The Lorehounds

Elysia is joined by documentary and TV editor Rebecca June Lane (IMDb) to break down highlight's from the year in documentary filmmaking, starting with this year's Oscar nominees and expanding to recommendations (or anti-recommendations) for more of the most talked about 2025 documentaries and beyond.

• The five nominees, and related docs (00:06:58)
• More recommendations (01:11:21)
• More fun docs (01:29:43)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Documentary Feature nominees:

• Come See Me in the Good Light (USA) – trailer, info (Apple TV)
• Cutting Through Rocks (Iran) – trailer, info (DocPlay in June)
• Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Russia) – trailer, info (to rent)
• The Perfect Neighbor (USA) – trailer, info (Netflix)
• The Alabama Solution (USA) – trailer, info (HBO Max)

Other films discussed: André Is an Idiot (USA, in theaters: Mar 6 [US]), Viva Verdi! (Italy, Jolt.film), Prime Minister (New Zealand, HBO Max), My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow* (Russia, Mubi: Apr 3), 2000 Meters to Andriivka* (Ukraine, to rent), Coexistence, My Ass!* (Israel/Palestine, on tour), Holding Liat* (Israel/USA, NPO [NL] / select theaters [US]), The House I Live In (2012, USA, to buy), “Classroom 4” (USA, PBS), “Armed with Only a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud” (USA/global, HBO Max), Apocalypse in the Tropics* (Brazil, Netflix), Yanuni* (Brazil, to rent: Eventive), Predators (USA, Paramount+), The Librarians (USA, PBS), “The ABCs of Book Banning” (2023, USA, Paramount+ / Roku), I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (Czechoslovakia/Japan, Metrograph), Cover-Up* (USA/global, Netflix), Vice Is Broke (USA/global, Mubi), Riefenstahl (Germany, Hoopla / Kanopy / Kino / to rent), The Propagandist (The Netherlands, NPO [NL] / to rent: OVD [US]), Afternoons of Solitude (Spain, Mubi / to rent), “Marion” (2024, Spain, Vimeo), Grand Theft Hamlet (USA, Mubi), Diane Warren: Relentless (USA, Hoopla / Kanopy / to rent), The Life Ahead (2020, fiction, Italy, Netflix), Tell it Like a Woman (2022, fiction, various countries, YouTube / etc.), Sally (USA/space, Disney+/Hulu), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (USA, Kanopy / Kino / to rent), Deaf President Now! (USA, Apple), My Mom Jayne (USA [mostly], HBO Max), LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (USA, NPO [NL] / Hoopla / Kino / to rent), Secret Mall Apartment (USA, Netflix), Unknown Number: The Highschool Catfish (USA, Netflix)

*Other shortlisted doc features: Folktales (Norway, Kanopy / to rent), Mistress Dispeller (China, Kanopy / to rent), Seeds (USA, on tour)

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Nominations + Best Picture preview

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts 

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Documentary Features (this episode)

Score & Original Song

Animated Features

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

Sinners

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Frankenstein

Weapons

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: 

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl)

Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTAs shorts

BAFTAs features

Independent Spirit Awards

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David and John recap another emotional episode of The Pitt. The system is down, the whiteboards are up, and the Olgilvies are Olgilvie-ing.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is joined by Mexican film critic Héctor Serrano to tour the best cinema of the year from around the world, from this year's five Oscar nominees to highlights from the shortlist and beyond:

• Best International Film – history & rules (0:04:02)
• The 5 nominees (0:16:54)
• Shortlisted films (01:02:55)
• Other awards & more recs (01:26:16)

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Find Héctor Serrano at: El Cinéfilo Latino

Nominees Discussed:

International Film nominees:

• It Was Just an Accident (France [Iran]) – trailer, info (VoD)
• The Secret Agent (Brazil) – trailer, info (VoD, theaters)
• Sentimental Value (Norway) – trailer, info (VoD)
• Sirāt (Spain) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD likely March)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia [Palestine]) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD March 10)

Other films discussed: A Useful Ghost (Thailand; to rent), The Sea (Israel; to rent), No Other Choice (South Korea; to rent), “Close Your Eyes, Hind” (The Netherlands [Palestine]; NPO [NL only]), Four Daughters (2023, Tunisia; Hoopla, Kanpoy, Kino), The President’s Cake (Iraq), Sound of Falling (Germany), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan; Netflix), Kokuho (Japan), Homebound (India; Netflix), All That’s Left of You (Jordan [Palestine]; to rent), Nouvelle Vague (France; Netflix), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia; HBO Max), A Poet (Colombia), Rietland (The Netherlands; to rent [NL]; Elysia’s review), The Propagandist (The Netherlands; NPO [NL]), We Shall Not Be Moved (Mexico; Disney/Hulu, Kanopy), The Things You Kill (Canada [Turkey]; Hoopla, Filo), Banzo (Portugal), Sore: Wife from the Future (Indonesia), The Ugly Stepsister (Norway; Hulu, AMC+, Shudder, Mubi, Philo), The Last Viking (Denmark), Resurrection (China; Elysia’s review), Magellan (The Phillippines [Portugal]) 

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Nominations + Best Picture preview

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts 

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features (this episode)

Documentary Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Animated Features

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

Sinners

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Frankenstein

Weapons

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: 

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl)

Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTAs shorts

BAFTAs features

Independent Spirit Awards

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

John is joined by Marilyn R. Pukkila to discuss Of Túrin Turambar, the twenty-fourth portion of The Silmarillion. They discuss the Norse origins of Túrin, the effects of curses and expectations, and the changes in Thingol.

Marilyn's Website

Marilyn R. Pukkila, Research & Instruction Librarian Emerita, Colby College

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Deep lore questions, comments and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at [email protected]

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The Triarchy of John, Elysia, and David are briefly joined by Anthony to recap the finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss anachronistic music, cold but kind fathers, and subtle digs are George Martin.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is joined by Lisa (aka RedZippy) to put her theater and costume expertise to work evaluating this year's line-up in the 2026 Oscars' three art-direction categories: Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling – the last of which especially is secretly one of the most exciting list of nominees in the race.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Nominees Discussed:

Production Design (00:04:35)

• Marty Supreme – Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis – trailer – to rent, later HBO Max 
• Sinners – Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne – trailer – HBO Max 
• Frankenstein – Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau – trailer – Netflix 
• Hamnet – Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton – trailer – to rent, later Peacock  
• One Battle After Another – Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino – trailer – HBO Max 

Other films discussed: The Fantastic 4: First Steps (our coverage), Tron: Ares, Wicked: For Good (our coverage), Hedda, The Testament of Ann Lee, Kiss of the Spider Woman  

Costume Design (00:50:13)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash – Deborah L. Scott – trailer – in theaters, eventually Disney+ 
• Sinners – Ruth E. Carter – trailer – HBO Max  
• Frankenstein – Kate Hawley – trailer – Netflix 
• Marty Supreme – Miyako Bellizzi – trailer – to rent, later HBO Max 
• Hamnet – Malgosia Turzanska – trailer – to rent, later Peacock 

Makeup & Hairstyling (01:12:19)

• Sinners – Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, and Shunika Terry – trailer – HBO Max
• Frankenstein – Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey – trailer – Netflix 
• The Smashing Machine – Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin, and Bjoern Rehbein – trailer – HBO Max 
• Kokuho – Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino, and Tadashi Nishimatsu – trailer – in theaters 
• The Ugly Stepsister – Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg –  trailer – Hulu, Shudder, Mubi, AMC+  

The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2026 coverage

Nominations + Best Picture preview

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts 

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair (this episode)

International Features

Documentary Features

Score & Original Song

Animated Features

Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound

Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

Sinners

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Frankenstein

Weapons

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Additional awards coverage

BAFTAs shorts

BAFTAs features

Independent Spirit Awards

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David and John recap a somber episode of The Pitt.

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The 2026 British Academy Film Awards (better known as the BAFTAs) are airing this Sunday, February 22nd at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – and, in this episode, Elysia will ensure that you recognize all of the nominees so you can make your own picks and predictions as to who will win, and how that will affect the Oscar voting that begins four days later.

Or just listen along to find out what's been dubbed the best British (and international) films of the year and discover which titles you need to add to your own watchlist.

Chapters

• Rising Star award: voted by public (00:06:50)
• Best Film (00:19:54)
• Outstanding British Film (00:26:29) 
• Outstanding Debut (00:48:07)
• Film Not in English (00:57.18)
• Acting & Casting awards: (01:05:50) 
• Directing & Screenplay awards (01:25:09)
• Score & Production Design awards (01:33:46)
• Tech awards (01:45:39)
• Documentary award (02:01:18)
• Animation & Family awards (02:13:05)
• Top 10 (non-Oscar) films (02:26:08)

Elysia's top 10 BAFTA-only films for Lorehounds

1. 28 Years Later (Netflix)
2. Left-Handed Girl* (LL) & No Other Choice* (VoD)
3. Wicked: For Good (VoD)
4. Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
5. Superman* (HBO)
6. The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime, VoD) & Mickey 17 (HBO)
7. Pillion (UK: VoD)
8. I Swear (UK: VoD)
9. Steve (Netflix)
10. Tie: Rental Family* (Hulu, VoD) & Hedda* (Prime)
11. Honorable mention on behalf of Marilyn: The Choral* (VoD) + the similar(ish) Mr. Burton (iPlayer)

*From the longlists / not nominated.

Find the full list of 2026 BAFTA nominees here

The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) will air Sunday, February 22, 2025 at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – check where you can watch in your country!

Check your extended stats (including the BAFTA nominees and longlists) on DeathRaceTracking.com

BAFTA films covered

One Battle After Another (pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3), Sinners, Frankenstein, Wicked: For Good, 28 Years Later, Weapons*, The Fantastic 4: First Steps*, Superman*

For subscribers: 

Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin: Sentimental Value, Arco, Left-Handed Girl*, Rental Family*

*From the longlists / not nominated.

Non-Oscars awards coverage

BAFTA longlisted shorts

Independent Spirit Awards preview

BAFTAs preview (this episode)

Oscars 2026 coverage

Nominations + Best Picture preview

Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts

Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair

International Features

Documentary Features

Animated Features

Score & Original Song

Cinematography, Editing, Sound, VFX

Director, Original & Adapted Screenplay

Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting

Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings

Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees

Sinners

One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3

Frankenstein

Weapons

Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”

For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco)

Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

John and Elysia recap the fifth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss the demands of Egg, Dunk's origin story, and whether the Light of the Seven might have some meaning.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

EDIT: This is a reposting as there was an error with the initial audio file upload. Specifically, the Pre-Season dsicussion was uploaded by accident.

David is joined by Ian and Deneé from The Captain's Pod for a mid-season check-in on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, covering episodes one through five. The conversation explores what's working halfway through the season: the show's balancing act between honoring Trek's 60-year legacy and telling genuinely new stories, the ensemble writing that refuses to let Caleb become the sole gravitational centre, and the radical optimism of Captain Kitty as a model of what Starfleet leadership could mean in 2026. Ian and Deneé also share how The Captain's Pod's three-things format is deepening the viewing experience.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Connect with The Captain's Pod

Email: [email protected]

Discord: https://discord.gg/cm4nxyKd2S

Bluesky:

The Show: @captainspod.bsky.social

Ian: @whittsinned.bsky.social

Deneé: @deneesays.bsky.social

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.