Oscars 2015 Predictions: Which Films Will Be Contenders Next Year?

With the Academy Awards winners announced, everyone's looking at what 2014 has in store for next year's Oscar contenders. Here's a list of upcoming films that could end up nominated next year.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" - Fox Searchlight's new release is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The Wes Anderson picture recently premiered at the Berlin Film festival where it won second prize (Grand Jury Award) and scored rave reviews. The studio is releasing the film but considering Anderson was nominated for Best Screenplay for "Moonrise Kingdom" and that the movie was released at the same time, Fox Searchlight will want to bank on the fact that there are no prestige films being released at the moment.

"Joe" - Roadside Attractions may have failed this year with "Mud" and "All Is Lost" but this year the company has David Gordon Green's movie on its slate. The movie went home with two awards at the Venice Film Festival and if the movie is able to become a hit at the box office and generate early buzz, the film could become an early contender.

"The Railway Man" - The film, which stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, generated a lot of buzz at the Toronto Film Festival and even though it obtained mixed reviews the film is being released by the Weinstein Company. With that studio backing the movie, "The Railway Man" could easily generate a number of Oscar nominations.

"Belle" - Period dramas always generate word of mouth especially for their costumes and production design. Fox Searchlight will release the film and with an avid campaign and great reviews, this film could easily generate buzz and potentially win a couple of technical awards.

"Gone Girl" - David Fincher is one of the best directors working in the industry and with his recent Oscar winners—"The Social Network," "The Curious Case of Benjamin" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"—expect this mystery drama to generate buzz throughout award season.

"Serena" - This movie has been on the radar of critics for quite some time. The Susanne Bier film has been on the market looking for a distributor and it is rumored that the Weinstein Company is interested. The film stars Oscar favorites Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence who have been nominated two years in a row. If this film finds a home it could bring Lawrence and Cooper their third consecutive nominations.

"Interstellar" - Christopher Nolan may not have been nominated for director but his films usually generate nominations at the Academy Awards. Additionally, the Oscars will most likely be looking for the next special effects driven film to nominate for Best Picture and with a November release, this film look like the perfect candidate.

"Inherent Vice" - Warner Bros. won the most Oscars in 2013 and this upcoming year they could potentially have another big Oscar contender with "Inherent Vice." Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film will be released in December and considering almost every one of the director's films has been nominated at the Oscars, this one could easily generate a lot of buzz when awards season comes.

"Unbroken" - Universal has already started promoting Angelina Jolie's film. The film is a heroic true story, which the Academy relishes. With a script by Joel and Ethan Coen, it is unlikely this film will be bad.

Other contenders for next year could include "A Most Violent Year," "Enemy," "The Giver," "Jane Got a Gun" and "Macbeth."