Fall Festival Recap 2025: Venice, Telluride, and Toronto

The return of pumpkin spice lattes on every corner might be the biggest sign that fall has returned, but for Sophia and Nick, the crisp air and earlier sunsets can only mean one thing: the New York Film Festival is back! They are excited to recap their first week of the festival on this week’s spoiler-free episode, discussing multiple premieres like Amazon MGM’s After the Hunt and Netflix’s A House of Dynamite and Jay Kelly. They also discuss Oscar potential for the many films they opine, including Park Chan-wook’s upcoming release and TIFF International People's Choice Award winner, No Other Choice. Stay tuned for some fun festival sightings and another recap on the rest of the fest next week! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated predictions and merch @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

The most anticipated release of the year for many has finally arrived! Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest work, One Battle After Another, kept mostly under wraps until recently, is a feat of a true artist and lives up to its many expectations. Nick and Sophia are back to review the film and talk through some of its highlights, including what makes it such a critical release with bold perspectives on current affairs that have plagued generations. A short discussion with spoilers comes at (34:31) before a run through of many possible Oscar nominations (46:13). They’re excited to see how this changes the awards conversation which will continue to evolve in the coming weeks. What did you think of One Battle After Another?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated predictions and merch @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Happy TIFFty! With festival season in full swing, Sophia and Nick are back to share updates about big award winners and plenty of first-hand insights from multiple festivals. Bennett Prosser joins them to discuss Venice, Telluride, and TIFF, especially since they were all together at Toronto’s golden jubilee! Listen as they discuss their experiences and reactions at each festival, which films will most likely sustain Oscar buzz and which may peter out, and what’s to come that may shake all of this up even more. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Bennett on Letterboxd and Bluesky @bennettprosserFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated predictions and merch @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

The best time of year is quickly approaching and you know what Sophia and Nick are counting down to… Fall festival slates have been (mostly) revealed and with trailers and release dates also being shared, it’s time to figure out which films will become each studio’s big players. Listen as they list a number of films premiering or being shown at Venice, Telluride, Toronto, and New York and debating which may rise to the top before the next Academy Awards. Will Timothee reign “supreme” this time around? It’s surely no “accident” that Neon and Mubi each collected a stacked roster out of the Cannes Film Festival. Which films are you most excited to see this fall? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated predictions and merch @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Sixty years later and the hills are still very much alive with the sound of music! In fact, Maria helped the Trapp Family (yes, based on a real singing family) live on through her memoir which was adapted into the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and Oscar-winning film widely loved today. Nick and Sophia share the tumultuous history behind what would become a memorable Best Picture winner along with their favorite songs and scenes. Then, they open up their discussion about the 38th Academy Awards to figure out how Julie Andrews lost Best Actress, which other big players affected the race, and why certain other films from the year weren’t nominated (35:25). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

From Pedro Pascal stretching his limbs to blue cartoon creatures wreaking havoc in their worlds, movies this summer have provided audiences some much needed relief from the intense heat and some hope for the future of theater releases thanks to multiple healthy box office returns. Sophia and Nick are back to discuss many of this summer’s biggest releases, including blockbusters like Superman, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, and F1, summer scares (15:08), and other films including a few future releases they’re excited for (25:42). Listen to find out whether they would Nom or Bomb each movie and if any have what it takes to make it to the 98th Academy Awards. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

If you’re an action, adventure, or adrenaline junkie, then surely you’ve heard of or seen the insanity that is Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller ratchets the dial well past its maximum setting in his fourth installment of a saga he hadn’t touched in thirty years. Or so you think…Kyle Buchanan, pop culture reporter and awards season columnist at the New York Times, captures over 130 perspectives from cast and crew while detailing the film's decades long development and production in his book, “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road.” Listen as Kyle joins Nick and Sophia to celebrate the movie's 10th anniversary in a high octane conversation about his book and their favorite moments onscreen, including: Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy’s tense relationship on set, the magnificently constructed set pieces including all of the monstrous vehicles, the eye-popping practical visual effects, and many more! Follow Kyle @nytimes and on socials @kylebuchananFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Sophia and Nick celebrate five years of the podcast and being halfway through the 2020s by awarding the Oscar Wild Oscars of the Decade So Far! Play along in traditional categories like Supporting and Lead Acting, Director, and Picture, when they also mention some unforgettable telecast moments and other favorite wins. Then they make up some very fun categories, nominating the biggest snubs, best child performance, forgotten awards magnets, and so much more. It wouldn’t be an unhinged episode without mentioning RuPaul and also…a spin on Smash or Pass! Enjoy and let us know what your picks would be! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Even though the midway point of this decade passed when the ball dropped on New Year’s Day (yeah, a chill went down my spine, too), Nick and Sophia spend today’s new episode honoring some of the best films of the 21st Century (so far) after crossing the halfway point of 2025. They chat about the recently released lists from The New York Times and Rolling Stone and debate which may have the best selection. Check out the lists they discuss below:New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.htmlRolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/ If you would like to hear their totally cool discussion of Clueless and celebrate its 30th anniversary, check out www.patreon.com/OscarWild and contribute at the ‘Oscar Wild: After Dark’ tier or higher. We greatly appreciate your support!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

After 20 years, the shock of Brokeback Mountain losing Best Picture still stings just as much. Ang Lee’s beautiful and affecting western about finding love in a hopeless place is grounded by expert craftsmanship and nuanced performances. Listen as Sophia and Nick detail their love for the film, share some of their favorite shots and scenes, and thank the movie theater gods for rereleasing it in theaters worldwide.Despite its remarkable awards run, there’s no forgetting that Crash went home with the big prize instead at the 2006 Academy Awards (42:43). Find out how they’d rank these two movies on their ballots and if they think history could repeat itself with a similar showdown! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich