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Chicago International Film Festival Oscar® picks, favorites and snubs!

Like many of you, the Oscar® telecast is our Superbowl - for the past year we’ve watched all of the ‘teams’, ‘coaches’, and ‘players’ and we can’t wait to root for our favorites during the big game on February 26^th (show will be telecast on ABC at 6pm CST). Each staff member chose Oscar® favorites, picks or snubs - read below to see if you agree or disagree!

Michael Kutza, Founder and Artistic Director

My favorites:
Best Picture - The Artist (Thomas Langmann, Producer)
Actor in a Leading Role - Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
Actress in a Leading Role - Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Directing - Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Documentary Feature - Pina (Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel)
Foreign Language Film - A Separation (Iran)

Mimi Plauché, Head of Programming

My favorites:
Best Picture - The Artist (Thomas Langmann, Producer)
Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki (Tree of Life)
Directing - Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Documentary Feature - Pina (Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel)
Foreign Language Film - A Separation (Iran)

Vivian Teng, Managing Director

My favorites:
Best Picture - The Artist (Thomas Langmann, Producer)
Costume Design - Mark Bridges (The Artist)
Foreign Language Film - A Separation (Iran)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - John Logan (Hugo)
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Cesar Cazares, Corporate Sponsorship Manager
My picks:
Best Picture - The Artist (Thomas Langmann, Producer)
Actor in a Leading Role - Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Actress in a Leading Role - Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - John Logan (Hugo)
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

My picks:
Makeup - Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland (The Iron Lady)
Music (Original Song) - "Man or Muppet" Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie (The Muppets)
Sound Editing - Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)
Sound Mixing - Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)
Visual Effects - Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)

 Rebecca Fons, Education Program Manager

My snubs:
Actor in a Supporting Role - Albert Brooks (Drive)
Actress in a Leading Role - Charlize Theron (Young Adult)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)
Music (Original Score) - Trent Reznor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Mike Mills (Beginners)

 Erin Payton, Marketing Manager

My picks:
Actor in a Leading Role - Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki (Tree of Life)
Music (Original Score) - Alberto Iglesias (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Music (Original Song) - "Man or Muppet" Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie (The Muppets)
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)