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 urgent as it is thrilling. With the second and final season now complete, they look back at the creative journey.

They explore the big themes at the heart of Andor: found family, sacrifice, fascism, moral ambiguity, and the question of why good people do bad things. Plus: how the politics of Andor resonate in today’s world, what it’s like working within the Disney machine, and the creative complexities behind bringing such an ambitious story to life.

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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 acquisitions, standout titles from Joachim Trier and Spike Lee, The Secret Agent, The History of Sound, and more—this episode dives into all the unforgettable moments that made this edition one for the books.

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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. Skarsgård plays Gustav, a once-renowned director who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter by casting her in his comeback film.

They discuss Sentimental Value, the state of cinema and the world, why Skarsgård often chooses Norwegian films over Swedish ones, the importance of good catering—and much more.

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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 festival, including The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson, Pillion starring Alexander Skarsgård, and two films directed by actors: Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water and Harris Dickinson’s Urchin.

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🎬 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, The Plague,  Sound of Falling. Plus, thoughts on the latest Mission: Impossible.

In other news: Pop Culture Confidential which was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 90 Pop Culture Podcasts on the web.
https://podcast.feedspot.com/pop_culture_podcasts/

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🎬 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 Cannes track record and this year’s contenders, and Robert De Niro’s politically charged moment at the festival.

Please note: This episode was recorded on location in Cannes, so the audio is a bit more "festival field mix" than studio :)

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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.

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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 Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and special guest Christina Birro of Pop Culture Confidential to preview the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which they will all be attending for the next two weeks. They talk about what it is like going to the festival, the film’s in and out of competition that they are looking forward to see, and which film they think will win the Palme d’Or this year.

You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more.

This podcast runs 55m. We will be back in next week for our thoughts on the first week of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Till then, let’s get into it.

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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 by director Christopher McQuarrie and an all-star cast.

In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to break down why this premiere is such a major event — not just for Cannes, but for Mission: Impossible fans around the world. We explore the franchise’s legacy, its cultural impact, and what to expect from this highly anticipated Cannes debut.

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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 she plays Lily, a young woman grappling with the pain of a self-centered, absent father. After forming an unexpected bond with a stranger online who shares her dad’s name, Lily finds a path toward healing and self-acceptance. The film is inspired by director and writer Tracie Laymon’s own relationship with her father.

They discuss playing and shaping the character of Lily, the film’s themes of found family, and how the story resonated with Barbie personally, having grown up without a father figure. They also talk about Euphoria, how her portrayal of Kat continues to resonate deeply with fans, and much more.

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