Oscar Contenders Emerge as Fall Film Festivals Conclude
Buzz is building for potential Academy Award nominees following screenings at Venice, Telluride, and Toronto.
The fall film festival circuit, including Venice, Telluride, and Toronto, is nearing its end, bringing potential Oscar contenders into sharper focus. Several films have garnered significant attention, while others have seen their awards prospects shift.
Among the breakout films is "You Can See Everything," a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes that premiered as a "secret screening" at the Telluride Film Festival. Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the film has received rave reviews and is being discussed as a potential contender in the best documentary and best picture categories. It is slated for an Oct. 16 release by A24.
Lance Oppenheim is also behind "Primetime," a film that debuted at the Venice Film Festival and has generated best actor buzz for its star, Robert Pattinson. Pattinson has had a prolific year with other upcoming projects including "The Drama," "The Odyssey," and "Dune: Part Three."
Amazon MGM's "I Play Rocky," starring newcomer Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone during his pursuit of the titular boxer role, is being cited as a major revelation from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film reportedly had strong pre-festival word-of-mouth and positive test scores, with its TIFF reception exceeding expectations. Amazon will also have "Project Hail Mary" in contention, featuring an alien character.
Jesse Eisenberg's directorial debut, "The Debut," screened at both Telluride and TIFF, earning praise for its stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. An additional screening in Los Angeles for industry insiders was reportedly met with enthusiasm, with sources noting Eisenberg's captivating Q&A session.
Other performances drawing attention include John Malkovich for "Wild Horse Nine," Rosalind Eleazar for Chris Rock's "Misty Green," Andrew Scott for "Elsinore," and the married duo Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz for "Bunker."
"La Bola Negra," which previously screened at Cannes, won the People's Choice Award at TIFF. Netflix acquired the film after its Cannes debut. Jordan Firstman's "Club Kid" also gained traction after its festival run and was acquired by A24.
On the other end of the spectrum, "Prima Facie," starring Cynthia Erivo, received a mixed reception at TIFF. While some critics found the performance noteworthy, the film itself was described as divisive, with its overall reception being lukewarm compared to initial expectations for Erivo's potential best actress campaign.
Penelope Cruz stars in "La Bola Negra," which won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. ![Penelope Cruz stars in "La Bola Negra," which won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.]( "Penelope Cruz stars in "La Bola Negra," which won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.")
"You Can See Everything" earned rave reviews in Telluride.
Newcomer Anthony Ippolito is a revelation in “I Play Rocky.”
“Primetime,” which debuted at Venice, has generated best actor buzz for leading man Robert Pattinson.
Jesse Eisenberg’s latest directorial effort, “The Debut,” also earned a warm reception at Telluride and TIFF, with stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti generating critical acclaim. 
On the other end, Cynthia Erivo’s “Prima Facie” got a lukewarm reception at TIFF.
