Last year I didn’t do my annual Oscar predictions. I wish there was a good reason, but there’s not - I just forgot, writes Mike Shaw.

For your sake though, dear reader, it’s probably for the best; my hit-rate had got steadily worse and I was in genuine fear of costing someone real-life money (were they loyal enough to place bets based on my opinion).

But that was then. Now it’s 2016, and I’m feeling confident (again). So, who should win the 2016 Oscars and who’s going to win..?

Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone (Creed) was a surprise nominee for this year's Best Supporting Actor award and he immediately became the bookies’ favourite. Sly received his first and only other Academy Award nominations for Rocky in 1977 (for Best Actor and Best Screenplay), but this would be his first Oscar win. He was very good in Creed, but was his performance better than Mark Rylance’s commanding presence in Bridge of Spies? Absolutely not.

Should win: Mark Rylance

Will win: Sylvester Stallone

Best Supporting Actress

Alicia Vikander could have been nominated for either her role in Ex Machina or The Danish Girl, but it was her performance as the wife of Eddie Redmayne’s transgender artist that won her the attention of the Academy. Her only real rival is Rooney Mara for her performance in Carol, but I think Vikander’s got this sewn up.

Should win: Alicia Vikander

Will win: Alicia Vikander

Best Actor

The fact Leonardo DiCaprio has never won an Oscar is laughable. It’s not even an industry in-joke anymore; it’s a well-worn recurring gag that comes round every couple of years to give us all a bitter chuckle.

But is 2016 going to be different? It should be. With The Revenant, DiCaprio turned in one of the best performances of his career and certainly *the best* of this year’s crop of nominations. Eddie Redmayne may have the trendy vote, but there’s no justice if DiCaprio walks away empty-handed again.

He’s already won almost every other award going this year. If Leo doesn’t win the Oscar for Best Actor, we riot.

Should win: Leonardo DiCaprio

Will win: Leonardo DiCaprio

From Star Wars to The BFG: what films are you looking forward to this year?

Best Actress

Like DiCaprio, Brie Larson has swept through awards season, picking up trophies left and right; and with good reason too. Her performance in Room as a single mother held captive with her son for five years is utterly compelling and easily the most haunting.

Should win: Brie Larson

Will win: Brie Larson

Best Director

This is a proper two-horse race. Two very, very different horses. One horse, one mongoose.

One is Alejandro González Iñárritu, director of The Revenant, who won Best Director for Birdman in 2015. The other is George Miller, the 70-year-old director of Mad Max: Fury Road who has received his first ever Oscar nomination.

While The Revenant is a better film than Mad Max, Miller’s film showed him to be a better director, creating a diesel-fuelled blitz with amazing visuals that reinvigorated his long-dead franchise.

However, Mad Max isn’t really "Oscar-worthy" is it, so what chance does Miller stand?

Should win: George Miller

Will win: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Best Film

Until very recently, Spotlight - the story of a team of journalists (Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams) who uncover a church child abuse scandal - was the frontrunner.

However, in the last couple of weeks The Revenant has won awards by the fistload, and is now the clear favourite.

The Revenant is certainly an immersive experience, but Spotlight is a more classic example of a Best Picture, and is to my mind, a more worthy winner.

Should win: Spotlight

Will win: The Revenant

Read Mike Shaw's column in What's On each week, inside your KM paid-for paper