Oscars 2016 predictions: Will The Revenant, Spotlight or The Big Short win best film?

The biggest night of the year for movie lovers, the Oscars, will be taking place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on 28 February. The stars will be out in full force for the ceremony but which film will take home the most coveted prize, the best picture award?

In an Oscars race full of twists and turns, various films have at one point or another been the favourite. Investigative journalism drama Spotlight emerged the early frontrunner, and was honoured with the best ensemble cast prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The Big Short pulled off a surprise when it won big at the Producers Guild Awards and could so so again come Oscar night.

But the favourite will be The Revenant, the harrowing 19th-century set Western directed by 2015's winner Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

IBTimes UK film critics Alfred Joyner, Amy West and Ben Skipper analyse the best picture and best director categories, before giving their verdict on who will win and who should win on the night.

Best Picture nominees:

• The Big Short
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Best Director nominees:

• Adam McKay - The Big Short
• George Miller - Mad Max: Fury Road
• Alejandro G. Iñárritu - The Revenant
  
• Lenny Abrahamson - Room
• Tom McCarthy - Spotlight