The Digging Process / Oscar Experts with Early Predictions-Mark Johnson-The Contending / TFF #53 Films Honored at Hampton Fest

 THE DIGGING PROCESS

Nope...this isn't a segment musing about Inarritu's Digger.

Periodically I sit down and go through my "Future Telluride" folder.  Yes, it's true.  I see something that looks interesting regarding Telluride, I stuff it in there for future reference.  Is it valuable?  I think so.  As an example...here are some of the films that I had tucked away a year to two years befor they bowed at Teluride:

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

Ink

A Long Winter

Fatherland

Bucking Fastard

The Debut

Mastermind

Jay Kelly

Hamnet

As a tease, I have nearly two dozen titles sitting in the folder that feel like they could be TFF #64 or #55 choices...but I'm keeping those quiet...for now.

OSCAR EXPERTS WITH EARLY PREDICTIONS-MARK JOHNSON-THE CONTENDING

Not quite as comprehensive as some of the "experts" I have already shared.  All the folks, including Mark, the play the Oscar prediciton game have choices up for the "above-the-line" categories.

So, among those cateories, this is what mark is currently prediciting from films that played TFF #53:

Wild Horse Nine (6): Best Picture, Dircetion, Actor (Malkovich), Supporting Actor (Rockwell), Original Screenplay, Casting.

La Bola Negra (5): Best Picture, Direction, Supporting Actor (Guitarricadelafuente), Adapted Screenplay, Casting.

The Debut (4): Best Picrure, Actress (Moore), Supporting Actor (Giamatti), Original Screenplay.

Elsinore (2): Best Picture, Actor (Scott).

Rose (1): Best Actress (Huller).

Club Kid (1): Original Screenplay.

Tender Loving Care (1): Original Screenplay.

Among these nine categories seven TFF #53 films are predicyed to pick 20 nominations.

Mark's complete set of predicitons is linked here.

https://thecontending.com/oscar-predictions/mark-johnson/

TFF #53 FILMS HONORED AT HAMPTON FEST

TFF #53 films were well rewarded by the just concluded Hampton International Film festival.

La Bola Negra was named Best Narrative feature this week,  Elsinore was named Best narrative Feature Audience Award winner.  Bugundy was named the audience winner for Best Documentary.

Here's a link to the awards winners from Gold Derby.

https://www.goldderby.com/film/2026/hamptons-international-film-festival-2026-winners/

The fest ran from Oct. 2-12.