Another day, another week in award season. In the last gasp of October, both Nominated for Gotham Award was revealed as was the end of Los Angeles’ AFI Fest. While Gotham Awards is an early indicator of where some favorites lie, remember that these nominations (of which “One Battle After Another” reigned supreme after the previous indie film ceremony eliminated its budget cap) are selected by high-minded clusters of critics and film programmers. They don’t reflect the taste of the Academy, though a number of the films get a boost as voters elsewhere look to see who’s in the running as they prepare their ballots.
In this week’s episode of IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast, co-hosts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio take a look at who got a boost from Gotham’s. The indie spirit of the nonprofit Gotham Film & Media Institute — with awards formally dating back to 1991 — was preserved in best picture picks like “Lurker,” “East of Wall” and “Familiar Touch.” A24’s “Sorry, Baby” and “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” also received multiple nominations in this category and more, but are up against “Sinners,” “Hamnet” and “One Battle After Another,” widely expected to be the top three contenders for best picture at the Oscars. From now on anyway. The race can change like the weather.
“Bugonia,” “Train Dreams” and “The Testament of Ann Lee,” which Searchlight picked up some time after the premiere in Venice, are also up for best picture. Anne finally caught up with “Ann Lee” at AFI Fest and is more of an admirer than a passionate fan; Ryan praises how Mona Fastvold finds a parallel in her own massive directorial effort to the utopia built by the leader of the titular Shaker movement.
Elsewhere at AFI Fest, Craig Brewer’s “Song Sung Blue” made its world premiere to decent reviews. The true story stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman as a pair of down-and-out artists who start a Neil Diamond tribute band. It seems more like a Golden Globes play in the musical/comedy category than an Oscar-bound movie; it won’t be released until Christmas, so potential audience enthusiasm may tip its favor.
All of which is to say that this latest development in the awards race doesn’t mean much. Yet.
Listen to this week’s episode below.
