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Episodes

478: Telluride Dispatch: Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia & the Performances to Watch (Guests: The AwardsWatch Team)
Sept. 2, 2025

478: Telluride Dispatch: Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia & the Performance…

All new Pop Culture Confidential: Telluride Dispatch! What a festival! Together with each of the incredible AwardsWatch.com team, we dive into the biggest conversations at Telluride — from Hamnet , Jay Kelly , Bugonia , If I ...

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477: Bruce Springsteen at the Movies: Looking Ahead to the Upcoming Biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere (w/ Ryan McQuade)
Aug. 25, 2025

477: Bruce Springsteen at the Movies: Looking Ahead to the Upcoming B…

This week, Christina welcomes Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen on film — including a look ahead at Deliver Me From Nowhere , the highly anticipated biopic starring Jeremy Allen White. From th...

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Episode 476: Zach Cregger’s Weapons – Review & Deep Dive (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
Aug. 21, 2025

Episode 476: Zach Cregger’s Weapons – Review & Deep Dive (Guest: Ryan…

In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of Weapons , filmmaker Zach Cregger’s latest hit. From the success of Barbarian to this ambitious follow-up, Cregger has quickly become one of the most exciting names in horror. I’...

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475: The State of Cinema, Telluride, 'Weapons',  Nolan Fever, & More with Guest Sean Fennessey, The Big Picture
Aug. 6, 2025

475: The State of Cinema, Telluride, 'Weapons', Nolan Fever, & More …

Christina welcomes back one of the sharpest voices in film — Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture — for a wide ranging conversation on the year in movies so far and what’s next. From Weapons and the horror/genre boom to box offi...

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474: 'Darkness Visible' – A New Book on Jonathan Glazer & Venice Film Festival Highlights (With Author And Critic John Bleasdale)
July 31, 2025

474: 'Darkness Visible' – A New Book on Jonathan Glazer & Venice Film…

Author and critic John Bleasdale joins Christina to discuss his excellent new book, Darkness Visible: The Cinema of Jonathan Glazer —a deep dive into the work of the visionary director behind Sexy Beast , Under the Skin , and...

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473: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cancelled — What It Means for Late Night. Plus Film Festival Lineups & Emmy Nom Reactions! (with guest Ryan McQuade)
July 22, 2025

473: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cancelled — What It Means for…

The industry was rocked by the news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and ending the franchise entirely in 2026. While CBS claims it’s purely a financial decision, speculation is swirling — including q...

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472: Summer Encore — Taylor Dearden on ‘The Pitt,’ Medical Boot Camp & Crafting Dr. Mel King
July 10, 2025

472: Summer Encore — Taylor Dearden on ‘The Pitt,’ Medical Boot Camp …

As Emmy nominations approach, we’re revisiting one of our standout conversations of the year! Actor Taylor Dearden delivers a powerful performance as Dr. Mel King in The Pitt , the gripping medical drama now streaming on HBO ...

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471: The Odyssey Teaser, Summer Movie Reviews & More (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
July 3, 2025

471: The Odyssey Teaser, Summer Movie Reviews & More (Guest: Ryan McQ…

From film news to fresh reviews — it’s a packed week on the show. We’re diving into some of the biggest releases of the summer, including 28 Years Later , Jurassic World: Rebirth , F1 , The Materialists , and Eddington . Plus...

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470: Actor Alexej Manvelov — On His Standout Performance as Akram in 'Dept. Q' and His Remarkable Journey
June 22, 2025

470: Actor Alexej Manvelov — On His Standout Performance as Akram in …

We’re thrilled to welcome actor Alexej Manvelov to the show. His standout portrayal of Akram in Netflix’s hit Dept. Q has made the character one of this season’s most acclaimed and beloved. In Scott Frank’s adaptation of the ...

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469: Summer Screams —Horror Thrives in the Heat (with Guest Eoin Daly)
June 19, 2025

469: Summer Screams —Horror Thrives in the Heat (with Guest Eoin Daly)

Summer may not be the official spooky season, but it’s long been a surprisingly perfect time for horro r. From the 1975 release of Jaws —which turns 50 this year!—to Poltergeist , Friday the 13th , and A24’s Hereditary and Mi...

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468: Best Films of the Decade (So Far!) with Guest Ryan McQuade
June 13, 2025

468: Best Films of the Decade (So Far!) with Guest Ryan McQuade

On this episode, Christina is joined by writer and critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for the fun (and difficult!) exercise of ranking their favorite films of the decade so far, from 2020 through 2024. Tune in for passionate p...

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467: A Conversation with Tony Gilroy — Andor Season 2, Revolution, and the Forces & Choices That Drive Us
June 5, 2025

467: A Conversation with Tony Gilroy — Andor Season 2, Revolution, an…

Creator of Andor and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tony Gilroy ( Michael Clayton , The Bourne films) joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about the groundbreaking Star Wars prequel series — a show that’s as politically...

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Episode 466: And That’s a Wrap: Cannes 2025 with guest Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch
May 28, 2025

Episode 466: And That’s a Wrap: Cannes 2025 with guest Ryan McQuade, …

Joining Christina is film critic and writer Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch as they wrap up the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. From what it was like covering this year’s festival, to the Palme d’Or winners, major Neon and MUBI acquis...

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465: Dispatch 5 from Cannes 2025. Interview: Stellan Skarsgård (‘Sentimental Value’)
May 21, 2025

465: Dispatch 5 from Cannes 2025. Interview: Stellan Skarsgård (‘Sent…

In this special dispatch from the Croisette, Christina is joined by the brilliant and effortlessly cool Stellan Skarsgård, starring in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value —a strong Palme d’Or contender at this year’s festival. ...

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464: Dispatch 4 from Cannes 2025: The Phoenician Scheme, Pillion, Urchin & The Chronology of Water. Guest John Bleasdale, critic & author
May 19, 2025

464: Dispatch 4 from Cannes 2025: The Phoenician Scheme, Pillion, Urc…

Christina is joined by critic and author John Bleasdale (The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the most talked-about titles at the festiva...

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463:  Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025: Eddington, The Plague, Sound of Falling & Mission: Impossible with Ryan McQuade
May 17, 2025

463: Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025: Eddington, The Plague, Sound of Fa…

🎬 Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025 Christina is joined once again by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the festival’s buzziest titles so far, including Ari Aster’s Eddington ,...

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462: Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025 with Ryan McQuade! – On Tom Cruise & McQuarrie, Neon’s Cannes Reign & De Niro
May 14, 2025

462: Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025 with Ryan McQuade! – On Tom Cruise &…

🎬 Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a dispatch from the Croisette. They break down Christopher McQuarrie’s Q&A—featuring a surprise appearance by Tom Cruise—Neon’s impressive C...

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461: Dispatch 1 from Cannes 2025 – From the Opening Press Conference with Jury President Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & More
May 13, 2025

461: Dispatch 1 from Cannes 2025 – From the Opening Press Conference …

Christina’s first dispatch from Cannes 2025! Highlights from the Opening Press Conference with Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & more—on festival expectations, Trump’s tariffs, and the new red carpet dress rules. Learn more a...

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Special Episode! AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 287 – 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview with Guest Christina Birro
May 10, 2025

Special Episode! AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 287 – 78th Cannes Film Festi…

Sharing a special episode! Christina joined the AwardsWatch podcast for the 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview . On episode 287 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Ander...

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460: Countdown to Cannes — Mission: Impossible, The Franchise, and The Final Reckoning (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)
May 9, 2025

460: Countdown to Cannes — Mission: Impossible, The Franchise, and Th…

We’re just days away from the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and one of the most anticipated moments is the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on May 14 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in this eighth installment of the legendary action franchise, joined…

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459: A Conversation With Barbie Ferreira ('Euphoria', 'Nope') On Her New Film 'Bob Trevino Likes It'
May 2, 2025

459: A Conversation With Barbie Ferreira ('Euphoria', 'Nope') On Her …

On the show this week: the exceptionally talented Barbie Ferreira, best known for her breakout role as Kat Hernandez on HBO’s Euphoria . Christina talks with Barbie about her wonderful new film Bob Trevino Likes It , where sh...

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458: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Oscar Rule Changes & Iconic Movie Twins (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)
April 24, 2025

458: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Oscar Rule Changes & Iconic Movie Twins …

This week, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch, to dive into Sinners —Ryan Coogler’s ambitious, multilayered, and visually stunning new film. They also break down the latest Oscar rule changes...

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457: Emmy-Winning Editor & Co-Producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us') Unpacks the Powerful & Heartbreaking Season 2, Episode 2
April 21, 2025

457: Emmy-Winning Editor & Co-Producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us'…

Emmy-winning editor and co-producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us') joins Christina to break down the episode everyone’s talking about — Season 2, Episode 2, “Through the Valley.” This unforgettable episode took over a year t...

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456: Our Reactions to the Cannes Film Festival 2025 Lineup (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)
April 10, 2025

456: Our Reactions to the Cannes Film Festival 2025 Lineup (with Ryan…

The 2025 Cannes lineup was just announced, and there’s a lot to talk about . Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) joins Christina to break down the buzziest titles heading to the Croisette—including Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Kelly Reich...

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