The Next Best Picture Podcast

"Cutting Through Rocks" is a documentary film directed by Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki in their feature debut. It follows the story of the first Iranian woman elected as a councilwoman in a rural, poor village. The film had its world premiere in the World Documentary Competition section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews and won the Grand Jury Prize – World Documentary Competition. Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in New York at Film Forum on November 21st. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk" is a documentary film directed by Sepideh Farsi, depicting life in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli military campaign, captured through Farsi's video calls with a young Palestinian photojournalist living there named Fatima Hassouna. The documentary had its world premiere at the ACID parallel section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. A day after the filmmakers found out the film had been selected for the festival, Hassouna was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside nine members of her family on April 16th. The film is dedicated to her memory and has garnered positive reviews, including Gotham and Cinema Eye Honors nominations for Best Documentary Feature. Farsi was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release from Kino Lorber. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Giovanni Lago, Alyssa Christian, and Tom O'Brien join me to review and discuss the latest film from James Vanderbilt, "Nuremberg," starring Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O'Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, and Michael Shannon. It is based on the 2013 book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist" by Jack El-Hai and tells the story of U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, who seeks to carry out an assignment to investigate the personalities and monitor the mental status of Hermann Göring and other high-ranking Nazis in preparation for and during the Nuremberg trials. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to a strong response from those who saw it, but what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the performances, writing, themes, direction, its awards season prospects, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Rental Family" is a comedy-drama film directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut, starring Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its direction, writing, and heartwarming performances. Hikari and Emoto were both kind enough to spend a few minutes speaking with Ema Sasic and Giovanni Lago, respectively, about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is scheduled to be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on November 21st. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 466, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and I are here to discuss the awards prospects for the final films that need to screen and release before the end of the year to qualify for the 98th Academy Awards. We leave no stone unturned as we discuss the reactions and expectations for "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," "Avatar: Fire And Ash," "Wicked: For Good," "No Other Choice," "The Testament Of Ann Lee," "Jay Kelly," "The Secret Agent," and more! For this week's poll, for the release of "Rental Family," we ask, "Which Is Your Favorite Film Starring Brendan Fraser?" and we reveal the winner of last week's poll, where we asked our most famous question, "Which Film Do You Think Is Going To Be The Next Best Picture Oscar Winner?" We also share our reactions to the trailers for "Wuthering Heights," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die," "Goodbye June," "Cold Storage," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, subscribing, and voting. Enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Giovanni Lago & Amy Kim join me to discuss the latest film from Edgar Wright, "The Running Man," starring Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. It is the second adaptation of the 1982 novel by Stephen King, following the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Wright's 2025 version adhering closer to the novel and its themes. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the adaptation, Powell's lead performance, Wright's action direction, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Rebuilding" is an American independent drama film written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman, starring Josh O'Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan. The film follows a cowboy named Dusty (O'Connor), who ends up in a FEMA camp after a wildfire destroys his ranch, and he finds community with others who have lost their homes, including his daughter and ex-wife. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for Max Walker-Silverman's storytelling and filmmaking, as well as O'Connor's nuanced lead performance. O'Connor and Walter-Silverman were both kind enough to spend a few minutes speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Bleecker Street. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Arco" is a French animated science fantasy film written and directed by Ugo Bienvenu and produced by Natalie Portman. It stars Swann Arlaud, Alma Jodorowsky, Margot Ringard Oldra, Oscar Tresanini, Vincent Macaigne, Louis Garrel, William Lebghil, and Oxmo Puccino in the French version, with Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg in the English dubbed version. The film had its world premiere in the Special Screenings section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it received positive reviews. It would later go on to win the Cristal Award for Best Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Bienvenu and Portman were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release before expanding wide in early 2026 from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's third podcast review, Ema Sasic, Josh Parham, and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss the latest film from Joachim Trier, "Sentimental Value," starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim and won the Grand Prix. It has been selected as the Norwegian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the performances, writing, and direction from Trier (co-written with Eskil Vogt), the themes, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Nouvelle Vague" is a black and white comedy-drama film directed by Richard Linklater starring Guillaume Marbeck as Jean-Luc Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. It follows the shooting of "Breathless," one of the first feature films of the Nouvelle Vague era of French cinema, in 1959. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its casting, performances, writing, and direction from Linklater, who was working in the French language for the first time in his career. Linklater, Marbeck, Deutch, and Dullin were all kind enough to spend a few minutes speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release and will be available to stream on Netflix on November 14th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices