Oscar Predix #6: Screenplays and Shorts / The Gurus Update / Cannes Commits and Late Breaking News from Cannes/ The Truffle Hunters Collect More Hardware

OSCAR PREDIX #6: SCREENPLAYS AND SHORTS

I'm back predicting the winners of this year's Oscars with less than a week left until the awards are passed out.  Today I am updating the Screenplay and Shorts categories.  As always TFF #47 film are in Bold.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1) Promising Young Woman

2) The Trial of the Chicago 7

3) Minari

4) Judas and the Black Messiah

5) Sound of Metal

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1) Nomadland

2) The Father

3) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

4) One Night in Miami

5) The White Tiger

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

1) If Anything Happens I Love You

2) Burrow

3) Genuis Loci

4) Opera

5) Yes-People

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

1) A Concerto Is a Conversation

2) A Love Song for Latasha

3) Colette

4) Do Not Split

5) Hunger Ward

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

1) Two Distant People

2) Feeling Through

3) The Present

4) The Letter Room

5) White Eye

I'll have another set of predictions on Thursday and then a special Sunday morning edition of  MTFB with final predictions for this long, long Oscar season.

THE GURUS UPDATE

The newest Gurus of Gold is up at Movie City News.  We were tasked this week with predicting Best Picture as well as picking three upsets that would make us happy...not that would necessarily actually win.

You can find the latest Gurus of Gold predictions linked here.

CANNES COMMMITS

Lots of outlets were reporting this week that Cannes International Film Festival Director Thierry Fremaux is adamantly claiming that the fest will take place July 6-17 and will be a live not virtual event.

Variety was the first source that I could find that was talking about the commitment to the date back on April 8th.  The article also says the effort to schedule the world premiere of Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch for Cannes has been ongoing.  

Subsequently, I have discovered further news stories that are bolder about the fest's plans.  Rappler.com reporting that:

“We are sure that Cannes will take place in July,” declared Thierry Fremaux, director of Cannes Film Festival in our recent video conversation.

Thierry vowed that the world’s most prestigious film festival, which he has led since 2004, will go live, in-person from July 6 to 17 this year."

Fremaux is also quoted as having lined about The French Dispatch as well as Paul Verhoeven's Benedetta for the French fest:

“Regarding films, I, of course, won’t tell you any title except the films that we all know were already selected from last year, including by Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch) and Paul Verhoeven (Benedetta). They will be back in the official selection.”

Fremaux is also quoted as saying that he expects to announce the lineup in late May or early June.

Should Cannes actually take place in July, the fall film fests, including Telluride would largely be unaffected.  For TFF that probably means that the sharing of what is an on average of eight or so films with Cannes could still be likely.

The complete article from Rappler.com is linked here.

LATE BREAKING NEWS FROM CANNES...

Variety is reporting this morning that the 74th Cannes Film Festival will open with Leos Carax's Annette starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver.  Variety reports the film will screen on July 7th and will play in competition.

From Variety.

Here's the trailer that dropped with the announcement from YouTube:

THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS COLLECT MORE HARDWARE

Fresh off their DGA for Best Direction of a Feature Documentary on April 10th,  The Truffle Hunters directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw won the American Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography for a Documentary this past weekend.

The Truffle Hunters was a selection of TFF #47.

Mank won Best Cinematography for a Feature Film beating out Nomadland in a bit of a surprise.

Indiewire has the coverage of the ASC wards here.

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Oscar Update: Six Categories / Guild Love for Nomadland, The Truffle Hunters and More / MTFB''s Final Oscar Nom Predix on Sunday!

OSCAR UPDATE: SIX CATEGORIES

NOTE: FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS FROM MTFB WILL DROP ON SUNDAY WITH OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED MONDAY MORNING.

I am updating Oscar nomination predictions with days left until the nominees are announced.  As usual, you'll see the last position of the film/performer in parentheses and when the category was last predicted.  TFF films are in Bold.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (last predicited Feb. 22nd)

1) Crip Camp; a Disability Revolution (1)

2) Time (2)

3) Collective (3)

4) Dick Johnson Is Dead (4)

5) All In: The Fight for Democracy (8)

6) The Truffle Hunters (7)

7) Boys State (5)

8) Welcome to Chechnya (6)

9) My Octopus Teacher (-)

10) Gunda (-)

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (last predicted Feb. 22nd)

1) Another Round (1)

2) Quo Vadis, Aida (4)

3) Two of Us (3)

4) Collective (2)

5) La Llorona (5)

6) I'm No Longer Here (7)

7) A Sun (6)

8) Night of the Kings (9)

9) Dear Comrades (8)

10) Sun Children (10)

CINEMATOGRAPHY (last predicted Feb. 25th)

1) Nomadland (1)

2) Mank (2)

3) News of the World (3)

4) Tenet (4)

5) Minari (7)

6) Judas and the Black Messiah (6)

7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (5)

8) First Cow (9)

9) One Night in Miami (8)

10) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (-)

EDITING (last predicted Feb. 25th)

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)

2) Nomadland (3)

3) Mank (4)

4) News of the World (2)

5) Tenet (5)

6) Sound of Metal (6)

7) The Father (7)

8) Promising Young Woman (-)

9) One Night in Miami (8)

10) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (10)

ORIGINAL SCORE (last predicted on Feb. 25th)

1)  Soul (1)

2) News of the World (2)

3) Mank (3)

4) The Midnight Sky (4)

5) Tenet (5)

6) Minari (6)

7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (7)

8) Da 5 Bloods (8)

9) The Little Things (9)

10) Blizzard of Souls (10)

ORIGINAL SONG

1) Io Si/The Life Ahead (2)

2) Speak Now/One Night in Miami (1)

3) Hear My Voice/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (4)

4) Husavik/Eurovision Song Contest (5)

5) Fight for You/Judas and the Black Messiah (3)

6) Turntables/All In: The Fight for Democracy (6)

7) Wuhan Flu/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (8)

8) Never Break/Giving Voice (7)

9) Rain Song/Minari (9)

10) See What You've Done/Belly of the Beast (10)

GUILD LOVE FOR NOMADLAND AND THE TRUFFLE HUNERS (AND MORE)

Both the Directors Guild and the Producers Guild announced their nominees earlier this week and TFF #47 selection Nomadland and Chloe Zhao was named on both lists.  

Additionally, other TFF #47 films were also haled by the DGA.  Florian Zeller was nominated for Best Frist Feature for The Father and Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw were nominated for Best Direction of a Feature Documentary.

The Truffle Hunters also was PGA nominated as well.  

The American Society of Cinematographers also named its nominees this week which included Nomadland in its Feature film lineup, The Truffle Hunters and another TFF #47 selection, Gianfranco Rosi's Notturno for Documentary Cinematography.

Coverage is here:

DGA from Variety 

PGA Features from Entertainment Weekly

PGA Docs from Variety

ASC from Awards Daily

REMINDER AGAIN....MTFB'S FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS WILL BE HERE ON SUNDAY

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Oscar Update: The Big Eight and The Shorts / The Critics Choice Awards / A Buffet of Truffles / Latest Gurus of Gold

 OSACR UPDATE: THE BIG EIGHT AND THE SHORTS

Here I am updating Oscar nomination predictions with a week left until the nominees are announced.  As usual, you'll see the last position of the film/performer in parentheses and when the category was last predicted.  TFF films are in Bold.

BEST PICTURE (last predicted Mar. 1st)

1) Nomadland (2)

2) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)

3) Minari (3)

4) Promising Young Woman (5)

5) Mank (4)

6) One Night in Miami (6)

7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)

8) News of the World (9)

9) Sound of Metal (8)

10) The Father (-)

Other Possibles: Da 5 Bloods, Judas and the Black Messiah

BEST DIRECTOR (Last predicted Feb. 22)

1) Chloe Zhao/Nomadland (1)

2) David Fincher/Mank (2)

3) Emerald Fennell/Promising Young Woman (3)

4) Aaron Sorkin/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (4)

5) Lee Isaac Chung/Minari (5)

6) Regina King/One Night in Miami (6)

7) Spike Lee/Da 5 Bloods (7)

8) Paul Greengrass/News of the World (9)

9) Florian Zeller/The Father (8)

10) Shaka King/Judas and the Black Messiah (-)

Other Possibles: Darius Marder/Sound of Metal, George C. Wolfe/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

BEST ACTRESS (Last predicted on Feb. 11th)

1) Carey Mulligan/Promising Young Woman (1)

2) Frances McDormand/Nomadland (2)

3) Viola Davis/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3)

4) Andra Day/The united States vs. Billie Holiday (6)

5) Vanessa Kirby/Pieces of a Woman (4)

6) Sophia Loren/The Life Ahead (7)

7) Amy Adams/Hillbilly Elegy (9)

8) Zendaya/Malcolm and Marie (5)

9) Sidney Flanigan/Never Rarely Sometimes Always (8)

10) Michelle Pfeiffer/French Exit (-)

Other Possibles: Meryl Streep/The Prom, Nichole Behaire/Miss Juneteenth

BEST ACTOR (Last predicted Feb. 11th)

1) Chadwick Boseman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1)

2) Anthony Hopkins/The Father (2)

3) Riz Ahmed/Sound of Metal (3)

4) Gary Oldman/Mank (5)

5) Steven Yeun/Minari (6)

6) Delroy Lindo/Da 5Bloods (4)

7) Tahar Rahim/The Mauritanian (10)

8) Tom Hanks/News of the World (8)

9) Ben Affleck/The Way Back (7)

10) Mads Mikkelsen/Another Round (-)

Other Possibles: Kingsley Ben-Adir/One Night in Miami, John David Washington/Malcolm and Marie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) Glenn Close/Hillbilly Elegy (1)

2) Yuh-jung Youn/Minari (2)

3) Olivia Colman/The Father (3)

4) Maria Bakalova/Borat Subsequent Movie Film (5)

5) Amanda Seyfried/Mank (4)

6) Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian (8)

7) Helena Zengel/News of the World (7)

8) Ellen Burstyn/Pieces of a Woman (6)

9) Dominique Fishback/Judas and the Black Messiah (9)

10) Saoirse Ronan/Ammonite (-)

Other Possibles: Olivia Cooke/Sound of Metal, Talia Ryder/Never rarely Sometimes Always

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) Daniel Kaluuya/Judas and the Black Messiah (1)

2) Sacha Baron Cohen/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2)

3) Leslie Odom, Jr./One Night in Miami (3)

4) Chadwick Boseman/Da 5 Bloods (4)

5) Paul Raci/Sound of Metal (4)

6) Jared Leto/The Little Things (8)

7) David Strathairn/Nomadland (7)

8) Bill Murray/On the Rocks (6)

9) Stanley Tucci/Supernova (-)

10) Bo Burnham/Promising Young Woman (-)

Other Possibles: Frank Langella/The Trail of the Chicago 7, Mark Rylance/The Trial of the Chicago7, Glynn Turman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)

2) Promising Young Woman (2)

3) Minari (3)

4) Mank (4)

5) Sound of  Metal (5)

6) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (7)

7) Judas and the Black Messiah (8)

8) Soul (9)

9) Da 5 Bloods (6)

10) Palm Springs (10)

Other Possibles: On the Rocks, The 40 Year Old Version

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) Nomadland (1)

2) One Night in Miami (2)

3) The Father (4)

4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3)

5) News of the World (6)

6) First Cow (5)

7) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (8)

8) The White Tiger (-)

9) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (7)

10) Emma (9)

Other Possibles: The Mauritanian, Pieces of a Woman

BEST ANIMATED SHORT (First prediction)

1) If Anything Happens I Love You

2) Out

3) Burrow

4) Kapaemahu

5) The Snail and the Whale

6) Opera

7) To Gerard

8) Genius Loci

9) Yes-People

10) Traces

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT (First prediction)

1) A Love Song for Latasha

2) Hysterical Girl 

3) A Concerto Is a Conversation

4) Colette 

5) What would Sophia Loren Do?

6) Hunger Ward

7) Abortion Helpline

8) Speed Cubers

9) Do Not Split

10) Call Center Blues

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (First prediction)

1) The Human Voice

2) Two Distant Strangers

3) The Letter Room

4) Feeling Through

5) Da Yie

6) The Present

7) White Eye

8) The Kicksled

9) The van

10) Bittu

THE CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

The Critics Choice Awards were held last night.  TFF films were nominated for a dozen of them.

Nomadland (6): Best Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Editing

The Father (4): Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay and Editing

First Cow (2): Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography

Nomadland was the evening's big winner with four awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography.  The Father and First Cow did not secure any trophy from the occasion.

Acting winners were: Carey Mulligan-Best Actress/Promising Young Woman, Chadwick Boseman-Best Actor/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Maria Bakalova/Supporting Actress/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Daniel Kaluuya-Supporting Actor/Judas and the Black Messiah, Alan Kim/Young Actor/Minari and The Trial of the Chicago 7 won for Best Ensemble.

The BFCA spread the wealth with only four films winning more than one of the prizes: Nomandlan-4, Ma Rainey's-3, Promising Young Woman-2 and Minari-2.

Complete coverage is here from Indiewire.

A  BUFFET OF TRUFFLES

As Oscar nomination voting is ongoing, TFF #47 documentary selection, The Truffle Hunters continues to have a high profile.  There were three separate interviews posted this week that I came across with the film's directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw.

The film is definitely in Oscar contention for Best Feature Documentary (and maybe ought to also be in the conversation for cinematography).  Fully eight of Gold Derby's 24 experts are currently predicting it to be nominated.

I have linked all three of the interviews with Dweck and Kershaw below:

From National Public Radio

From Salon.com

From MoveableFeast.com 

LATEST GURUS FOCUSES ON THE BIG EIGHT

The latest Gurus of Gold forecast focuses on the Big Eight categories. Picture, Director, the the acting and Screenplay categories.  in an interesting twist, we were asked to name just the top two contenders in all but the Best Picture category.  

Take a look at the new charts. They were posted on Friday.  As you may note, my latest Best Picture forecast from above has Nomadland back in the lead.  The race between it and Chicago 7 is tight and fluid.  Enough so that in the space of 72 hours, my prediction has changed.

Here's the link to the latest from we Gurus.

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Oscar Update: Best Picture, Director, Doc and International / BIFA Awards TFF Films / Nomadland-Where Are They Now? / The Latest from We Gurus

 OSACR UPDATE: BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR, DOC AND INTERNATIONAL

TFF films in Bold.

BEST PICTURE (last updated Feb. 11th, past position in parentheses) 

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)

2) Nomadland (2)

3) Minari (3)

4) Mank (6)

5) Promising Young Woman (8)

6) One Night in Miami (4)

7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (5)

8) Sound of Metal (-)

9) News of the World (10)

10) Judas and the Black Messiah (9)

Other Possibles: Da 5 Bloods, The Father

Hot: Mank, Sound of Metal, Promising Young Woman

Not: Da 5 Bloods, One Night in Miami, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

BEST DIRECTOR (last updated Feb. 4th, past position in parentheses) 

1) Chloe Zhao/Nomadland (1)

2) David Fincher/Mank (4)

3) Emerald Fennell/Promising Young Woman (9)

4) Aaron Sorkin/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2)

5) Lee Isaac Chung/Minari (5)

6) Regina King/One Night in Miami (6)

7) Spike Lee/Da 5 Bloods (3)

8) Florian Zeller/The Father (10)

9) Paul Greengrass/News of the World (8)

10) Darius Marder/Sound of Metal (-)

Other Possibles: Shaka King/Judas and the Black Messiah, George C. Wolfe/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Hot: Emerald Fennell/Promising Young Woman, David Fincher/Mank, Florian Zeller/The Father, Darius Marder/Sound of Metal

Not: Aaron Sorkin/The Trial of the Chicago 7,Spike Lee/Da 5 Bloods

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (last updated Jan. 25th, past position in parentheses) 

1) Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (1)

2) Time (5)

3) Collective (3)

4) Dick Johnson Is Dead (2)

5) Boys State (4)

6) Welcome to Chechnya (7)

7) The Truffle Hunters (8)

8) All In: The Fight for Democracy (6)

9) 76 Days (-)

10) MLK/FBI (-)

Other Possibles: Gunda, My Octopus Teacher, The Painter and the Thief, The Mole Agent, Notturno 

Hot: Time, 76 Days, MLK/FBI

Not: Dick Johnson Is Dead, All In: The Fight for Democracy

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (last updated Jan. 25th, past position in parentheses) 

1) Another Round (1)

2) Collective (3)

3) The Two of Us (6)

4) Quo Vadis, Aida (2)

5) La Llorona (-)

6) A Sun (8)

7) I'm No Longer Here (4)

8) Dear Comrades (7)

9) Night of the Kings (5)

10) Sun Children (-)

Other Possibles: The Man Who Sold His Skin, Charlatan, The Mole Agent, Hope, Better Days

Hot: The Two of Us, La Llorona, A Sun, Sun Children

Not: Quo Vadis Aida, I'm No Longer Here, Night of the Kings

BIFA AWARDS TFF FILMS

Florain Zeller's The Father and Chloe Zhao's Nomadland both were lauded as a part of the British Independent Film Awards this past week.

Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor and Zeller and Christopher Hampton won for Best Screenplay for The Father.  The film also Best Editing.

Nomadland was named Best International Film.

Variety has the complete rundown of BIFA winners here.

NOMADLAND-WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Esquire put up a story on Friday wherein Adrienne Westenfeld interviews the author of Nomadland, Jessica Bruder that catches up with some of the real life nomads that appeared in the film.  Linda, Bob and Swankie all get mentioned in the interview.  If you enjoyed the film and the people who make the film what it is, it's worth a read.

The interview is linked here.

THE LATEST FROM WE GURUS

The latest Gurus of Gold went up over the weekend at Movie City News.  Categories included there are Best Picture, Director and the Screenplay categories.  You may notice that my Best Picture predictions above are already a little different than what I reported to MCN last week.  It's a quck shifting landscape!

Here's the link to the new Gurus.

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Oscar Update: Animated Feature, Cinematography, Editing, Score, Song /Gurus: The Second Batch / SAG Awards and TFF / BAFTA and Telluride

OSCAR UPDATE

In today's post I am updating nomination predictions in five categories.  The film's previous ranking is to the right in parentheses. TFF films are in Bold.

ANIMATED FEATURE

1) Soul (1)

2) Wolfwalkers (2)

3) Over the Moon (3)

4) Onward (4)

5) Earwig and the Witch (8)

6) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (5)

7) The Croods: A New Age (9)

8) Trolls: World Tour (7)

9) The Willoughbys (6)

10) Demon Slayer (10)

Other Possibles: Lupin III

Hot: Earwig and the Witch, The Croods: A New Age

Not: The Willoughbys

CINEMATOGRAPHY

1) Nomadland (2)

2) Mank (1)

3) News of the World (3)

4) Tenet (4)

5) Judas and the Black Messiah (5)

6) Da 5 Bloods (8)

7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (9)

8) Minari (6)

9) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)

10) First Cow (10)

Other Possibles: One Night in Miami, Midnight Sky, I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Hot: Da 5 Bloods, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Not: Minari, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

FILM EDITING

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)

2) Nomadland (2)

3) Tenet (5)

4) News of theWorld (4)

5) Mank (3)

6) The Father (6)

7) Da 5 Bloods (9)

8) One Night in Miami (8)

9) Judas and the Black Messiah (10)

10) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)

Other Possibles: Promising Young Woman, Minari, Sound of Metal

Hot: Da 5 Bloods

Not: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

ORIGINAL SCORE

1) Soul (1)

2) News of the World (2)

3) Midnight Sky (4)

4) Mank (3)

5) Tenet (6)

6) Minari (5)

7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (7)

8) Da 5 Bloods (8)

9) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (-)

10) The Little Things (9)

Other Possible: Hillbilly Elegy

Hot: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Not: Mank

ORIGINAL SONG

1) One Night in Miami/Speak Now (1)

2) The Life Ahead/Seen (2)

3) Over the Moon/Rocket to the Moon (3)

4) The Prom/Wear Your Crown (4)

5) The Trial of the Chicago 7/Hear My Voice (5)

6) Eurovision/Husavik (6)

7) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm/ Wuhan Flu (7)

8) Judas and the Black Messiah/Fight for You (10)

9) Trolls: World Tour/Just Sing (8)

10) Mank/If Only You Could Save Me (9)

Other Possibles: Miss Americana/Only the Young, Onward/Carried Me with You, 40 Year Old Version/Poverty Porn

Hot/Not: A really stable category right now.

GURUS: THE SECOND BATCH

The second wave of collective predictions from The Movie City News' Gurus of Gold was up just before the weekend.  Categories include: Best Picture, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Documentary and International Feature.

Check out the latest from my fellow Gurus here.

SAG AWARDS AND TFF

The Screen Actors Guild nominees were announced and TFF films produced three nominees;  Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Best actor and Olivia Colman for Best Supporting Actress fpr TFF #47 announced film The Father.  Hopkins would have been one of 2020's Tribute recipients had the fest been able to go on.  Frances McDormand was nominated for Best Actress for Nomadland.

All three actors are currently predicted to be Oscar nominees in their respective categories by MTFB.

Here's a link to the complete list of SAG nominees from Variety.

BAFTA LONG LISTS AND TELLURIDE

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) released their long lists of potential nominees for film this past week.  This is the first listing of films that could eventually be nominated for BAFTA awards.

Among the films named to the list were six from the TFF #7 and one from TFF #46.  In a bit of a surprise the most named TFF #47 film was Francis Lee's Ammonite with nine mentions followed by both Nomadland and The Father with eight.

Ammonite's long list mentions were for: Best British Film, Best Actress (Kate Winlset), Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Costumes, Makeup and Hair, Score and Production Design.

Nomaldland is listed for Best Film, Direction (Chloe Zhao), Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor (David Stratharin), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Films Editing and Sound.

The Father is listed for Best Film, Best British Film, Direction (Florian Zeller), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Supporting Actress (Olivia Colman), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing and Production Design.

Other TFF films making the long lists were:

The Truffle Hunters with two: Best Film in a Language Other than English and Best Documentary.

All In: The Fight for Democracy: Best Documentary

MLK/FBI: Best Documentary

And from TFF #46- The Assistant with three mentions: Best Direction (Kitty Green), Best Actress (Julia Garner) and Original Screenplay

The complete long lists are linked here from BAFTA's website.

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Oscar Update-New Categories: International Feature, Documentary, Cinematography, Film Editing / NYFCC and More / Kershaw Talks Truffles

    OSCAR UPDATE: NEW CATEGORIES!

After several weeks of posting and updating the topline Oscar categories (Picture, Director, Acting and Writing), here's my first stab at additional categories beyond those eight.  As always, TFF films are in Bold.

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

1) Another Round

2) Quo Vadis Aida

3) Collective

4) I'm No Longer Here

5) The Night of Kings

6) The Two of Us

7) Dear Comrades

8) A Sun

9) My Little Sister

10) Charlatan

Other Possibles: Sun Children, This Is a Burial Not a Resurrection, Notturno

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Stacey Abrams from All In: The Fight for Democracy

1) Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

2) Dick Johnson Is Dead

3) Collective

4) Boys State

5) Time

6) All In: The Fight for Democracy

7) Welcome to Chechnya

8) The Truffle Hunters

9) John Lewis: Good Trouble

10) The Dissident

Other Possibles: The Way I See It, MLK/FBI, Totally Under Control, The Social Dilemma

CINEMATOGRAPHY

1) Mank

2) Nomadland

3) News of the World

4) Tenet

5) Judas and the Black Messiah

6) Minari

7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

8) Da 5 Bloods

9) The Trial of the Chicago 7

10) First Cow

Other Possibles: One Night in Miami, Midnight Sky, I'm Thinking of Ending Things

FILM EDITING

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7

2) Nomadland

3) Mank

4) News of the World

5) Tenet

6) The Father

7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

8) One Night in Miami

9) Da 5 Bloods

10) Judas and the Black Messiah

Other Possibles: Minari, Sound of Metal

NYFCC AND MORE

The New York Film Critics Circle awarded their superlatives for film in 2020 last night.  The NYFCC announcement kicks off a week that will see a number of major film awards announcements including the American Film Institute, the National Board of Review and The Independent Spirit nominations among others.

From the NYFCC, TFF winners:

Best Picture: First Cow

Best Director: Chloe Zhao/Nomadland

KERSHAW TALKS TRUFFLES

The Truffle Hunters has come on like gangbusters as we have moved through the end of 2020 into the beginning of 2021 as a serious threat in the Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature.  The TFF #47 selection from Sony Pictures Classics sits in my first pass at predicting the nominees for that category just outside the possible nominees at #8 (in an incredibly competitive category).  Meanwhile Variety's Clayton Davis has the film at #3 and Scott Feinberg at The Hollywood Reporter has it at #5.

In light of all of that, Gold Derby featured an interview with co-director Gregory Kershaw this week.

You can take a look at that using this link.

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Oscar Update: Best Picture / The Truffle Hunters on a Hot Streak / Nomadland Leads the Gothams

 OSCAR UPDATE: BEST PICTURE

Here are my latest Oscar nomination predictions for Best Picture updated since I last posted this category on  Dec. 14th.  A film's past position is indicated to the right in parentheses.  TFF #47 films are indicated in Bold.

1) Nomadland (1)

2) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (3)

3) Mank (2)

4) One Night in Miami (5)

5) Minari (4)

6) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (6)

7) The Father (7)

8) News of the World (8)

9) Judas and the Black Messiah (9)

10) Promising Young Woman (-)

Other Possibles: Da Five Bloods, Sound of Metal, Pieces of a Woman

Hot: The Trial of the Chicago 7, Promising Young Woman

Not: Da Five Bloods, Mank

THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS ON A HOT STREAK

The past week has been a very good one for Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw's documentary The Truffle Hunters.  The film has picked up serious critical and awards season love over the past few weeks including nominations for Best Documentary of the Year from the London Critics Circle Film Awards and the Denver Film Critics Society .  Last week, the film was named Best Documentary by Capri, Hollywood-The International Film Festival.

Additionally, The Truffle Hunters were highlighted this week as a part of Deadline's Contender Series which features an interview with Dweck and Kershaw.

And if all that wasn't enough, Oscar experts are weighing in on the film's chances of ending up with an nomination for Best Documentary.  Currently the Truffle love is showing up in predictions from:

Clayton Davis at Variety who lists the film at #3 on his list of potential Oscar nominees.

Scott Feinberg at The Hollywood Reporter at #5.

Erik Anderson at Awards Watch at #5.

Matt Neglia at Next Best Picture at #8.

NOMADLAND LEADS THE GOTHAMS

TFF #47 selection Nomadland was on top at the recently announced Gotham Awards.  The film picked up wins for Best Feature and the Audience Award.

Other main winners including Riz Ahmed for Best Actor for Sound of Metal.  

Nicole Behaire for Best Actress for Miss Juneteenth.

Kinglsey Ben-Adir as Breakthrough Actor for One Night in Miami.

Variety has the complete list of nominees and winners for the Gothams linked here.

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Oscar Update: Best Actress / Capri Hollywood Honors Two TFF #47 Films / Where to Watch TFF #47 Films

OSCAR UPDATE: BEST ACTRESS

Here are my latest Oscar nomination predictions for Best Actress updated since I last posted this category on  Nov. 23rd.  A performer's past position is indicated to the right in parentheses.  TFF #47 performers are indicated in Bold.

1) Frances McDormand/Nomadland (1)

2) Vanessa Kirby/Pieces of a Woman (2)

3) Viola Davis/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom(3)

4) Carrie Mulligan/Promising Young Woman (4)

5) Andra Day/The United States vs. Billie Holiday (8)

6) Meryl Streep/The Prom (10)

7) Michelle Pfeiffer/French Exit (7)

8) Sophia Loren/The Life Ahead (5)

9) Kate Winslet/Ammonite (6)

10) Amy Adams/Hillbilly Elegy (9)

Other possibles: Meryl Streep/Let Them Talk, Carrie Coon/The Nest

Hot: Andra Day, Meryl Streep

Not: Sophia Loren, Amy Adams

 The next Oscar Update will focus on Best Actor.

CAPRI HOLLYWOOD HONORS TWO TFF #47 SELECTIONS

It was announced this week that Capri Hollywood-The International Film Festival will honor Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw's documentary The Truffle Hunters as well as  Gianfranco Rosi's Notturno.  The Hollywood Reporter ran the story on Dec. 19th.  Both films continue to maintain momentum for potential Oscar consideration

Capri Hollywood will be different this year.  Like many fests, it will be virtual this year.

The complete THR article is linked here.

WHERE TO WATCH TFF #47 FILMS

Telluride Film Festival organizers released information this past week about what platforms, festivals and websites would allow access to the films that were selected for the TFF #47 that might have been.  That list of what is available and where was published at tellurideinside.com

Information also includes theatrical release plans for many of the films on the TFF #47 list.

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Oscar Update: Best Adapted Screenplay / Nomadland Tops World of Reel Poll / Speaking of Nomadland... / New Video for TFF #47 Films / Pollard Talks MLK/FBI / SPC Announces New Release Dates

OSCAR UPDATE: BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Here are my latest Oscar nomination predictions for Best Adapted Screenplay updated since I last posted this category on  Nov. 9th.  A screenplay's past position is indicated to the right in parentheses.  TFF #47 films are indicated in Bold.

1) Nomadland (1)

2) One Night in Miami (2)

3) The Father (3)

4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (4)

5) News of the World (5)

6) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (6)

7) First Cow (8)

8) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (7)

9) The United States vs. Billie Holiday (-)

10) Pieces of a Woman(-)

Other possibles: French Exit, The Mauritanian, Emma, The Personal History of David Copperfield

Hot: The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday, Pieces of a Woman

Not:  Hillbilly Elegy, The Personal History of David Copperfield

NOMADLAND TOPS WORD OF REEL POLL

Jordan Ruimy has collected responses from over 100 film critics who he asked to name the best films of the year.  Chloe Zhao's Nomadland topped the list.  Nomadland was an official selection on the TFF #47 list of films that would have screened had the festival been able to have proceeded.

Other Telluride films that made the list of the 40 best of 2020 included:

#39 Beanpole (TFF #46)

#29 The Climb (TFF #46)

#22 The Father (TFF #47)

#18 The Assistant (TFF #46)

#2 First Cow (TFF #46)

#1 Nomadland (TFF #47)

The complete list is here in Jordan's post.

SPEAKING OF NOMADLAND...

Here's an interview with Variety's Awards Circuit podcast along with a written summary with Nomadland writer/director Chloe Zhao.

Zhao on Varity's awards Circuit podcast.

NEW VIDEO FOR TFF #47 FILMS

Frances Lee's Ammonite starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan has a new trailer as the film has moved to premium video on demand thus past week.  Here's the new trailer from YouTube:

Meanwhile, check out this post from smoothradio.com which includes looks at two new clips from Frank Marshall's documentary The Bee Gees: How Do You Mend a Broken Heart.

POLLARD TALKS MLK/FBI

Director Sam Pollard talked to Variety's Damon Wise for an interview that was posted back on Nov. 29th.  Pollard talks about his doc MLK/FBI that would have played a TFF #47.  The film just screened as a part of the IDFA Film Fest.

Here's the link to that interview .

SPC ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASE DATES

Sony Pictures Classics has announced a new set of release dates for the films currently in their charge including TFF #47 selections The Father and The Truffle Hunters both of which are making serious waves as we move into the expanded awards season.

According to the story from Indiewire:

“The Father,” starring Anthony Hopkins, will now be released February 26, 2021; Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw’s festival darling “The Truffle Hunters” will now be released March 12, 2021"

"Sony Pictures Classics said that all films would still qualify for year-end top 10 lists and awards, meaning that limited qualifying runs remain in play."

The complete article from Indiewire is linked here.

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