One nationwide vote-based guessing game down, another one to go: the Oscars. Each fall, film studios quietly release their award-caliber flicks in that narrow window between Halloween and the holidays in hopes of catching the Academy's attention and staying fresh come nomination time. Oscar nominations won't be announced until the end of January, but two major institutions are ready to make their calls for the year's best now.
The Hammer Museum has announced the initial lineup for "The Contenders," its third annual screening and Q&A series curated by the Museum of Modern Art. Each fall, MoMA's Department of Film selects the most influential films made in the past year that are bound for awards season glory or cult classic status.
This year's picks include Loving, featuring a discussion with director Jeff Nichols and actor Joel Edgerton; Nocturnal Animals, with a Q&A with director (and fashion designer) Tom Ford; and Arrival, with director Denis Villeneuve and lead actress Amy Adams.
"The Contenders" isn't strictly an awards season spoiler; MoMA considers its picks as movies that will stand the test of time. But the series has turned out to be a pretty good Oscars predictor, with 7 out of the 11 featured films grabbing nominations in 2015, and 6 out of 9 in 2014.
Tickets for the screenings and post-film panels are available now, for $12 (or $8 for Hammer members). Though only six movies have been announced, the Hammer Museum will continue to announce additional screenings and guest appearances to fill all 10 nights. Here's the schedule so far:
Thu, Dec 1, 7:30pm
Loving with director Jeff Nichols and lead actor Joel Edgerton
Fri, Dec 2, 7:30pm
Nocturnal Animals with director Tom Ford
Mon, Dec 5, 7:30pm
Manchester by the Sea with director Kenneth Lonergan
Wed, Dec 7, 7:30pm
Arrival with director Denis Villeneuve and lead actress Amy Adams
Thu, Dec 8, 7:30pm
Lion with lead actor Dev Patel
Tue, Dec 13, 7:30pm
Into the Inferno with director Werner Herzog
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