Russian actor Yura Borisov is projected to contend for a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming biographical drama Artificial.
Industry publication Variety released the awards prediction following the film's premiere in New York on October 5. Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, whose previous work includes Call Me by Your Name and Challengers, the picture is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on December 25.
Artificial explores the history of OpenAI, the San Francisco artificial intelligence research company responsible for the ChatGPT chatbot. Borisov stars as co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, a prominent computer scientist who served as a key technical leader during the organization's development.
Supporting cast contenders
Variety also identified several of Borisov's co-stars as potential candidates in supporting acting categories. Andrew Garfield, who plays OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, will be considered for Best Supporting Actor. Mark Rylance, the Oscar-winning British actor who portrays computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, known as a pioneer of artificial intelligence, is also contending in the category.
Monica Barbaro is predicted to contend for Best Supporting Actress for her role as former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, who served as chief technology officer. The film dramatizes the key figures and internal events that shaped the technology company.
Previous Oscar campaign
The prediction marks Borisov's second consecutive campaign in the Academy Award race. The actor previously earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination in 2025 for his role as Igor, a gopnik henchman, in director Sean Baker's comedy-drama Anora, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 2025 supporting actor trophy ultimately went to Kieran Culkin for his performance in A Real Pain. Borisov competed in that category alongside fellow nominees Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce for The Brutalist, and Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice.
