Festival screenings at Telluride, Venice, and the New York Film Festival have propelled early momentum for the Best Supporting Actor race, with Paul Giamatti’s turn as a demanding theater director in A24’s The Debut earning praise for its emotional depth and overdue-narrative appeal, while Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Sam Altman in Neon’s Artificial has drawn strong reviews for its intensity. Sam Rockwell in Searchlight’s Wild Horse Nine and John Leguizamo in Universal’s The Odyssey also figure prominently among contenders, alongside Edward Norton in A24’s The Invite and Netflix’s Guitarricadelafuente in La Bola Negra. With nominations voting set for mid-January 2027 and precursors such as Critics Choice and guild results still ahead, traders are tracking how critical consensus and campaign strength shape the five slots.