This week on “Screen Talk,” host Anne Thompson is joined once more by guest Marcus Jones, IndieWire’s Awards Editor, TV & Film, to discuss the last of fall festival season and the beginning of the winter awards calendar.
Comparing notes on their experiences at the 2023 AFI FEST, the pair duel over whether or not opening night film, the world premiere of Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind” starring Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, is worth the watch.
More importantly, Thompson and Jones touch on whether “Memory,” winner of the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival this year, has a shot at any awards nominations now that the film finally secured distribution from new company Ketchup Entertainment. Predictions are also made about the fate of “The Bikeriders,” which was just taken off of Disney’s release calendar, pending the conclusion of the SAG strike.
AFI FEST also gave the duo a chance to see even more Best International Feature submissions, from Cannes winner “Four Daughters” to Italy submission “Io Capitano,” and J.A. Bayona’s “Society of the Snow,” which does a masterful job retelling the story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash landed in the Andes in 1972, and had to take drastic measures to stay alive long enough to be rescued.
Following up on her piece earlier in the week, Thompson shares her thoughts on the Writers Guild of America postponing their annual awards until April, including what impact it may have on the screenplay Oscar races. Meanwhile, Jones explains why the change could provide a boost to television shows eligible for the 2024 Emmys.
Speaking of TV, the host and guest discuss which shows they are currently watching, from upcoming Paramount+ comedy series “Colin from Accounts,” an Australian import, to marquee Disney+ series “Loki,” now midway through its second season.
Lastly, Thompson recommends new documentary release “Beyond Utopia,” a thriller that in part captures a family’s arduous escape from North Korea, while Jones gives kudos to inventive A24 comedy “Dream Scenario” starring Nicolas Cage.
Watch the full episode above or listen to it below.
Screen Talk is produced by Azwan Badruzaman and available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify, and hosted by Megaphone. Browse previous episodes here, subscribe here, and be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear the hosts address specific issues in upcoming editions of Screen Talk.
