened Oscar BEST PICTURE winning films in 2012 SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK and 2013 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE four months before they were even nominated!  Will one of this year’s films win again at this year’s Oscars?

Two of the 9 films screened,(IMITATION GAME and WHIPLASH)  are already favorites to be nominated for the best picture Oscar this year on January 15, 2015. Fingers crossed!

ACADEMY AWARD WINNING PREDICTIONS: THE TOP THREE BEST PREDICTORS

There are several award shows between now and Oscars that provide clues about who will win the big categories and help you win your office pool.  Here are the top three to watch…

SAG (Screen Actors Guild), Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.  SAG nominations were announced on Dec 10 and winners picked January 25th; The Golden Globes announced nominations on December 10th and winners on January 11th; while the Critics Choice awards announced nominations on December 15th and awards on January 15th. All in plenty of time before Oscars are announced on January 15th and awards night on February 22nd.  Which is the best predictor of Oscar winners? The Critics Choice Awards! Don’t forget to put February 22, 2015 on your calendar to attend the San Diego Film Festival Oscar party. Watch for the announcement.

OSCAR WATCH: WHICH FILMS ARE THE TOP CONTENDORS FOR BEST PICTURE THIS YEAR?

They Seem Pretty Locked In:
1. “Boyhood” (Richard Linklater)
2. “Birdman” (Alejandro González Iñárritu)
3. “Selma” (Ava DuVernay)
4. “The Imitation Game” (Morten Tyldum) Screened at the San Diego Film Festival

More Iffy, But All Have Solid Shots:
5. “The Theory of Everything” (James Marsh)
6. “Unbroken” (Angelina Jolie)
7. “Gone Girl” (David Fincher)
8. “Whiplash” (Damien Chazelle) Screened at the San Diego Film Festival
9. “Mr. Turner” (Mike Leigh)  Screened at the San Diego Film Festival
10. “Foxcatcher” (Bennett Miller)
11. “American Sniper” (Clint Eastwood)
12. “Into The Woods” (Rob Marshall)
13. “A Most Violent Year” (JC Chandor)

Darker Horses That Could Rally:
14. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Wes Anderson)
15. “Love is Strange” (Ira Sachs)
16. “Interstellar” (Christopher Nolan)
17. “Wild” (Jean-Marc Vallée)  Screened at the San Diego Film Festival
18. “Top Five” (Chris Rock)
19. “Inherent Vice” (Paul Thomas Anderson)