15 films ready for the season's awards

Hoppers, a Disney production, takes its inspiration

At the Summer Cinema event, held at the DGA Theatre in Los Angeles, the public is invited to explore a selection of 15 productions preparing to compete for the season's major awards. This special edition of Contenders Film brings together the creative teams and actors behind some highly anticipated projects from eight major studios and streaming platforms.

A focal point of the day is the film „I Play Rocky”, directed by Peter Farrelly, which retells the story of young Sylvester Stallone, setting the action in locations in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Farrelly, who is receiving the Hall of Fame Contenders Award today, will support a special panel alongside screenwriter Peter Gamble and lead actor Anthony Ippolito.

Another important production is „Being Heumann ”, by Sian Heder, which transports spectators to San Francisco to tell the true story of the disability rights activist, Judy Heumann. Heder and lead actress Ruth Madeley will be on stage alongside casting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell.

In a California-themed animated world, Toy Story 5 marks the long-awaited return of the iconic characters: Woody (played by Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and other heroes. Producer Lindsey Collins will be present to detail the technical and creative aspects of this new chapter.

Hoppers, a Disney production, takes its inspiration from the state of Oregon to create the fictional town of Beaverton Glade. The story follows teenager Mabel (played by Piper Curda), who tries to defeat the local environmentally-sensitive mayor (played by Jon Hamm), infiltrating the beaver community. Director Daniel Chong, producer Nicole Paradis Grindle and Kurda will discuss the project.

In Houston, Your Motheris directed and written by Bassam Tariq. The film follows a widower (played by Mahershala Ali) who raises three children and who, in parallel, is a hitman. Tariq will be accompanied on stage by Ali, his distribution colleague John Cho and the composers Son Lux.

The New York metropolitan area is the scene of „The Only Living Pickpocket in New York”, which takes place in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. John Turturro plays a professional pocket thief, and Tatiana Maslany plays her estranged daughter. Both actors will be present on the panel.

Although Bunkerwas filmed in Madrid

Continuing its tour of the tri-state region, The Liberationby Guy Nattiv explores the life of a New Jersey gentleman (played by Carrie Coon) who leaves family life to join an exclusive female community. Nattiv, Coon and Lily James will be discussing the film, which is loosely based on the life of Nattiv's grandmother.

In Manhattan, we meet „Tuner ”, the story of a hearing impaired piano tuner who becomes a safe-breaker (played by Leo Woodall). The film, directed by Daniel Roher, is proud of the sound design created by Johnnie Burn, who will be present to discuss his work.

Although Bunkerwas filmed in Madrid, this film by Florian Zeller creates a compelling picture of London. Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, also a real-life couple, portray a couple who are going through marital tensions. Zeller and Cruz will be on stage to share the experience of the production.

Also in the UK (although it's a fantastic location), Wicker features a fisherman (played by Olivia Colman) ordering a knitted husband from a cold (played by Alexander Skarsgård) in response to social pressure to marry. Writer-directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, along with Skarsgård and makeup artist and designer Joe Dunkley, will be present.

In Project Hail Mary , the action takes place among the stars, with scientist turned middle school teacher, Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling), on a final mission to save the world alongside his unexpected alien friend, Rocky. Directors-producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, screenwriter Drew Goddard and editor Joel Negron will discuss the film.

A little closer to home, Jennifer Peedom's Tenzing , based on the script by Luke Davies, takes us to the top of Mount Everest (Chomolungma). Tenzing Norgay (played by Genden Phuntsok) and Edmund Hillary (played by Tom Hiddleston) are the protagonists of this true story. Peedom and Davies will explain how they made an epic story in epic locations.

Leaving the known universe altogether, Hexed features teenager Billy Doe (played by Hailee Steinfeld) who accidentally finds himself, along with his mother Alice (played by Rashida Jones), in a mysterious witch world, led by Celeste Queen (played by Jodie Foster). Jared Bush, creative director of Walt Disney Animation Studios and screenwriter, will be joining the stage