By Jessica Peña

With a close awards season nearing an end, there’s a category that doesn’t get talked about too much. Whereas the popular categories get the utmost attention and discourse, the Best Visual Effects category is rather muted but just as exciting in a much more technical scale. The scope of work that goes into the fine, artificial details brings characters and productions to full form. They’re what’s in front of us on screen, always giving life to even the smallest nuances. Imagery is captured and can later be manipulated byways of 3D modeling, animation, and digital mapping. What was once thought impossible in the industry is now groundbreaking territory. The VFX nominations for the 2018 Oscars have the chance to surprise us, but maybe, just maybe, the throne’s already won.

By Daniel Howat

​​I know, I know. I’m not excited about it either. We’ve spent all season long pretending like it wasn’t happening. We convinced ourselves that bad reviews knocked it out of the competition. We said that the Golden Globe win was a fluke. But it’s time we all accepted the hard truth: “This Is Me” is winning Best Original Song at the Oscars this year.

By Matt Neglia

​The Writers Guild Of America (WGA) have announced their 2018 winners representing the best in screenwriting.

Click below to see the winners for Original and Adapted Screenplay.

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 77, myself, Michael Schwartz, Will Mavity, Ryan C. Showers & guest Liam Heffernan all put our minds together to give you our predictions for the 2018 BAFTA Awards. We also discuss the enormous amount of trailers released this week, the sad passing of composer Johann Johannsson and other thoughts on the Oscar race. Be sure also to vote on the 2017 NBP Film Community Awards. Voting ends on February 17th and we will unveil your winners on Episode 78 next week!

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

An important precurssor for the Best Adapted Screenplay category at the Oscars (The past 7 years, the winners have matched) the 2017 USC Scripter Award was handed out this evening.

Click below to see which film won.

​By Jacey Aldredge

​The year is 2003 and it’s movie night. Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Popcorn is waiting to be eaten alongside a drugstore selection of single-serve candies. Sitting out on the family’s coffee table are your evening’s choices: 2001’s Heath Ledger comedy “A Knight’s Tale” or 1999’s Nicole Kidman drama “Eyes Wide Shut”? Those are your options, thanks to Netflix’s DVD mailer service. The online Blockbuster of its time, Netflix and CEO Reed Hastings broke boundaries with its DVD mailer service originating in 1998, followed up with its online streaming services debuting in 2007. Then in 2013, it sent shivers down the spines of all cable television networks with its own “Netflix Originals” programming, beginning with political drama “House of Cards” and followed by female-driven “Orange is The New Black.”

By Matt Neglia

For this week's review, I am joined by a guest: Josh Parham. Together, he and I review Clint Eastwood's newest film "The 15:17 To Paris" starring the real-life heroes from the events depicted in the film.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

The nominations for the 2017 International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Awards have been announced. The winners will be revealed on February 22nd 2018.

​Click below to see the nominations.

​By Ryan C. Showers

​The fight for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is still widely seen as up in the air. Most believe it’s a four-man race between “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “The Shape Of Water,” “Lady Bird,” and “Get Out.” They each have a narrative that can lead them to victory; the greater issue is they each lack a vital component most Best Picture-winning films have. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” was left off the Best Director lineup on Oscar nomination morning, and the general rule of thumb has been Best Picture and Best Director tend to parallel. “The Shape Of Water” was not included among the Screen Actors Guild Cast Ensemble lineup, which was an early sign last year that “La La Land” wasn’t the unavoidable favorite the Golden Globes sweep and record-setting 14 nominations indicated. And “Get Out” and “Lady Bird” substantially unperformed at the BAFTA awards, both missing Best Film and Best Director nominations, indicative of a larger problem with these critic darlings appeal within the industry.

By Matt Neglia

For this week's review, I am joined by a guest: Erik Anderson from AwardsWatch.com Together, he and I review what e both think is the frontrunner for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, "A Fantastic Woman" starring Daniela Vega.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

Last night during the Super Bowl, a ton of new movie trailers were released ranging from Star Wars, to Jurassic World, to another Mission Impossible film. We have them all here for you to check out in case you missed any of them last night.
​
Click below to see the trailers.

By Matt Neglia

The International Cinephile Society have announced their winners representing the best in film for 2017. They are comprised of over 100 critics, academics and industry professionals worldwide.

Click below to see the winners.

By Matt Neglia

As announced on Episode 76 of the Podcast yesterday, the nominations for the first ever NBP Film Community Awards representing the best in film for 2017 and voted on by YOU the fans of Next Best Picture were revealed.

The full list of nominations are listed below along with the link which will take you to the form to fill out your ballot. Voting officially begins now and will run until February 17th 2018 with the winners being revealed the next day on Episode 78 of the Next Best Picture Podcast.

Congratulations on your nominations and thank you! Happy voting!

By Matt Neglia

The Directors Guild Of America (DGA) have announced their winners representing the best in Directing for 2017.

Click below to see the winners.

By Matt Neglia

As heard on Episode 76 of The Next Best Picture Podcast, the winners for the 2017 NBP Film Awards have officially been announced. The nominations and winners were voted on by the staff over here at Next Best Picture. For those who prefer to see the winners written out, we have included them here. Each winner was determined using a preferential voting system.

Click below to see this year's winners.

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 76, it is a packed house where I am joined by Michael Schwartz, Will Mavity, Deann Chiazzese, Daniel Howat & Josh Williams. Together, we reveal the winners of the first ever NBP Film Awards for 2017 voted on by the staff at Next Best Picture and then afterwards, we reveal the first ever NBP Film Community Awards Nominations which will be voted on by all of you starting on Sunday February 4th until February 17th 2018.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Liam Heffernan​

​This year’s batch of Academy Award nominees is one of the most predictable in recent years. Though Best Picture is still anyone’s award, the majority feel like a formality with a clear frontrunner in every category.

Gary Oldman is widely considered a sure thing to win his first Oscar for his leading performance in "Darkest Hour," but there may just be some surprise competition from three-time winner Daniel Day-Lewis. A shock win for his performance in "Phantom Thread" may not be as impossible as it first sounds.

By Michael Schwartz

One thing that really struck me about all the great 2017 movies that I had the pleasure of seeing was that the best ones told stories that differed from my own life, yet allowed me to relate to the characters portrayed. That got me thinking about why we go to the movies. Is it to see a direct representation of ourselves on screen? Or is it see reflections of ourselves through characters whose lives seem a world apart from our own? In writing about my favorite films of the year, I discovered that I had more experiences related to the later. I never went to Catholic school in Sacramento or made the decision to publish government secrets in my newspaper. Yet I totally related to the characters who did. At the same time, I also spent the last year only watching the films I wanted to see. That isn’t to say that they were all good, but I only spent my time with projects I thought I wanted to watch. There’s a lot to be said for that. With oversaturation in the marketplace, one cannot see everything that comes out. Furthermore, not every film is intended for every audience. I loved films that others disliked and disliked films that others loved. That’s the beauty of film as a subjective art form, and one of the reasons I love being able to talk about my favorites. We may not always agree, but the least we can do is try to understand why someone else feels so passionate about their own favorites. 

Without further ado, these are my favorite films of 2017.

By Matt Neglia

The GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, have announced their winners for the 2017 Dorian Awards representing the best in film and LGBTQ representation on film and television for 2017.

Click below to see the winners.

By Matt Neglia & Will Mavity

We're in the final stretch. Oscar Nominations have been announced (You can see some of our predictions here). Our Top 10's are being rolled out. Our staff awards (NBP Film Awards) winners will be announced this weekend along with the NBP Film Community Awards Nominations (Which you'll be able to vote on). It's all coming to an end. With only a few days left between now and the Oscars (March 4th), it is time for one last update for all of the important dates to keep track of for the remainder of the 2017 film awards season.

Click below to see which final important awards season dates need to be added to your calendar.