CinemaHounds - A Lorehounds Podcast

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings (this episode)

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers)

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTA shorts

BAFTA features

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Acting (Lead & Supporting) + Casting

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 06:35:50 +0000

Elysia wraps up the CinemaHounds pre-Oscars prep series with special guest Paulo from the Oscar's Death Race Podcast and a deep dive into the acting categories: Best Actress, Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Who's nominated, who should have been nominated, and who will win?

And then they conclude with a look at this year's brand new category: Casting. What is it, why is it here, and who will take home the first statue?

Join us on the Lorehounds Discord (see link.tree below) to discuss all this and more in the #awards-season channel – plus a live chat while the ceremony is airing!

And send your hot takes about the ceremony to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com to be included in the wrap-up discussion!

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Check out the Oscars Death Race Podcast w/ Paulo!

The nominees:

Best Actress (00:16:37)

Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Rose Byrne as Linda – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (HBO Max, our coverage [subscribers])
Kate Hudson as Clare Lavinia – Song Sung Blue (Peacock)
Renate Reinsve as Nora Borg – Sentimental Value(to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller – Bugonia (Peacock)

Best Actor (01:05:52)

Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser – Marty Supreme (to rent)
Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart – Blue Moon (Netflix)
Michael B. Jordan as Elijah "Smoke" Moore / Elias "Stack" Moore – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Wagner Moura as Armando Solimões / Marcelo Alves / Fernando Solimões – The Secret Agent (Hulu)

Best Supporting Actor (01:40:53)

Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav Borg – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Benicio del Toro as Sergio St. Carlos – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Sean Penn as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Jacob Elordi as the Creature – Frankenstein (Netflix, our coverage)

Best Supporting Actress (01:58:26)

Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Wunmi Mosaku as Annie – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes Borg Pettersen – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys – Weapons (HBO Max, our coverage)

Best Casting (02:14:46)

Francine Maisler – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Nina Gold – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (to rent)
Gabriel Domingues – The Secret Agent (Hulu)

Other performances discussed:

Mikey Madison in Anora (2024, Oscar win, Hulu [US] / Skyshowtime [EU]) & The Social Reckoning (2026, releases Oct 9)
Jessie Buckley in The Bride! (2026, in theaters), The Lost Daughter (2021, Oscar nom, Netflix), Wicked Little Letters (2024, Hulu / etc.), Men (2022, Prime / etc.), Dolittle (2020, Prime), Fargo S4 (TV, 2020, Hulu [US], Netflix [EU]), & Chernobyl (TV, 2019, HBO)
Co-writer/editor Ronald Bronstein of Marty Supreme (to rent) – Rose Byrne in Bridesmaids (2011, Starz) & Insidious (2010, HBO Max)
Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000, Oscar nom, HBO Max ) – the true Song Sung Blue story in Song Sung Blue (2008, doc, YouTube)
Renate Reinsve in The Worst Person in the World (2021, Tubi / etc.); w/ Sebastian Stan in A Different Man (2024, HBO Max) & Fjord (2026, to premiere at Cannes); w/ Lily Rose Depp & Hoyeon in The Governesses (release TBD); & in Backrooms (2026, in theaters May 29)
Emma Stone in Birdman (2015, Oscar nom, Hulu / Disney+), La La Land (2017, Oscar win, Prime [US] / Netflix [EU]), in Lanthimos films The Favourite (2019, Oscar nom, Disney+ [EU] / HBO [EU] / to rent) & Poor Things (2024, Oscar win, BP Oscar nom, Disney+ [EU] / to rent)
Chase Infiniti in One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3) – Amanda Seyfried & Lewis Pullman in The Testament of Ann Lee (to rent) – Cynthia Erivo & Ariane Grande in Wicked: For Good (to rent, our coverage)

Adrien Brody in The Brutalist (2024, Oscar win, HBO Max [US] / Skyshowtime [EU]) & The Pianist (2002, Oscar win, Prime / etc.)
Timothée Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name (2018, Oscar nom, HBO Max), A Complete Unknown (2024, Oscar nom & BP nom, Disney+), & Dune: Part Three (2026, in theaters Dec 18) – Tom Cruise in Digger (2026, in theaters Oct 2)
Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic (1997, Disney+ / etc.), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, Oscar nom, Paramount+ / etc.), The Aviator (2004, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), The Revenant (2015, Oscar win, Hulu / Disney+), Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019, Oscar nom, YouTube / etc.), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023, Apple TV), What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993, Oscar nom, Paramount+ / etc.), & Blood Diamond (2006, Oscar nom, Paramount+ [US] / Prime [EU])
Ethan Hawke in Training Day (2001, Oscar nom, Starz [US], Prime [EU]), Before Sunrise (1995, writing Oscar nom, Prime [EU] / to rent), Before Sunset (2004, writing Oscar nom, to rent), Boyhood (2014, Oscar nom, AMC+ / etc.)
Michael B. Jordan in Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2018 & 2022, Disney+, our coverage) – Nicholas Cage in Adaptation (2002, Oscar nom, to rent) – Robert Aramayo as John Davidson in I Swear (2026, in theaters Apr 24 [US] / Netflix [UK])
Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here (2024, Oscar nom, Netflix [US] / Prime [NL]) – Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station (1998, Oscar nom, to rent) – Brazilian film The Blue Trail (to rent) – Wagner Moura in Narcos S1&2 (TV, 2015-2016, Netflix) & Civil War (2024, Prime, our coverage)
Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams (Netflix) – Jesse Plemmons in Bugonia (Peacock) – Lee Byung-hun in No Other Choice (to rent) – Dylan O’Brien in Twinless (Hulu / to rent) – Ryo Yoshizawa in Kokuho (in theaters) – Jackson Yee in Resurrection (to rent, Elysia’s review)

Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain (2024, Oscar win, Disney+)
Stellan Skarsgård in Andor (TV, 2022 & 2025, Disney+)
Benicio del Toro in Traffic (2000, Oscar nom, to rent) & 21 Grams (2003, Oscar nom, to rent) – Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking (1995, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), Sweet & Lowdown (1999, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), I Am Sam (2001, Oscar nom, YouTube), Mystic River (2003, Oscar win, Netflix [EU] / to rent), Milk (2008, Oscar win, to rent)
Delroy Lindo in Da 5 Bloods (2020, infamous snub, Netflix)
Oscar Isaac in Frankenstein (Netflix, our coverage) – Jacob Elordi in Wuthering Heights (2026, in theaters)
Adam Sandler in Jay Kelly (Netflix) – Miles Caton & Jack O’Connell in Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage) – Paul Mescal in Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez (2024, Oscar win, Netflix, our coverage)
Amy Madigan in Twice in a Lifetime (1985, Oscar nom, to rent)
Odessa A’zion in Marty Supreme (to rent)

Lynn Stalmaster: the only Casting Director to have received an Academy Award to date, for 395 films, from the ‘70s/’80s Superman films through Weekend at Bernie’s and beyond
Casting category shortlist (misses): Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Sirāt, Weapons, Wicked: For Good
Paulo’s favorite nominated film this year: Kokuho

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting (this episode)

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers)

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTA shorts

BAFTA features

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Original & Adapted Screenplay + Best Director

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:31:33 +0000

Writer and photographer Katherine Oktober Matthews joins Elysia to discuss this year's writing and directing nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards. After they each unleash some of their hottest takes breaking down the three categories, they reconvene after the credits for a separate spoiler-filled discussion of eight of the nominees (01:47:05).

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free (until the separate post-credits spoiler section)!

Links discussed:

Katherine's writing and photography
Elsewhere: A Personal Essay in Words and Photos
The Emotion Mixer
Oscars 2025: Live-Action Shorts & the Emotion Mixer (with Katherine)
The Craft (1996) & The Craft: Legacy (2020) (with Katherine)
Interview w/ Hamnet author – Not Just the Tudors podcast

Subscriber bonuses:

What is real witchcraft? (with Marilyn, and a Katherine double-Macbeth cameo)
Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers)

The nominees:

Best Original Screenplay (00:10:37.453)

Ryan Coogler – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Josh Safdie & Ronald Bronstein – Marty Supreme (to rent)
Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Jafar Panahi w/ Mehdi Mahmoudian, Shadmehr Rastin, & Nader Saïvar – It Was Just an Accident (Hulu)
Robert Kaplow – Blue Moon (Netflix)

Best Adapted Screenplay (00:45:19.607)

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3) – based on: The novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon
Chloé Zhao & Maggie O'Farrell – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers]) – based on: The novel Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix, our coverage) – based on: The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams (Netflix) – based on: The novella Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
Will Tracy – Bugonia (Peacock) – based on: The film Save the Green Planet! (2003) by Jang Joon-hwan

Best Director (01:25:21)

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (to rent)

Other films mentioned: Fruitvale Station (2013, Starz), Creed (2015, to rent), Uncut Gems (2019, Netflix), The Smashing Machine (Prime), The Worst Person in the World (2021, Kanopy / Tubi / etc.), Me and Orson Welles (2008, Plex / to rent), Twinless (Hulu), No Other Choice (to rent), The Long Walk (Starz, to rent), Civil War (2024, Prime / Hulu, our coverage), Shakespeare in Love (1998, Paramount+ / etc.), Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein (1931 & 1935, YouTube, our coverage), Sing Sing (2024, Prime), CODA (2021 [BP winner], Apple), La Familie Bélier (2014, YouTube), Phantom Thread (2017, Mubi [NL] / to rent), Nonnas (Netflix); hive minds (TV): Star Trek: The Next Generation (Paramount+) & Pluribus (Apple)

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director (this episode)

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers)

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTA shorts

BAFTA features

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Tech awards: Cinematography, VFX, Editing, & Sound

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:55:16 +0000

Assistant directing and lighting industry professional, and the host of the ContraZoom podcast, Dakota Arsenault joins Elysia to get into the technical details behind this year's Oscar nominees for Cinematography, Visual Effects, Film Editing, and Sound. They look at why a movie is nominated, what makes it special, and others they would have liked to see make the cut. Stick around after their conversation for updates (02:17:37) on these races!

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

Explore the ContraZoom podcast and blog
One Sentimental Bugonia After Another (audio, Elysia guests)
Elysia's ContraZoom review of Resurrection
Corridor Crew's Oscar VFX nominees review
Inside Sinners' VFX
Sirāt sound design (video)

Cinematography nominees (00:05:01)

Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams – trailer (Netflix)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage)
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Darius Khondji – Marty Supreme – trailer (to rent)
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein – trailer (Netflix, our coverage)

Other films mentioned: The French Connection (1971, Disney+ [EU] / to rent, our coverage [subscribers]), Sound of Falling (eventually Mubi), Ballad of a Small Player (Netflix), Resurrection (to rent), No Other Choice (to rent / Netflix [Korea] / later Hulu [US]), The Long Walk (Starz / to rent), Materialists (Netflix)

Visual Effects nominees (00:51:46)

Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash – trailer (in theaters, eventually Disney+)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage)
Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen, Brandon K. McLaughlin – The Lost Bus – trailer (Apple TV)
David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan, Neil Corbould – Jurassic World Rebirth – trailer (Netflix [US], Skyshowtime [NL])
Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington, Keith Dawson – F1 – trailer (Apple TV)

Other films mentioned: Tron: Ares (Disney+), The Creator (2023, Prime, our coverage), Monsters (2010, Prime / Tubi / etc.), The Electric State (Netflix), Superman (HBO Max, our coverage), Predator: Badlands (Disney+, our coverage), Thunderbolts* (Disney+, our coverage), The Fantastic 4: First Steps (Disney+, our coverage), Warfare (Prime), Mickey 17 (HBO Max)

Film Editing nominees (01:29:57)

Stephen Mirrione – F1 – trailer (Apple TV)
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme – trailer (to rent)
Michael P. Shawver – Sinners – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage)
Olivier Bugge Coutté – Sentimental Value – trailer (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])

Other films mentioned: If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (HBO Max, our coverage [subscribers]), Better Man (2024, Prime / Paramount+), Black Bag (Prime [USA] / Skyshowtime [EU]), 28 Years Later (Netflix, our coverage), Good Boy (AMC+ / Shudder / etc.), Sore: A Wife from the Future (YouTube)

Sound nominees (01:55:54)

Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 – trailer (Apple TV)
Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas, Yasmina Praderas – Sirāt – trailer (to rent: Mar 24, later Hulu [US])
Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker – Sinners – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage)
José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another – trailer (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern – Frankenstein – trailer (Netflix, our coverage)

Other films mentioned: Wicked: For Good (to rent, our coverage), Superman (HBO Max, our coverage), Predator: Badlands (Disney+, our coverage), Warfare (Prime)

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound (this episode)

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

The Hamnet Rihanna dance take

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Best Original Song & Score – Nevermind the Oscars Music

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:37:11 +0000

Mark returns to the CinemaHounds Oscars coverage series for the second annual "Nevermind the Oscars Music" crossover special discussing not only this year's crop of Original Song and Original Score nominees but also their musical influences, lookalikes, and others they would have liked to have seen on the ballot. Expect plenty of clips from an eclectic collection of genre with deep-digging analysis of their role in this year's nominated films.

Best Original Song (00:10:11)
Best Original Score (01:24:36)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

Nevermind the Music:

Max Richter's "Undiscovered Country" and Hamnet / Arrival (AV Club)

Best Original Song nominees:

“Golden” – Ejae, Ido, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Mark Sonnenblick, Teddy & 24 (music & lyrics) – KPop Demon Hunters – trailer, info (Netflix)
“I Lied to You” – Ludwig Göransson & Raphael Saadiq (music & lyrics) – Sinners – trailer, info (HBO Max)
“Dear Me” – Diane Warren (music & lyrics) – Diane Warren: Relentless – trailer, info (Hoopla, Kanopy)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave & Bryce Dessner (music); Cave (lyrics) – Train Dreams – trailer, info (Netflix)
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” – Nicholas Pike (music & lyrics) – Viva Verdi! – trailer, info (Jolt)

Also discussed:

“Free” – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
“Exile” – Bon Iver/Taylor Swift (album: Folklore, 2020) – produced by Aaron Dessner (etc.)
“I Need My Girl” – The National (album: Trouble Will Find Me, 2013) – written by Aaron & Bryce Dessner (etc.)
“Our Love” – The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime) – from the shortlist
“Falling Slowly” – Once (2006, to rent)
“Silver Dagger”, “Here in the Vineyard”, theme – The History of Sound (Mubi)
“Và pensiero”
– Giuseppe Verdi (opera: Nabucco, 1842)

Best Original Score nominees:

Sinners (Ludwig Göransson) – trailer, info (HBO Max)
One Battle After Another (Jonny Greenwood) – trailer, info (HBO Max)
Bugonia (Jerskin Fendrix) – trailer, info (Peacock)
Hamnet (Max Richter) – trailer, info (to rent, later Peacock)
Frankenstein (Alexandre Desplat) – trailer, info (Netflix)

Also discussed: Tron: Ares (Disney+) – soundtrack – from the shortlist

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Score & Original Song (this episode)

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

This year's 35 Oscar-eligible features

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Animated Features – the year 2025 in animation

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 08:05:33 +0000

Elysia and guest Logan take a tour that begins with this year's five Oscar-animated features before turning to other highlights from the surprisingly short eligibility list, the most surprising exclusions from the eligibility list, and Logan's thoughts on this year's animated shorts and a few final recommendations and general Oscar picks and predictions.

Origin and rules (00:03:49)
The five nominees (00:11:57)
The biggest snubs (01:17:34)
Beyond the eligibility list (01:46:43)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (with Logan)

Last year's Tech categories (with Logan)

Animated Feature nominees:

KPop Demon Hunters (USA) – info (Netflix)
Zootopia 2 (USA) – info (to rent, later Disney+)
Elio (USA) – info (Disney+)
Arco (France, USA) – info (to rent)
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Belgium, Japan) – info (to rent)

Other films discussed: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021, USA, Plex / to rent), Hoppers (2026, USA, in theaters)

Lost in Starlight (Korea, Netflix), The Bad Guys 2 (USA, Peacock / SkyShowtime), Scarlet (Japan, to rent soon), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006, Japan, HBO Max), Belle (2021, Japan, HBO Max), In Your Dreams (USA, Netflix), Boys Go to Jupiter (USA, HBO Max), Endless Cookie (Canada, to rent), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (Japan, to rent soon), Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Japan, to rent), 100 Meters (Japan, Netflix)

Ne Zha 2 (China, HBO Max), Lesbian Space Princess (Australia, various streamers), The Colors Within (Japan, HBO Max), Predator: Killer of Killers (USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), Predator: Badlands (live action, USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [public]), Prey (2022, live-action, USA, Disney+/Hulu, our coverage [subscriber bonus])

“The Three Sisters”* (Russia/”Cyprus” [no spoken language], trailer), “Butterfly”* (France, YouTube), “Forevergreen”* (USA, YouTube), “Retirement Plan”* (Ireland, YouTube [US] / Disney+ [NL]), “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”* (Canada, YouTube: English, French), “Snow Bear” (USA, YouTube), “Playing God” (Italian / French, Vimeo), “Hurikán” (Czechia, Vimeo)

The Girl Who Stole Time (China, trailer, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), Another World (Hong Kong, trailer, our coverage [subscriber bonus]), The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (USA, Netflix)

*Nominated in the Animated Shorts category.

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Animated Features (this episode)

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Documentary Features – All the year's best docs

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:23:50 +0000

Elysia is joined by documentary and TV editor Rebecca June Lane (IMDb) to break down highlight's from the year in documentary filmmaking, starting with this year's Oscar nominees and expanding to recommendations (or anti-recommendations) for more of the most talked about 2025 documentaries and beyond.

The five nominees, and related docs (00:06:58)
More recommendations (01:11:21)
More fun docs (01:29:43)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Documentary Feature nominees:

Come See Me in the Good Light (USA) – trailer, info (Apple TV)
Cutting Through Rocks (Iran) – trailer, info (DocPlay in June)
Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Russia) – trailer, info (to rent)
The Perfect Neighbor (USA) – trailer, info (Netflix)
The Alabama Solution (USA) – trailer, info (HBO Max)

Other films discussed: André Is an Idiot (USA, in theaters: Mar 6 [US]), Viva Verdi! (Italy, Jolt.film), Prime Minister (New Zealand, HBO Max), My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow* (Russia, Mubi: Apr 3), 2000 Meters to Andriivka* (Ukraine, to rent), Coexistence, My Ass!* (Israel/Palestine, on tour), Holding Liat* (Israel/USA, NPO [NL] / select theaters [US]), The House I Live In (2012, USA, to buy), “Classroom 4” (USA, PBS), “Armed with Only a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud” (USA/global, HBO Max), Apocalypse in the Tropics* (Brazil, Netflix), Yanuni* (Brazil, to rent: Eventive), Predators (USA, Paramount+), The Librarians (USA, PBS), “The ABCs of Book Banning” (2023, USA, Paramount+ / Roku), I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (Czechoslovakia/Japan, Metrograph), Cover-Up* (USA/global, Netflix), Vice Is Broke (USA/global, Mubi), Riefenstahl (Germany, Hoopla / Kanopy / Kino / to rent), The Propagandist (The Netherlands, NPO [NL] / to rent: OVD [US]), Afternoons of Solitude (Spain, Mubi / to rent), “Marion” (2024, Spain, Vimeo), Grand Theft Hamlet (USA, Mubi), Diane Warren: Relentless (USA, Hoopla / Kanopy / to rent), The Life Ahead (2020, fiction, Italy, Netflix), Tell it Like a Woman (2022, fiction, various countries, YouTube / etc.), Sally (USA/space, Disney+/Hulu), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (USA, Kanopy / Kino / to rent), Deaf President Now! (USA, Apple), My Mom Jayne (USA [mostly], HBO Max), LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (USA, NPO [NL] / Hoopla / Kino / to rent), Secret Mall Apartment (USA, Netflix), Unknown Number: The Highschool Catfish (USA, Netflix)

*Other shortlisted doc features: Folktales (Norway, Kanopy / to rent), Mistress Dispeller (China, Kanopy / to rent), Seeds (USA, on tour)

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Documentary Features (this episode)

Score & Original Song

Animated Features

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl)

Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – International Film – Nominees and beyond

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:07:38 +0000

Elysia is joined by Mexican film critic Héctor Serrano to tour the best cinema of the year from around the world, from this year's five Oscar nominees to highlights from the shortlist and beyond:

Best International Film – history & rules (0:04:02)
The 5 nominees (0:16:54)
Shortlisted films (01:02:55)
Other awards & more recs (01:26:16)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Find Héctor Serrano at: El Cinéfilo Latino

Nominees Discussed:

International Film nominees:

It Was Just an Accident (France [Iran]) – trailer, info (VoD)
The Secret Agent (Brazil) – trailer, info (VoD, theaters)
Sentimental Value (Norway) – trailer, info (VoD)
Sirāt (Spain) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD likely March)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia [Palestine]) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD March 10)

Other films discussed: A Useful Ghost (Thailand; to rent), The Sea (Israel; to rent), No Other Choice (South Korea; to rent), “Close Your Eyes, Hind” (The Netherlands [Palestine]; NPO [NL only]), Four Daughters (2023, Tunisia; Hoopla, Kanpoy, Kino), The President’s Cake (Iraq), Sound of Falling (Germany), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan; Netflix), Kokuho (Japan), Homebound (India; Netflix), All That’s Left of You (Jordan [Palestine]; to rent), Nouvelle Vague (France; Netflix), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia; HBO Max), A Poet (Colombia), Rietland (The Netherlands; to rent [NL]; Elysia’s review), The Propagandist (The Netherlands; NPO [NL]), We Shall Not Be Moved (Mexico; Disney/Hulu, Kanopy), The Things You Kill (Canada [Turkey]; Hoopla, Filo), Banzo (Portugal), Sore: Wife from the Future (Indonesia), The Ugly Stepsister (Norway; Hulu, AMC+, Shudder, Mubi, Philo), The Last Viking (Denmark), Resurrection (China; Elysia’s review), Magellan (The Phillippines [Portugal])

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

International Features (this episode)

Documentary Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Animated Features

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl)

Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:51:03 +0000

Elysia is joined by Lisa (aka RedZippy) to put her theater and costume expertise to work evaluating this year's line-up in the 2026 Oscars' three art-direction categories: Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling – the last of which especially is secretly one of the most exciting list of nominees in the race.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Nominees Discussed:

Production Design (00:04:35)

Marty Supreme – Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis – trailer – to rent, later HBO Max
Sinners – Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne – trailer – HBO Max
Frankenstein – Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau – trailer – Netflix
Hamnet – Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton – trailer – to rent, later Peacock
One Battle After Another – Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino – trailer – HBO Max

Other films discussed: The Fantastic 4: First Steps (our coverage), Tron: Ares, Wicked: For Good (our coverage), Hedda, The Testament of Ann Lee, Kiss of the Spider Woman

Costume Design (00:50:13)

Avatar: Fire and Ash – Deborah L. Scott – trailer – in theaters, eventually Disney+
Sinners – Ruth E. Carter – trailer – HBO Max
Frankenstein – Kate Hawley – trailer – Netflix
Marty Supreme – Miyako Bellizzi – trailer – to rent, later HBO Max
Hamnet – Malgosia Turzanska – trailer – to rent, later Peacock

Makeup & Hairstyling (01:12:19)

Sinners – Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, and Shunika Terry – trailer – HBO Max
Frankenstein – Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey – trailer – Netflix
The Smashing Machine – Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin, and Bjoern Rehbein – trailer – HBO Max
Kokuho – Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino, and Tadashi Nishimatsu – trailer – in theaters
The Ugly Stepsister – Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg – trailer – Hulu, Shudder, Mubi, AMC+

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair (this episode)

International Features

Documentary Features

Score & Original Song

Animated Features

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

British Academy Film Awards 2026 preview – BAFTAs Bonus

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:17:18 +0000

The 2026 British Academy Film Awards (better known as the BAFTAs) are airing this Sunday, February 22nd at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – and, in this episode, Elysia will ensure that you recognize all of the nominees so you can make your own picks and predictions as to who will win, and how that will affect the Oscar voting that begins four days later.

Or just listen along to find out what's been dubbed the best British (and international) films of the year and discover which titles you need to add to your own watchlist.

Chapters

Rising Star award: voted by public (00:06:50)
Best Film (00:19:54)
Outstanding British Film (00:26:29)
Outstanding Debut (00:48:07)
Film Not in English (00:57.18)
Acting & Casting awards: (01:05:50)
Directing & Screenplay awards (01:25:09)
Score & Production Design awards (01:33:46)
Tech awards (01:45:39)
Documentary award (02:01:18)
Animation & Family awards (02:13:05)
Top 10 (non-Oscar) films (02:26:08)

Elysia's top 10 BAFTA-only films for Lorehounds

28 Years Later (Netflix)
Left-Handed Girl* (LL) & No Other Choice* (VoD)
Wicked: For Good (VoD)
Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
Superman* (HBO)
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime, VoD) & Mickey 17 (HBO)
Pillion (UK: VoD)
I Swear (UK: VoD)
Steve (Netflix)
Tie: Rental Family* (Hulu, VoD) & Hedda* (Prime)
Honorable mention on behalf of Marilyn: The Choral* (VoD) + the similar(ish) Mr. Burton (iPlayer)

*From the longlists / not nominated.

Find the full list of 2026 BAFTA nominees here

The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) will air Sunday, February 22, 2025 at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – check where you can watch in your country!

Check your extended stats (including the BAFTA nominees and longlists) on DeathRaceTracking.com

BAFTA films covered

One Battle After Another (pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3), Sinners, Frankenstein, Wicked: For Good, 28 Years Later, Weapons*, The Fantastic 4: First Steps*, Superman*

For subscribers:

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin: Sentimental Value, Arco, Left-Handed Girl*, Rental Family*

*From the longlists / not nominated.

Non-Oscars awards coverage

Independent Spirit Awards preview

BAFTAs preview (this episode)

Oscars 2026 coverage

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Documentary Features

Animated Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX

Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Independent Spirit Awards 2026 preview – Awards Season Bonus

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:36:26 +0000

Whether or not you plan to watch along when the 2026 Spirit Awards air this Sunday, February 15 (or later), Elysia will walk you through everything you need to know: what's nominated in what categories, what overlaps are there with the Oscars, and what hidden gems might you want to check out.

Chapters

Emerging Filmmaker Awards jury prizes (00:02:40)
Special Awards jury prizes (00:18:44)
Best Feature categories (00:31:10)
First Feature categories (00:53:48)
Acting categories for film (01:05:38)
Technical categories (01:19:50)
Documentary (01:31:10)
International (01:40:18)
TV awards (01:47:00)
Top 10 films (01:54:44)

Elysia's top 10 Spirit Awards films for Lorehounds

Twinless (Hulu, VoD)
Lurker (Mubi, VoD)
The Long Walk (Starz, VoD)
Fucktoys
Splitsville (Hulu, VoD)
The Baltimorons (AMC+, VoD)
One of Them Days (Netflix)
Hedda (Prime)
A Poet
Tie: The Plague (VoD) & On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (HBO, VoD)

Find the full list of Spirit Award nominees here

The 41st Independent Spirit Awards will air Sunday, February 15, 2025 at 5 pm ET – watch on YouTube as it airs and join us in the Lorehounds Discord (see linktree) for a live-watch chat!

Check your extended stats (including the Spirit Awards and jury prize nominees) on DeathRaceTracking.com

Spirit Award nominees covered

The Baltimorons (ContraZoom blog)

Friendship (Properly Howard podcast)

For subscribers:

If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin)

Fucktoys (Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin)

Non-Oscars awards coverage

Independent Spirit Awards preview (this episode)

BAFTAs preview

Oscars 2026 coverage

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Documentary Features

Animated Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX

Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

ShortStick's Top 75 Short Films of 2025

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Animated, Documentary, & Live-Action Shorts

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:11:19 +0000

Elysia is joined by Brandon from ShortStick blog and podcast for a look at the five nominees for each of the three short-film Oscar categories: Animated Shorts (00:08:29), Documentary Shorts (00:29:07), and Live-Action Shorts (00:54:48).

They lay out what each short film is, what makes it stand out, and where you can see them (when possible), as they discuss how short films works differently from feature films and the more difficult path to nomination, and also call out other top shorts from this awards season that they think Lorehounds listeners will also love.

Find Brandon at: Shortstick Films blog & podcast (on Spotify)

Nominated Shorts:

Animated Shorts

Butterfly – trailer, info, full film*
Forevergreen – trailer, info, full film*
The Girl Who Cried Pearls – trailer, info, full film* (in French), full film* (English dub)
Retirement Plan – trailer, info
The Three Sisters – trailer, info

Other shorts mentioned: Snow Bear (full film*), Playing God, The Night Boots, Hurikán, The Shyness of Trees (full film*), Autokar (to rent*), Two Ships, Ovary-Acting (previous film: Night of the Living Dread; full film)

Note: All nominated (and shortlisted) animated films are available on Animation Showcase, available to (free) members of DeathRaceTracking.com

Documentary Shorts

All the Empty Rooms – trailer, info (Netflix)
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud – trailer, info (HBO Max)
Children No More: Were and Are Gone – trailer, info
The Devil Is Busy – trailer, info (HBO Max)
Perfectly a Strangeness – trailer, info

Other shorts mentioned: Bad Hostage, All the Walls Came Down (LA Times Docs), Classroom 4 (PBS, US only), We Were the Scenery (on FestivalScope until Feb 22), Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites, Shanti Rides Shotgun (Vimeo) Confession

Live-Action Shorts

Butcher's Stain – trailer, info
A Friend of Dorothy – trailer, info (Disney+)
Jane Austen's Period Drama – trailer, info, full film* (new!)
The Singers – trailer, info (Netflix, from Feb 13)
Two People Exchanging Saliva – trailer, info, full film*

Other shorts mentioned: Beyond Silence, Dad’s Not Home, Extremist (full film*), The Pearl Comb (Disney+), Pantyhose, Blondi, Wonderwall, One Day This Kid (Criterion), A Bear Remembers, Nervous Energy, The Second Time Around

*Watch quickly! May be taken offline without warning.

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts (this episode)

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Documentary Features

Animated Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX

Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Independent Spirit Awards preview

BAFTAs preview

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The evolution of practical VFX – An interview w/ Lee Romaire

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:17:02 +0000

Elysia talks to practical VFX artist Lee Romaire about everything he's learned from a 25-year career covering everything from Emmy-winning special-effects makeup and Frankenstein animal gore to Disney park animatronics and robotic red-carpet accessories.

Links from the discussion:

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Oscars 2026 – Nominations: the Best Picture 10, surprises, & stats

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:17:57 +0000

David and Elysia officially kick of this year's awards-season coverage with their reactions to the 2026 Oscar nominees, including all the new records set by this year's crop. After talking through the headlines (00:11:40), they preview this year's 10 Best Picture nominees (00:30:30) before discussing the biggest surprises and snubs (01:29:19) and the four acting categories (01:49:33). Stick around until the end for a preview of the rest of the coverage plans.

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Nominations + Best Picture preview (this episode)

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Animated Features

Documentary Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Additional awards coverage

Independent Spirit Awards preview

BAFTAs preview

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

BAFTA 2026: Longlisted Shorts – Britain's best cinema snacks

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:31:54 +0000

The awards season is also heating up in Europe, with Round Two of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) voting underway. With the longlists announced, Elysia takes you on a tour of the 16 short films longlisted in two categories – what makes each special, which can you find where to watch yourself, which might you have already seen, and which short has turned up in a Lorehounds episode again, for the third time?

Previous episode: 2026 Oscar-Qualified Shorts – Top 20 for Lorehounds

Films discussed this episode:

British Short Animation

Brain Space – trailer – info
Cardboard – trailer – info
Death’s Peak – trailer – info
Ovary-Acting – trailer – info
Solstice – trailer – info – making of
Two Black Boys in Paradise – trailer – info – making of

British Short Film

Documentaries:

Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites – trailer & info
This Is Endometriosis – trailer – info – full film*
Welcome Home Freckles – trailer – info

Fiction:

22+1 – trailer – info – full film*
Blondi – trailer – info
Magid / Zafar – trailer – info – full film*
Nostalgie – trailer – info
The Pearl Comb – trailer – info – available on Disney+
Terence – Letterboxd – Shortverse info
Wonderwall – clip – Letterboxd – interview (spoilers)

*May be taken down (e.g., if nominated).

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Frankenstein (2025) – The Creature's final form?

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:37:13 +0000

Jean joins Elysia to discuss Guillermo del Toro's final form of filmmaking – the movie he's been making in his head for 50 years. They break down the book changes, links to the films from the '30s, and inspirations from Del Toro's own life – plus the costumes, casting, production design, and the rest as they ponder the film's many philosophical questions.

Learn more about the novel, its writer and other contributors, and the films from the 1930s* in the Wool-Shift-Dust feed.

*Featuring Ayesha from Every Single SciFi Film Ever.

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Violent Night (2022) - Elevenses - Dec'25

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:47:06 +0000

David, John, and Elysia spread some Holiday Cheer and Fear in the start of their action-packed Christmas Elevenses coverage. They discuss David Harbour's entry into the Santa canon with Violent Night. Subscribe in the linktree below to hear their upcoming coverage of Die Hard.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Wicked: For Good (2025) – w/ musical & book differences

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:50:44 +0000

The witches are back! Meaning, of course, Marilyn, Nichole, and Elysia – the trio returns, one year later, to talk about the second and final (?) Wicked musical adaptation: How does it compare to the first? To the second act of the musical? And the books it's based on? And, most importantly, what does it mean to be changed for the better...for good?

They begin with a quick spoiler-free comparison with the first movie before their full spoiler breakdown. Stick around after the outro music for an even more spoiler-filled comparison with the Gregory Maguire book.

Recommended: Catch up first on Wicked: Part I (2024) – incl. musical & book comparisons

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

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Eligible documentary shorts

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

2026 Oscar-Qualified Shorts – Top 20 for Lorehounds

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:59:14 +0000

Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.

Letterboxd lists

Eligible live-action shorts – category analysis

Eligible animated shorts – category analysis

The Rankings

TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*
MERCY – interview – info
JANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – info
JUST THE USUAL – trailer – info
THE PEARL COMB – trailer – info
PORELESS – trailer – info – full film*
THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – info
DALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*
HURIKÁN – trailer – info
RETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*
TRAPPED – review – info
GIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)
ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – info
KOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*
SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)
EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – info
THE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)
MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*
THE SINGERS – trailer – info
LES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*
BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)
HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*
MERCENAIRE – trailer – info
ONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & Criterion
PLAYING GOD – trailer – info
MUSHROOM DAD – review – info

*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Predator: Badlands (2025) - Oneshot

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:03:58 +0000

Jean and Elysia (with an appearance from David) join Dek and Thia's clan for a full breakdown of the good, the objections, the great, and the Yautja lore of Predators: Badlands

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Weapons (2025) - Spooktober Special

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:08:59 +0000

The Lorehounds and Lore Masters voted, and this year's Spooktober special is: Zach Cregger's 2025 horror hit Weapons. Elysia walks John and David through this darkly humorous, layered tale of missing children, addiction, grief, intergenerational trauma, and the ultimate Naruto run of death.

Contact Us

horror@thelorehounds.com

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Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 3 w/Jean & Anthony

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:16:32 +0000

David reconvenes with Jean and Anthony for a thoughtful examination of Paul Thomas Anderson's film, focusing on questions of character motivation and revolutionary authenticity. Jean offers measured critique while acknowledging the film's stunning visuals and exceptional performances, arguing that the comedic middle section represents the movie's strongest material. The conversation explores whether Bob and Perfidia are true believers in their cause or simply thrill-seekers along for the ride, with Jean questioning how someone from "a long line of revolutionaries" would behave so recklessly.

The trio discusses PTA's evolution in depicting women and people of color, the film's relationship to real-world police state experiences, and whether certain stories belong to certain storytellers. Through reflections on desensitization to police violence, the absurdism of white supremacist organizations, and comparisons to other films examining racial justice, this conversation demonstrates how One Battle After Another has sparked genuine debate about representation, authenticity, and the responsibilities of filmmakers tackling revolutionary narratives.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

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lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 2 w/Ron & JD

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:22:00 +0000

David welcomes back Ron and JD from the Dungeons 'n' Durags podcast for a lively, free-flowing conversation about Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film. With good-natured debate and playful energy, the trio examines the film's portrayal of Black women revolutionaries, the controversial dynamics between Perfidy and her handler, and whether PTA successfully navigated telling this story.

The conversation gets spirited as they passionately disagree about character motivations—is there genuine affection or pure manipulation at play?—and explore connections to real-world revolutionaries like Assata Shakur. Through all the back-and-forth (and a few technical mishaps), the hosts demonstrate why this film has sparked so much cultural conversation while ultimately celebrating it as significant cinema. It's an entertaining discussion that showcases how great art generates passionate responses, even among friends who can't quite agree on what they just watched.

Guest Links

Dungeons 'n' Durags: www.youtube.com/@dungeonsndurags

Ron Dawson and all things Blerd Ronner: linktr.ee/blerdronner

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Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

One Battle After Another (2025) - Part 1 w/Anthony

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:44:07 +0000

David and Anthony dive deep into Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, exploring its surprising comedic elements, technical achievements, and rich thematic complexity. This opening conversation examines the father-daughter relationship at the film's core, PTA's bold production choices including VistaVision filmmaking, and the movie's unexpected hopefulness despite its action-thriller framework. With full spoilers throughout, this first installment sets the stage for ongoing discussions about a film that demands multiple viewings and reveals new layers with each watch.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

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https://heat-death.ghost.io/

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Heat Death: From Tolkien's Orcs to Star Wars' Empire - Asher and Saul Elbein Interview

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:49:50 +0000

David sits down with brothers Asher and Saul Elbein, the journalist duo behind the fascinating newsletter and website Heat Death. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore the intersection of pop culture and politics through two major lenses: Tolkien's orcs and the decline of the Star Wars galaxy.

The discussion begins with their viral article "Orc is Man to Orc," examining the problematic nature of irredeemable species in fantasy and how colonial thinking shapes our understanding of the "other." From there, they dive into their ambitious "Decline and Fall" series, which traces Star Wars as an imperial chronicle - weaving together in-universe history, real-world American politics, and corporate IP ownership from Lucas to Disney.

The brothers bring their unique perspective as working journalists to bear on everything from anthropological theory to the "enshittification" of modern media. They discuss their approach to cultural criticism, the challenge of finding nutrition versus junk food in contemporary entertainment, and why they believe fiction serves as a crystal facet reflecting every aspect of our culture.

Check out Heat Death here:

You can find Asher at his website and on BlueSky:

https://www.asherelbein.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/asherelbein.bsky.social

And, you can find Saul under his byline at The Hill and also on BlueSky:

https://thehill.com/author/saul-elbein/

https://bsky.app/profile/saulelbein.bsky.social

Contact Us Questions or comments?

Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

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https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) + The road to Secret Wars - MCUniverse

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:56:43 +0000

Jean and Elysia herald the coming of Galactus in their deep dive into the newest Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. After laying out what this incarnation got right where so many have failed before, as well as the key comic lore to help you understand the whole cast of characters, they end with a look at what's planned so far for the rest of the MCU's Phase IV, with new details about the key projects coming in the road to Secret Wars (01:48:44).

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: mcu@thelorehounds.com

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Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Going Dredd - Interview w/Tansy Gardam

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:03:12 +0000

David sits down with Tansy Gardam, creator of the Going Rogue podcast, to discuss her latest episode analyzing the 2012 film Dredd and its connection to The Raid as "twin films." Tansy argues that Alex Garland effectively "shadow directed" Dredd, challenging traditional notions of auteur theory while exploring the collaborative nature of filmmaking. The conversation covers Garland's evolution from novelist to screenwriter to director, examining how his approach to authorship reflects broader industry trends toward TV-style showrunner models in film production.

The discussion expands to explore Garland's recent controversial work including Warfare, which Tansy describes as "borderline evil," and his creative trajectory from the satirical critique of Dredd to more troubling militaristic themes. They delve into the technical aspects of both Dredd and The Raid's production, from 3D filming techniques to Indonesian martial arts choreography, while examining how these "twin films" illuminate the complex realities of modern film production and the tendency to oversimplify creative processes by focusing solely on directors.

Guest Links:

Going Rogue Podcast: Available on all major podcast platforms
Tansy's Patreon: patreon.com/GoingRoguePodcast
Follow Tansy on BlueSky: @tansyg.bsky.social
Going Rogue Podcast BlueSky: @goingroguepod

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Superman (2025) – DCUniverse

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:07:16 +0000

Jean and Elysia go super-sized on the lore for the first official film entry of the new DCU, from character backstories to key comic and movie-history references to what's next.

Loathsome Lex, T-sphere domination, and going off the record in interviews – here's why James Gunn's new Superman works for them.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Questions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Check out Oscha Slings and use the code LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: oschaslings.com

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

28 Years Later (2025) – The evolution of the infected

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:12:43 +0000

28 years after the events of Danny Boyle & Alex Garland's groundbreaking horror classic, Britain is a quarantine wasteland, and the zombie-fueling Rage virus has evolved.

Elysia, Jean, and Riley are back (after their Supercast / Patreon look at the original movies 28 Days and 28 Weeks Later) to talk through the laughs, the tears, the wtf moments, and the lingering questions from Boyle & Garland's massive swing to reshape zombie cinema...again.

"Danny Boyle Isn't Scottish?"

Find Riley online:

YouTube – Bluesky

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities

Thunderbolts* (2025) – MCUniverse

Sun, 18 May 2025 13:17:54 +0000

The New Avengerz have stolen Elysia and Jean's hearts – and inspired a conversation exploring not only the coolest and funniest moments in the film, but also the deeper questions it raises: What is the difference between grief and depression? And what does it take to fight your way out of that...Void?

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: mcu@thelorehounds.com

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Ryan Coogler explains film

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Sinners (2025) – The best vampire movie ever?

Thu, 08 May 2025 13:23:34 +0000

Elysia talks history and filmmaking, Jean brings insights from the Haitian-American experience, and Anthony blesses us with his religious studies knowledge in a conversation sorting through the many layers of Ryan Coogler's sexy vampire bluesical Sinners.

The conversation begins with spoiler-free reviews and real talk about the media "controversy," before the trio dive into the key characters and greatest musical moments.

Choctaw culture in Marvel's Echo

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