We already knew the cast of Women Talking would win the Robert Altman Award for the ensemble at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards. Given the Everything Everywhere All at Once dominance, this film (technically not a Canadian film) got to have a 8-minute moment in the sun under a tent on a beach.
The ensemble in Women Talking, in terms of the Robert Altman Award, are Shayla Brown, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, Ben Whishaw, and August Winter. The Canadian actors are Shayla Brown, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Sheila McCarthy, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, and August Winter.
The film is truly an ensemble in the bond they had over the making of this film during a pandemic. The cast had plenty of veterans in people such as Sheila McCarthy, Judith Ivey, and Frances McDormand. The bigger names who gave their all in Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, and Jessie Buckley. Kate Hallett, who played Autje, whose voice is the narrator, was all of 16 during filming and this is her first film.
John Buchan and his business partner Jason Knight received recognition from the award as casting directors on the film. You might remember Buchan from Stories We Tell, also from Polley. John and his sister Susy Buchan were from the first marriage of Diane Elizabeth MacMillan aka Diane Polley. Sarah's siblings Mark Polley and Joanna Polley were from Michael Polley's first marriage.
Sarah talked eloquently about their mother Diane, who was a casting director.
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Everything Everywhere All at Once dominated the awards at the 2023 ceremony. This made winning another award a lot more difficult. Women Talking was nominated for Best Feature. Polley had 2 individual nominations for director and screenplay. All of them lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
2023 Canadian Screen Award nominations
2023 Canadian Screen Awards nominations: Television
The Porter from CBC had 2 Independent Spirit Awards nominations. The show was nominated for Best New Scripted Series but lost to The Bear. British actor Aml Ameen, who played Junior Massey, was nominated for Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series but lost to Quinta Brunson on Abbott Elementary.
The Porter did well at the Canadian Screen Awards in terms of nominations. Hopes for Season 2 were dashed when co-producer BET+ decided to not back any future episodes.
British actor Ben Whishaw was also nominated for Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series for This Is Going to Hurt. Whishaw played August Epp, the only male adult character in Women Talking.
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Joyland (Pakistan) won Best International Film, beating out Corsage, Leonor Will Never Die, Return to Seoul, and Saint Omer.
The ceremony used to be the only thing you wanted to watch on IFC but this year the ceremony aired on on YouTube and not on IFC.
Women Talking is now available in the United States on Amazon Prime Video for only a few days.
Sarah Polley is up for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film at the 95th Academy Awards next Sunday.
video credit: Film Independent
photo credit: Women Talking
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