Erik Anderson

‘Tron: Ares’ Review: What Kind of Legacy Is This? [C+] As the world marches ever forward into an AI and virtual reality-driven era—one tech moguls and corporations desperately seek to define on their own terms so civilians experience their particular brand of real-life simulacrum—it’s hard not to think a new Tron movie feels rather timely. Then again, with that inevitable trudge of technological progress, Tron has the benefit of always feeling timely.

‘Tron: Ares’ Review: What Kind of Legacy Is This? [C+]

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 309 – ‘The Smashing Machine,’ ‘One Battle’ Box Office and the Screenplay Oscar Categories On episode 309 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello to give brief thoughts on The Smashing Machine, take a look at Oscar contenders at the Fall Box Office, and breakdown their thoughts on the 2026 Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay categories. We are in the middle of the New York Film Festival (more on that next week) and at the beginning of the Mill Valley Film Festival, but festival season is in full swing as movies that premiered earlier in the year are making their way to the theaters with…

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 309 - 'The Smashing Machine,' 'One Battle' Box Office and the Screenplay Oscar Categories

‘Mr. Scorsese’ Review: Rebecca Miller’s Conventional Yet Deeply Tender Docuseries Examines Cinema’s Finest Auteur [B+] NYFF “There is only one Martin Scorsese,” an evergreen statement made by the famed director’s longtime friend and legendary filmmaker in his own rights, Steven Spielberg, kicks off the beginning of Mr. Scorsese, the newest, five-part docuseries from director Rebecca Miller. From the time he released Mean Streets in 1973, Scorsese became a singular voice in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s, making films that would challenge the form, deeply influenced by his Italian-American background and upbringing in the smaller, poorer parts of New York City in the 1940s and 50s.

'Mr. Scorsese' Review: Rebecca Miller's Conventional Yet Deeply Tender Docuseries Examines Cinema's Finest Auteur [B+] NYFF

On October 3rd, I’m asking you to register to vote.

zohranfornyc.com/register

2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announces Full Lineup Including ‘The Chronology of Water,’ ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ ‘No Other Choice’ The Savannah College of Art and Design’s 28th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival will take place October 25–November 1. The largest university-run film festival in the U.S., this eight-day celebration of cinematic excellence honors both professional and student filmmakers and welcomes major industry luminaries, including award-winning directors, writers, and actors. A key stop on the Academy Awards festival circuit, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival will screen 167 films, including 56 narrative feature films, 15 documentary feature films, and 96 short films, with seven world premieres and three U.S.

2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announces Full Lineup Including 'The Chronology of Water,' 'The Testament of Ann Lee,' 'No Other Choice'

Jessie Buckley and Chloé Zhao Q&A for ‘Hamnet’ at the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival Actress Jessie Buckley and Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao discuss their film Hamnet on opening night of the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival with MVFF Director of Programming Zoe Elton. Based on the novel of the same name by Maggie O'Farrell, Hamnet tells the story of Agnes and William Shakespeare and the death of their only son, Hamnet, and how it became the origin of Shakespeare's most recognizable work, Hamlet.

Jessie Buckley and Chloé Zhao Q&A for 'Hamnet' at the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 120 – ‘Floating Weeds’ (Yasujirō Ozu, 1959) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love.

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 120 - 'Floating Weeds' (Yasujirō Ozu, 1959)

2025 New York Film Festival Reviews: ‘After the Hunt,’ ‘Resurrection,’ ‘Sentimental Value’ We are about halfway through the New York Film Festival, aka the longest film festival of the year if you combine the press screening week leading up to the opening night film that then extends NYFF to almost a month long event for some who get to explore some of the best cinema of the year screening in the Lincoln Center area of town.

2025 New York Film Festival Reviews: 'After the Hunt,' 'Resurrection,' 'Sentimental Value'

2025 New York Film Festival Reviews: ‘Peter Hujar’s Day,’ ‘Late Fame,’ ‘Jay Kelly,’ Anemone,’ ‘It Was Just an Accident’ and More | NYFF Peter Hujar's Day (A-) On December 19, 1974, writer Linda Rosenkrantz set out to interview wispy gay photographer Peter Hujar in her New York apartment, an interview that never ended up seeing publication. Meandering but purposeful, director Ira Sachs, with cinematographer frame Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and Rosencrantz (Rebecca Hall) with the closeness needed in the narrow, multi-level abode, letting us absorb the gorgeous detail of Stephen Phelps' production design and the minimalist costuming by Eric Daman and Khadija Zeggaï.

2025 New York Film Festival Reviews: 'Peter Hujar's Day,' 'Late Fame,' 'Jay Kelly,' Anemone,' 'It Was Just an Accident' and More | NYFF

‘Rental Family’ to Close 13th Middleburg Film Festival; ‘Eternity,’ ‘The Secret Agent’ Set as Spotlights Additional Honorees Include Joel Edgerton, Kleber Mendoça Filho, Nina Hoss, Zoey Deutch, Noah Oppenheim and Kate Hawley  The Middleburg Film Festival announced additional programming today for its 13th edition which will run October 16-19, including Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family as the Closing Film with director HIKARI attending to participate in a post-screening Q&A. Set in modern-day Tokyo, the film follows an American actor played by Brendan Fraser who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers.

'Rental Family' to Close 13th Middleburg Film Festival; 'Eternity,' 'The Secret Agent' Set as Spotlights

52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today revealed an exciting lineup of presenters from across the world of Daytime television who will take the stage at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The ceremony will stream live at watch.theemmys.tv and via The Emmys app. 

52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

Billy Connolly, Deborah L. Scott to Receive Golden Key Awards at 2025 Key West Film Festival (Exclusive) The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its Golden Key Award For Artistic Excellence, honoring legendary comedian and performer Billy Connolly. The festival also celebrates its tenth annual Golden Key Award for Excellence in Costume Design, honoring Award-nominated costume designer Deborah L. Scott. The festival runs November 12-16. The full program will be announced October 8. Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival, commented: “What can’t Billy Connolly do?

Billy Connolly, Deborah L. Scott to Receive Golden Key Awards at 2025 Key West Film Festival (Exclusive)

2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Dylan O’Brien and Tessa Thompson Award presentations to take place alongside screenings of Frankenstein, Hedda, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Is This Thing On?, The Life of Chuck, Nouvelle Vague, Sinners, The Smashing Machine, Train Dreams, and Twinless. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announced its first list of honorees for the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, taking place October 25–November 1.

2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Dylan O'Brien and Tessa Thompson

Jason Blum to Receive Milestone Award at 2026 Producers Guild Awards The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that Jason Blum will be honored with the Milestone Award. He will accept the award at the 37th Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The PGA’s Milestone Award honors individuals or teams who have made historic contributions to the entertainment industry. Recipients of the Milestone Award include Hollywood legends Louis B.

Jason Blum to Receive Milestone Award at 2026 Producers Guild Awards

2nd San Quentin Film Festival (SQFF) Announces Lineup The San Quentin Film Festival (SQFF25) today announced its Official Selections across the Feature, Documentary, and Narrative Shorts categories. The festival - the first ever held inside a U.S. prison - will take place October 23-24 at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in Marin County, California. The festival was founded by Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, a filmmaker who was previously incarcerated at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and San Quentin volunteer Cori Thomas (no relation), a playwright, author and WGA member.

2nd San Quentin Film Festival (SQFF) Announces Lineup

Alina Simone, Marlén Viñayo Receive 2025 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women Alina Simone and Marlén Viñayo have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women. Part of the Academy’s global talent development and education work, the Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year program that combines support, personalized mentorship and access to once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities for emerging women filmmakers to further their pursuits in the field of cinema.

Alina Simone, Marlén Viñayo Receive 2025 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women

‘Anemone’ Review: Daniel Day-Lewis is a Force of Nature in this Modern, Familial Folktale [B] When Daniel Day-Lewis shared that he was taking a break from acting after completing Phantom Thread, many wondered what he would do next. Was he really abandoning the silver screen, or did he just need the right project to come along to inspire him again? When it was announced that he would be returning after an eight-year hiatus to star in and serve as a co-writer on his son Ronan Day-Lewis’ feature directorial debut, …

'Anemone' Review: Daniel Day-Lewis is a Force of Nature in this Modern, Familial Folktale [B]

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 118 – ‘Good Morning’ (Yasujirō Ozu, 1959) with Special Guest Ross Bonaime Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love.

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 118 - 'Good Morning' (Yasujirō Ozu, 1959) with Special Guest Ross Bonaime

AFI FEST 2025 Adds Gala Screenings of ‘Jay Kelly,’ ‘Nuremberg,’ ‘Dead Man’s Wire,’ ‘Christy’ AFI FEST has added four glitzy, red carpet premieres for the 39th edition of the festival: Netflix's Jay Kelly, Sony Pictures Classics' Nuremberg, Row K Entertainment's Dead Man's Wire and Black Bear's Christy. The Jay Kelly Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 23; Nuremberg on Friday, October 24; Dead Man’s Wire on the afternoon of Saturday, October 25, and 

AFI FEST 2025 Adds Gala Screenings of 'Jay Kelly,' 'Nuremberg,' 'Dead Man's Wire,' 'Christy'

Trailer Watch: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ ‘A House of Dynamite,’ ‘In Your Dreams,’ ‘Greenland 2,’ ‘Wicked: For Good’ A batch of hot, new trailer dropped this week, with enough fire, explosions, tension, singing and animated wonder to satisfy nearly anyone. Check out new looks of Avatar: Fire and Water, A House of Dynamite, In Your Dreams, Greenland 2: Migration and Wicked: For Good below. With Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family.

Trailer Watch: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' 'A House of Dynamite,' 'In Your Dreams,' 'Greenland 2,' 'Wicked: For Good'

2026 Oscar Predictions: INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM (September) With more nominations than any other country, France is in a unique position this year. Back with another Cannes winner (but without the baggage that Emilia Pérez brought last season), Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident came away with the Palme d'Or from the Juliette Binoche-led jury and has NEON backing it. With this choice, Panahi becomes only the third non-French director to be chosen in the 70+ years the country has been in competition.

2026 Oscar Predictions: INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM (September)

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 308 – The International Feature Film Oscar Race and Previewing the 63rd New York Film Festival On episode 308 of the AwardsWatch podcast, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello look at the competitive International Feature Film contenders and provide a preview of some of the major titles coming to the 63rd New York Film Festival. With more than 70 countries having submitted films for the International Feature Film Oscar so far, now was a good time to look at the frontrunners like…

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 308 - The International Feature Film Oscar Race and Previewing the 63rd New York Film Festival

2026 Oscar Predictions: ADAPTED SCREENPLAY and ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (September) Coming in late with screenplay predictions this season, largely to see if any 'is it adapted or original' contenders could get ironed out but there doesn't really seem to be any that are going to wrinkle the lineup. One Battle After Another, while very far from Thomas Pynchon's "Vineland," has an 'inspired by' credit in the film and that's more than enough.

2026 Oscar Predictions: ADAPTED SCREENPLAY and ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (September)

Film at Lincoln Center Announces ‘Talks’ for 63rd New York Film Festival, Including Jafar Panahi, Claire Denis, Noah Baumbach Film at Lincoln Center has revealed the Talks for the 63rd New York Film Festival, including Jafar Panahi, who returns to the New York Film Festival in person for the first time in 25 years. Newly expanded to include ticketed events at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center and Alice Tully Hall, as well as free talks in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Amphitheater, the NYFF63 Talks program complements the film selection with a robust lineup of lively and in-depth conversations among NYFF artists and special guests.

Film at Lincoln Center Announces 'Talks' for 63rd New York Film Festival, Including Jafar Panahi, Claire Denis, Noah Baumbach

Rose Kuo Named Artistic Director of California Film Institute and the Mill Valley Film Festival The California Film Institute (CAFILM) has named Rose Kuo as Artistic Director, a newly created leadership position established earlier this year to guide the organization’s artistic vision and ensure a seamless program leadership transition in the years ahead. Kuo is an internationally recognized leader in cinematic arts with a broad background in film festival programming and curatorial work. She previously served as Executive Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the New York Film Festival, was Publisher of 

Rose Kuo Named Artistic Director of California Film Institute and the Mill Valley Film Festival

Nick Corirossi, Armen Weitzman, Jamar Neighbors, and Mike Mitchell Talk Willing a Franchise into Existence with ‘The Napa Boys’ [VIDEO INTERVIEW] The Napa Boys are back! That’s the central premise for the new niche as hell comedy from co-writers and stars Nick Corirossi (who also directs) and Armen Weitzman, The Napa Boys, a movie that devises its own cinematic universe and inherent real-world fandom over 90 minutes of abrasively polarizing humor. Don’t let the title fool you — this is not the first…

Nick Corirossi, Armen Weitzman, Jamar Neighbors, and Mike Mitchell Talk Willing a Franchise into Existence with ‘The Napa Boys’ [VIDEO INTERVIEW]

Tonatiuh (‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’) to Receive MVFF Award at 48th Mill Valley Film Festival The Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF48) will present a Spotlight Program honoring Tonatiuh, recipient of a 2025 MVFF Award, for his transformative artistry in Bill Condon’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, "bringing emotional depth and fearless authenticity to a role that resonates on both personal and cultural levels." As part of the Spotlight celebration, MVFF48 will present a screening of 

Tonatiuh ('Kiss of the Spider Woman') to Receive MVFF Award at 48th Mill Valley Film Festival

‘Bad Apples’ Review: The Kids Are Not All Right as Saoirse Ronan Snaps in Audacious Satire of the Education System [B+] TIFF The phrase "a rotten apple spoils the barrel” has been around for centuries, a warning to show how even one corrupt or troublesome individual can affect a large group or that a select few aren’t necessarily representative of the whole. At first, Jonatan Etzler’s Bad Apples is a fun exploration of this black comedy trope. Primary school teacher Maria Spencer (Saiorse Ronan) struggles to control Danny (Eddie Waller), a capricious student who uses every possible moment to wreak havoc in her classroom.

'Bad Apples' Review: The Kids Are Not All Right as Saoirse Ronan Snaps in Audacious Satire of the Education System [B+] TIFF

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 117 – ‘Tokyo Twilight’ (Yasujirō Ozu, 1957) with Special Guest Matthew Huff Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision-making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love.

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 117 - 'Tokyo Twilight' (Yasujirō Ozu, 1957) with Special Guest Matthew Huff

2026 Oscar Predictions: SUPPORTING ACTRESS (September) If you're seeing double, don't worry. If you're seeing double, don't worry. This month feature no less than three films with at least two supporting contenders that could create the puzzle pieces for this category come January. One Battle After Another and Sentimental Value are the major players in the running for dual nominations as Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti explode on the scene while Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning have been here since Cannes.

2026 Oscar Predictions: SUPPORTING ACTRESS (September)