several films compete for the Oscar trophy at the 97th Academy Awards. Predicted frontrunners like "Wicked" or "Anora" could win big, but it's anyone's guess who scores the golden award Sunday night.

Like other claims ... has been that Academy librarian Margaret Herrick thought the gold award resembled her dear Uncle Oscar, so the Academy staff began referring to it as Oscar.

An Academy Award is priceless to those who win ... who said the statue looked like her Uncle Oscar.

The rules also apply to the heirs of the award. Essentially, an Oscar statuette is considered a "loan" from the Academy, where the winner gets to keep it for as long as they like, or sell it back ...