A Guide to the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short Films
Best Documentary Short Film has an infamous reputation for being one of the more difficult categories to conquer. Because of their obviously abridged length, they... Read More
Cody Dericks
Cody Dericks has been obsessed with movies and awards ever since he first grabbed a giant coffee table book about the Oscars at the Scholastic Book Fair. He’s been consuming every type of film ever since. In addition, he’s an avid theatre lover and always has thoughts and opinions on all things to do with Broadway and the Tony Awards.
He currently resides in Chicago and is a proud member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics. He also writes and podcasts for Next Best Picture and co-hosts his own podcast “Halloweeners: A Horror Movie Podcast.” You can follow him on Twitter, Letterboxd, and Bluesky @codymonster91
A Guide to the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Short Films
Hardcore Oscar fans know that the Best Live Action Short Film category has a rocky history when it comes to featuring quality nominees. Almost every... Read More
A Guide to the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films
For Oscar fanatics, Best Animated Short Film is always one of the easiest Oscar categories to complete, if for no other reason than the nominees... Read More
‘Kokuho’ Review: The Vibrant World of Kabuki is Spectacularly Recreated in Lee Sang-il’s Resilient Character Study [B+]
There are plenty of films about artists. It’s seemingly one of the go-to professions for screenwriters to explore. How many films have we seen –... Read More
‘Ella McCay’ Review: James L. Brooks Aims to Mine a Nostalgic Relic but Comes Up With Something Mildly Dated [B-]
Very quickly into its runtime, Ella McCay establishes itself as a fantasy. After the narrator (Julie Kavner) introduces herself with “I’m the narrator” (there’s no... Read More
Interview: How the Hair and Makeup Wizards Behind ‘Weapons’ Created a Lasting Icon in Aunt Gladys
The world of horror movies is filled with iconic villains brought to life through extensive makeup and unique hair. Freddy Kreuger, Pennywise, the Phantom of... Read More
‘Palestine 36’ Review: Annemarie Jacir’s Drama is a Largely Untold Tale of Early Palestinian Struggle [C+] CIFF
A tricky part of experiencing and analyzing any piece of art is separating the worthiness of its intent from the success of its execution. With... Read More
‘Whitetail’ Review: From Nanouk Leopold’s Frustratingly Imbalanced Irish Drama Emerges a Star-Making Performance from Natasha O’Keeffe [C+] CIFF
There’s nothing like seeing a star-making performance. Natasha O’Keeffe is a face that will be mostly familiar to those who watch British television, thanks to... Read More
‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’ Review: Palestinian Doc is a Stunning Chronicle of Finding Hope in the Darkest of Realities [A-] CIFF
On October 10 of this year, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went into effect, ostensibly putting an end to two years of bloodshed, in... Read More
‘Black Phone 2’ Review: Let This Call Go Straight to Voicemail [C]
Although we can all agree that autumn is the spookiest time of year, winter is perhaps the best season when it comes to immediately giving... Read More
FINAL 2026 Oscar Predictions: VISUAL EFFECTS 
FINAL 2026 Oscar Predictions: ANIMATED FEATURE, DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM 
Predictions for Sound (CAS, MPSE), Cinematography (ASC) and Writers Guilds (WGA) Awards 
Interview: Shawn Hatosy on Directing ‘The Pitt,’ Camera Choreography, and Being Online