The Best Film Editing award gets surprisingly little precursor action in spite of it being one of the most important aspects of a film’s success or failure. Thankfully, we have the American Cinema Editors to give us a hand.

AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS AWARDS

Best Drama Editing

Anatomy of a Fall (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter)
Past Lives

Wesley Lovell: Oppenheimer‘s tight editing, which makes a long film breeze by, is sure to win this category over Anatomy of a Fall, which gets points for its tight tension.
Pete Patrick: Should be Anatomy of a Fall but will may well be another one for Oppenheimer.
Thomas La Tourette: Oppenheimer wins this easily.

Best Comedy/Musical Editing

Air
American Fiction
Barbie (Wesley)
The Holdovers (Peter, RU:Thomas)
Poor Things (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Barbie would seem like a strong choice for this award in spite of it being one of the three contenders that wasn’t nominated for the Oscar. The Holdovers and Poor Things were but while both have their showy moments, Barbie will likely have its supporters and I give it the edge.
Pete Patrick: The Holdovers, Poor Things, and Barbie could all take this – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for The Holdovers.
Thomas La Tourette: In a battle between Oscar nominated movies, Poor Things should beat The Holdovers.

Best Animation Editing

Elemental (RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Nimona
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (RU:Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: While you don’t always think of animated films as having editing, they do. It seems obvious that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse being action-heavy will win this, but I wouldn’t count out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which feels a bit fresher.
Pete Patrick: With The Boy and the Heron not nominated, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse should take this one easily.
Thomas La Tourette: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse easily wins this.

Best Documentary Editing

20 Days in Mariupol (Wesley, Thomas)
American Symphony (Peter)
Joan Baez I Am a Noise
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: It’s hard to say what will this category, but it will likely come down to 20 Days in Mariupol or Still. I lean towards the former.
Pete Patrick: Just a hunch, but I think that this will be the one award where 20 Days in Mariupol is a nominee but doesn’t win.
Thomas La Tourette: The harrowing 20 Days in Mariupol should win this.