Tagged FilmInterview

Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton on Centering Humanity in ‘The Devil Is Busy’

Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton discuss their Oscar-nominated films “The Devil Is Busy” and “The Perfect Neighbor,” exploring faith, race, and perspective through immersive storytelling. By removing narration and traditional framing, both films allow audiences to experience events firsthand and draw their own conclusions.

Shirley Chen on ‘Slanted,’ Assimilation, and the Cost of Wanting to Fit In

Shirley Chen discusses her role in “Slanted,” a bold SXSW-winning film that blends body horror and satire to explore identity, assimilation, and belonging. Drawing from personal experience, Chen reflects on the complexities of self-perception and why telling uncomfortable Asian American stories is essential to pushing representation forward.

Inside Stellan Skarsgard’s Oscar-Nominated Turn in ‘Sentimental Value’

Against all odds, the small Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value” earned nine Oscar nominations, including recognition for all four principal actors. Stellan Skarsgard discusses his monomaniacal take on Gustav, why reconciliation was never the point, and how artistic obsession reshapes a family.

How Mari Yamamoto Found Healing in Hikari’s New Film ‘Rental Family’

Rental Family” is one of 2025’s most tender surprises, led by a deeply felt performance from Mari Yamamoto. In conversation with Awards Focus, Yamamoto discusses grief, cultural nuance, and the quiet strength of Aiko—revealing how compassion, identity, and connection shape Hikari’s moving new drama.