Reflecting on 2024’s Awards Season: A Great Year For Editing
As the curtains close on the 2024 awards season, now feels like a good time to look back at the cinematic fare that stayed with us, particularly through the lens of editing. The year gave us a veritable smorgasbord of brilliantly edited films. Despite one film in particular sweeping the awards, it was a good year in general for film editing
The Critical Role of Editing
Editing is arguably the backbone of cinematic storytelling, holding a place of importance right alongside major categories like Best Picture and Best Director. It’s the editor’s craft that transforms a collection of scenes into a cohesive narrative. A skilled editor can elevate a film from mediocrity to excellence, while poor editing can lead to a disjointed and unengaging experience. There are no great, poorly edited movies.
Editing styles evolve with our changing film-viewing habits. The pace of films from half a century ago might feel leisurely to today’s audience, accustomed to rapid cuts and dynamic sequences. Editors not only curate shots but pace the story, often working closely with directors to bring a shared vision to life. Far from being just a technical skill, editing is a deeply creative endeavor.
2024’s Editing Standouts
The consensus among this year’s award ceremonies highlights one dominant submission in particular:
- The Oscars: Oppenheimer, Best Editing
- The ACE Eddie Awards: Oppenheimer, Best Edited Feature Film, Drama; The Holdovers, Best Edited Feature Film, Comedy or Musical
- BAFTA: Oppenheimer, Best Film Editing
- British Film Editors Awards: Oppenheimer, Best Edited Single Drama
2024 was a great year for movies and there was some truly outstanding work on display. In a sense, the fact that Oppenheimer so comprehensively swept the board undermines just how much interesting and exciting work there was to dive into. 2025 has a lot to live up to.
Why Oppenheimer Stood Above the Rest
Oppenheimer masterfully wove together a complex narrative, making a historical biopic feel as gripping as an action film. Jenifer Lame’s editing effortlessly guided audiences through various timelines and close-ups, maintaining a strong sense of time and place throughout its three-hour runtime. The film’s pacing, enhanced by strategic cuts and an excellent score, built tension and momentum, offering a lesson in cinematic rhythm.
Other Notable Submissions
While Oppenheimer took home the accolades, 2024 was rich with exceptional editing work worth celebrating:
- Past Lives: Its narrative, spanning three time periods, was visually and emotionally stunning, highlighted by remarkable editing.
- Anatomy of a Fall: Laurent Senechal’s editing brilliantly balanced ambiguity, compelling viewers to draw their own conclusions about the innocence of our protagonist.
- Poor Things: The film’s distinctive aesthetic was further elevated by sharp editing, complementing its outstanding production design. Best looking film of the year?
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker once again proved their iconic partnership with meticulously crafted editing. Their best work since Goodfellas.
Looking Forward
The 2024 awards season might have seen Oppenheimer sweep the editing awards, but the diversity and quality of editing work across the board were truly remarkable. As we anticipate the cinematic wonders of 2025, it’s clear that the art of editing will continue to play a pivotal role in filmmaking, shaping the stories that captivate our imaginations.
