Russian actor Yura Borisov is in contention for an Academy Award nomination for Best Lead Actor for his role in the drama Artificial, according to a forecast published by industry magazine Variety.
The biographical feature, directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, focuses on the history of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind the ChatGPT chatbot. In the film, Borisov plays Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder and former chief scientist of the technology firm.
Variety reported that several of Borisov's co-stars in the ensemble cast are also in the frame for major honors. Andrew Garfield, who portrays OpenAI chief executive officer Sam Altman, will be considered as a candidate for Best Supporting Actor.
Oscar-winning British actor Mark Rylance is also competing for a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance as British scientist Geoffrey Hinton. Meanwhile, Monica Barbaro, who plays former OpenAI employee Mira Murati, will compete for Best Supporting Actress.
Premiere and release schedule
Artificial held its world premiere in New York on October 5. The biographical drama comedy is scheduled for its official theatrical release on December 25.
The film chronicles the tumultuous rise of San Francisco-based OpenAI, which became a household name following the launch of its generative chatbot ChatGPT. Director Luca Guadagnino, known for acclaimed feature films such as Call Me by Your Name, showcases the key figures who shaped the modern artificial intelligence landscape.
Previous Oscar recognition
This is the second consecutive year that Borisov has featured in Oscar predictions. The Russian actor previously earned an Academy Award nomination in 2025 for his supporting role as Igor, a nightlife enforcer, in director Sean Baker's acclaimed comedy-drama Anora. At that ceremony, Borisov competed in the Best Supporting Actor category.
The 2025 statuette for Best Supporting Actor ultimately went to actor Kieran Culkin for his performance in A Real Pain. Borisov's fellow nominees in that category included Edward Norton for the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce for The Brutalist, and Jeremy Strong for the drama The Apprentice.
With Artificial set for release in late December, awards industry observers will watch closely as major critics groups and guild nominations begin building momentum toward the annual Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood.
