How Will the SAG Awards Shape the Oscar Race? (Column)

Clayton Davis Space and silence are the structural bones of Netflix’s “The Midnight Sky.” Still, the spirit and heart are fixed within its visual decorations and taut narrative that allows director, producer and star George Clooney to examine uncharted and personal territories. Based on the book “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton, there’s a compelling case to be made that “The Midnight Sky” is his finest hour, both in direction and performance.

Clayton Davis The Academy Awards have announced producers for the upcoming 93rd ceremony. Emmy nominee Jesse Collins (“Zoboomafoo”), Oscar nominee Stacey Sher (“Django Unchained” and “Erin Brockovich”) and Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh (best director for 2000’s “Traffic”) will produce the upcoming show, which is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 25.

Clayton Davis Oscar-winner George Clooney and Caoilinn Springall barely speak in Netflix’s “The Midnight Sky,” but the two were able to convey their emotions. Clooney, who directs, produces and stars, takes on one of the most the most challenging and demanding films of his career, doing a lot of preparation and taking into account many unknowns.

Clayton Davis Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are joining the original song Oscar race with a stealth entry. David Fincher’s “Mank” hits Netflix on Friday, featuring “(If Only You Could) Save Me,” a song written by the film’s composers and performed by Adryon de León that will be submitted for the upcoming Academy Awards, and other guild and award shows.With this new entry, Reznor and Ross could land up to three Oscar nominations this year.

Clayton Davis Star-in-the-making Ariana DeBose is ready to redefine what it means to be Latino, or how she identifies as Afro-Latina.“You cannot just boil down what it is to be Latino in one thing,” she says.

Outlander  star Caitriona Balfe for the latest installment of the Scots sci-fi spoof Star Force - which was filmed online during lockdown. The pair joined James  McAvoy  and other Scottish stars to create the third episode of the hilarious show which is filmed and directed remotely over Zoom.

Christopher Vourlias Vadim Perelman’s “Persian Lessons” will represent Belarus in the best international feature film race at the 2021 Oscars, Variety has learned.The WWII drama, which world premiered in the Panorama strand of the Berlin Film Festival this year, stars Nahuel Perez Biscayart (“Beats Per Minute”) as a Belgian Jew who narrowly avoids execution by a Nazi firing squad when he claims to be Persian.

Clayton Davis There’s no better time than the first time, at least when it comes to actors debuting in their inaugural feature films.In the history of the Oscars, more than 25 actors have been nominated for their feature debuts across all four acting categories. Among them are winners like Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) and Anna Paquin (“The Piano”) and nominees such as Edward Norton (“Primal Fear”) and Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”).

Malayalam-language action thriller Jallikattu has been selected by the Film Federation of India to represent the country in this year’s International Oscar race.

The Irish Film & Television Academy is sending Tom Sullivan’s Arracht as its entry to the 2021 International Oscar race.

Clayton Davis STX Films has decided to enter this unconventional awards season with a mighty and timely drama, “The Mauritanian,” formerly called “Prisoner 760,” from Scottish director Kevin Macdonald. The film will be released in theaters on Feb.

Clayton Davis This awards season could showcase possibly one of the most diverse group of contenders ever. A record-breaking number of women are directing and writing films; Tara Miele among them with her cerebral drama “Wander Darkly,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentKaouther Ben Hania’s “The Man Who Sold His Skin” will represent Tunisia in the Oscar race for best international feature film.The movie world premiered at Venice where it won the best actor award for Yahya Mahayni.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilippo Meneghetti’s feature debut “Two of Us” will represent France in the race for the best international feature film award at the Oscars.“Two of Us” was selected over Maiwenn’s “DNA,” François Ozon’s “Summer 85,” Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s “Gagarine” and Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” which were short-listed.“Two of Us” was released in France on Feb. 12 and was represented in international markets by The Party Film Sales.

Clayton Davis Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterMaite Alberdi’s documentary The Mole Agent will represent Chile in the International Oscar race this year.The film debuted at Sundance back in January. It follows a private investigator in Chile who hires someone to work as a mole at a retirement home where a client of his suspects the caretakers of elder abuse.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentThomas Vinterberg’s award-winning drama “Another Round” has been selected as Denmark’s submission in the Oscars’ international feature film category.Produced by Zentropa, “Another Round” follows four weary high school teachers experimenting with the liberating effects of alcohol. The movie was part of Cannes’ 2020 Official Selection and had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterPop the champagne – the Danish Film Institute is sending Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round to the 2021 International Oscar race.The pic stars Mads Mikkelsen as one of a group of high school teachers who test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood.

Clayton Davis The label of a character actor tends to be interpreted as general audiences calling someone “that guy” in a movie. Stanley Tucci seems slightly above that description, bringing memorable and popular performances to the mainstream.