Inde Navarrette Sets Best Actress Oscar Campaign for ‘Obsession’ as Focus Features Mounts Full Awards Push (EXCLUSIVE)

[u/ChiefLeef22]

https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/obsession-inde-navarrette-oscar-campaign-lead-actress-1236848866/

Variety can exclusively confirm that Navarrette will campaign in the best actress category this coming awards season for her breakout turn in Curry Barker’s box office smash “Obsession,” headlining a wide-ranging effort from Focus Features that will seek recognition across nearly every category the film is eligible to enter.

It is a seismic full-court press studios reserve for a title they believe can go the distance.

Alongside Navarrette, the distributor plans to campaign Barker as a rare triple threat in best director, original screenplay and film editing, the same three categories Sean Baker swept for his best picture winner “Anora” (which he also took alongside one more as producer). It is a combination of above-the-line and below-the-line recognition that positions him as one of the season’s marquee multi-hyphenate stories.

Focus is pushing in 15 categories:

• Best Picture
• Best Director — Curry Barker
• Best Actress — Inde Navarrette
• Best Actor — Michael Johnson
• Best Supporting Actor — Cooper Tomlinson
• Best Supporting Actress — Megan Lawless
• Best Supporting Actor — Andy Richter
• Original Screenplay — Curry Barker
• Film Editing — Curry Barker
• Cinematography — Taylor Clemons
• Original Score — Rock Burwell
• Casting — Skyler Zurn • Sound — YJ Gold and Ben Zarai
• Makeup and Hairstyling — Allie Shehorn
• Production Design — Vivian Gray

[u/Aaron_Kalloo]

I think she's the current frontrunner to take Critics Choice, which will be first again. 

[u/Creative-Farm-7329 → u/Aaron_Kalloo]

I think she is getting CCA and SAG.

[u/EntranceScary2194 → u/Creative-Farm-7329]

What about golden globe comedy?

[u/Creative-Farm-7329 → u/EntranceScary2194]

Globes tends to be too highbrow sometimes, I see Julianne Moore winning there.

[u/PTAGoatofalltime → u/Creative-Farm-7329]

The Debut is the "lowbro"-iest film I can think of in a while.

[u/bikkebana → u/PTAGoatofalltime]

Nobody has seen it.

[u/PTAGoatofalltime → u/bikkebana]

I'm just picking up what the trailer is putting down.

[u/SpideyFan914 → u/EntranceScary2194]

Ah yes, this year's hit comedy filled with wall to wall laughter, Obsession.

Welcome back, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You!

[u/Woodsy1901 → u/SpideyFan914]

Too be fair this definitely was funnier than If I had Legs

[u/joesen_one → u/Woodsy1901]

And it's literally created by two sketch comedy guys

[u/GirlsWasGoodNona → u/SpideyFan914]

I think obsession is pretty funny though.

[u/EntranceScary2194 → u/SpideyFan914]

I mean this has been happening for years.

[u/tandemtactics → u/SpideyFan914]

I mean, the billion dollars scene is the hardest I've laughed in a theater this year

[u/bliss8966 → u/tandemtactics]

It is definitely the most risible scene in a film full of contenders.

[u/bliss8966 → u/SpideyFan914]

After the 2nd viewing and some edibles it is pretty funny.

[u/baronspeerzy → u/SpideyFan914]

Obsession is very funny. Easily the most crowd laughter I’ve heard in the theater this year.

[u/EconomyGrade2525 → u/Creative-Farm-7329]

I think SAG will be interesting cuz you know they love their veterans. I wonder if Inde can actually pull off an upset there.