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Oscars 1997

The English Patient: Best Picture · Anthony Minghella: directing

Oscars 1997: winning films and award nominations

The English Patient won Best Picture at the 1997 Oscars, with Anthony Minghella recognised for directing the same film. Frances McDormand received the leading actress award for Fargo.

Oscars films in cinemas in Netherlands Explore all 37 Oscars editions
  • The English Patient
  • Shine
  • Jerry Maguire
  • When We Were Kings
  • Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien
Best Picture: The English Patient

Winning films and category recognition at Oscars 1997

The English Patient won Best Picture at the 1997 Oscars. Geoffrey Rush won for Shine, while Frances McDormand received leading actress recognition for Fargo.

Nominated films and award entries at Oscars 1997

Fargo and Jerry Maguire competed for Best Picture alongside The English Patient at the 1997 Oscars. Explore their other category entries as well: a film can have several nominations and win in a different category.

Showing 12 of 65 movies

Wins are included in nomination counts.

Explore Oscars 1997 nominations and winners by category

The Nutty Professor received Makeup recognition at the 1997 Oscars, while The Ghost and the Darkness won Sound Effects Editing. Explore the other category shortlists and their credited winners within the same ceremony year.

Best Picture

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Saul Zaentz

Directing

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Anthony Minghella

Actor in a Leading Role

5 nominations
Shine Winner Shine Geoffrey Rush

Actress in a Leading Role

5 nominations
Fargo Winner Fargo Frances McDormand

Actor in a Supporting Role

5 nominations
Jerry Maguire Winner Jerry Maguire Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Actress in a Supporting Role

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Juliette Binoche

Cinematography

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient John Seale

Costume Design

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Ann Roth

Documentary (Feature)

5 nominations
When We Were Kings Winner When We Were Kings Leon Gast, David Sonenberg

Documentary (Short Subject)

5 nominations
Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien Winner Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien Jessica Yu

Film Editing

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Walter Murch

Foreign Language Film

5 nominations
Kolya Winner Kolya Czech Republic

Makeup

3 nominations
The Nutty Professor Winner The Nutty Professor Rick Baker, David LeRoy Anderson

Music (Original Dramatic Score)

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Gabriel Yared

Music (Original Song)

5 nominations
Evita Winner You Must Love Me Evita Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice

Art Direction

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan

Short Film (Animated)

4 nominations
Quest Winner Quest Tyron Montgomery, Thomas Stellmach

Short Film (Live Action)

5 nominations
Dear Diary Winner Dear Diary David Frankel, Barry Jossen

Sound

5 nominations
The English Patient Winner The English Patient Walter Murch, Mark Berger, David Parker, Chris Newman

Visual Effects

3 nominations
Independence Day Winner Independence Day Volker Engel, Douglas Smith, Clay Pinney, Joseph Viskocil

Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published)

5 nominations
Sling Blade Winner Sling Blade Billy Bob Thornton

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)

5 nominations
Fargo Winner Fargo Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Sound Effects Editing

3 nominations
The Ghost and the Darkness Winner The Ghost and the Darkness Bruce Stambler

Music (Original Musical or Comedy Score)

5 nominations
Emma Winner Emma Rachel Portman

About these results

Winners and nominees
Winners announced
Category coverage
All listed categories
Ceremony date
March 24, 1997
Last verified
October 29, 2026

MovieDust is not affiliated with the Academy Awards. Nominations and winners are checked against the official results and the sources below.

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Oscars 1997: Winners and Nominees

Geoffrey Rush won for Shine, and Frances McDormand for Fargo. Acting recognition at the 1997 Oscars sits alongside craft awards, including Makeup for The Nutty Professor. Follow the individual categories to distinguish nominated entries from confirmed wins.

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