The awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the United States will be handed out this Sunday, but are last year's "Oscars" over at all?, wrote the Associated Press.

When Hollywood's elite reunite at the Dolby Theater for the 95th Academy Awards, the ceremony will signal many things.

The probable triumph of "Everything everywhere at once".

A potentially historic night for Asians and Asian-Americans in the film industry.

Probably a record number of "Cocaine Bear" jokes.

For many, however, it will be a return to the place of the slap.

In a way, we all still live in this frozen moment in time.

Chris Rock's face twisted to the side.

Will Smith's dramatically outstretched hand.

Grave silence at the Dolby Theater.

Will Smith slapped the host of the Oscars

The slap was immediately etched in the collective memory, and the shock it caused continues to reverberate. 

For the first time, two sequels ("Top Gun: Maverick" and "Avatar: The Nature of Water") are nominated this year for best picture.

But this year's Oscars - whether they like it or not - will also be a continuation, but without the main stars.

Smith has been banned from the film academy for 10 years.

Rock, on the other hand, sticks to stand-up.

Host Jimmy Kimmel said he would talk about the slap.

It would be "ridiculous" not to, he told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is also in the works.

After a delayed response to Will Smith's actions, which Academy President Janet Yang called "inadequate," the Academy Awards will have its first "crisis team."

He must react to surprises. 

Kimmel, who has hosted twice already, was brought in in part to have a steady presence on the telecast, which will reinstate the announcement of all the winners live. 

Kimmel's challenge will be to reference the slapstick, but not let the Oscars be defined by it. 

Will Smith reached out to Chris Rock to apologize, the comedian wasn't ready to talk to him

Last year, after Smith's slap and subsequent boos, the focus of the awards shifted, taking the spotlight away from the notable win for deaf drama CODA: Child of Deaf Parents and documentary category winner Summer of Soul ".

Will Smith won his first Oscar for The Williams Method.

However, he did not apologize immediately, but did so in a statement the next day.

Soon after, the actor terminated his membership of the academy.

This year, "Everything everywhere at once" has an impressive 11 nominations.

The Daniel Quan and Daniel Scheinert production is tipped to win best picture after taking home the honors from the professional guilds.

The two Daniels were favored over Steven Spielberg for Best Director.

Former child star Kee Hee Kwan (also known as Jonathan Kee Kwan) is considered the favorite for Best Supporting Actor.

Michelle Yeoh could become the first Asian winner in the Best Actress category.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided on Will Smith's punishment

Still, doubts remain that the madcap action-comedy may miss out on an Oscar and World War I film Nothing New on the Western Front - which won a BAFTA and has nine nominations - could sneak in. 

Netflix's gruesome anti-war film from Germany has particularly resonated in Europe, where Russia's war in Ukraine continues.

The nominated documentary "Navalny" about imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is more directly related to current events in Eastern Europe.

And as Kimmel noted recently, you can bet anything on the Academy Awards, including whether someone will slap the host, BTA informs.

Will Smith

Oscar Awards