Apple begins Oscars push for 'Causeway'

Entertainment industry title Deadline has opened this year's movie awards season with "Contenders Film: New York" to highlight some of the year's most popular movies, including one from Apple TV+.

Ahead of the 95th Oscars ceremony that will take place on March 12, 2023, "Contenders Film: New York" shared possible contenders for awards on Saturday, November 5.

Studios that took part include Apple Original Films, Breaking Glass Pictures Netflix, Orion Pictures/United Artists Releasing, Universal Pictures, and Variance Films.

Directors, actors, and others participated in panel discussions about the stories behind their work. "Causeway" producer Justine Ciarrocchi joined the event virtually as well.

Apple has added the movie, which stars Jennifer Lawrence, to its catalog of video content. It's available to watch on Apple TV+. The company describes it as an intimate portrait of a soldier struggling to adjust to her life after returning home to New Orleans.

Apple is also likely to be aiming for the Oscars with its film "Emancipation" starring Will Smith. Multiple factors have affected its release, including COVID-19, a sexual harassment lawsuit, and Will Smith causing controversy by hitting Chris Rock during the Academy Awards.

After that Oscars slap, a report said it was "the unspoken truth" that the film was being pushed back into 2023 to distance it from the news.

But in early October, Apple announced it would stream "Emancipation" on Apple TV+ on December 9. It could see the film as its best shot for the Oscars after other content, including "Luck" and "The Greatest Beer Run Ever," weren't as popular as it hoped.