The Oscar Project Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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In today's episode, I interview Tobias Eckerlin, director of the short film "A Sparrow's Song," a story of a widowed air raid warden in the midst of World War II struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy in her life.

Listen to hear about the challenges of creating a consistent look and feel in an animated virtual world, the importance of using sound and music to support and enhance the visual world, and what the experience of the Student Academy Awards was like.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Mouthful of Birds: Stories by Samanta Schweblin
• Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

• "A Sparrow's Song" directed by Tobias Eckerlin
• Zodiac directed by David Fincher
• The Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson
• Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
• Ratatouille directed by Brad Bird
• Soul directed by Pete Docter
• Aladdin directed by John Musker and Ron Clements

Follow Tobias on Instagram @tobiaseckerlin.visuals.

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Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Their Own Desire. I'm joined by Maria Banson from the Brunello Bombshell newsletter and we talk about Norma Shearer's place as an inspiration for women in Hollywood of the time, the portrayal of a young athletic woman on screen, and a special bond between father and daughter that is a throughline in the film.

You can watch Their Own Desire on YouTube or rent it from Amazon and be sure to check out Maria's newsletter.

Other films mentioned in this episode include:

• Sunset Boulevard directed by Billy Wilder
• The Last of Mrs. Cheyney directed by Sidney Franklin
• The Hollywood Revue of 1929 directed by Charles F. Reisner
• The Private Life of Helen of Troy directed by Alexander Korda (partially lost film)
• The Patriot directed by Ernst Lubitsch (lost film)
• Wonder of Women directed by Clarence Brown (lost film)
• A Woman of Affairs directed by Clarence Brown
• Madame X directed by Lionel Barrymore
• The Big House directed by George Hill
• Romance directed by Clarence Brown
• Coquette directed by Sam Taylor
• The Divorcee directed by Robert Z. Leonard
• Anora directed by Sean Baker

Other referenced topics:

• Their Own Desire (novel) by Sarita Fuller
• The Crown (series)
• Letterboxd reviews from Chris Hughes and Gentry
• Terry Sherwood writing on Stardust and Shadows

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Today's episode is the final episode of my series of double episodes featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees.

My first interview today is with 2025 Student Academy Award finalists Loïck du Plessis D’Argentré, Maud Le Bras, and Jiaxin Huang, collaborators on the animated short film "The Shyness of Trees." We discuss thoughts on being away from family, thoughts of losing a parent, and the ability to bring influences from multiple cultures into the film.

Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award semi-finalist Atharva Raut, director of the film "Beyond the Conflict." We talk about one of the workers who has developed a strong connection with the animals in his care and what Atharva hopes people learn about the leopard population in Mumbai from his film.

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

• "The Skyness of Trees" directed by Sofiia Chuikovska, Loïck du Plessis D’Argentré, Lina Han, Simin He, Jiaxin Huang, Maud Le Bras, and Bingqing Shu
• "Beyond the Conflict" directed by Atharva Raut
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind directed by Michel Gondry
• The Taste of Tea directed by Katsuhito Ishii
• The Sacrifice directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
• Into the Wild directed by Sean Penn
• My Neighbor Totoro directed by Hayao Miyazaki
• The Great Gatsby directed by Baz Luhrmann
• Autumn Sonata directed by Ingmar Bergman
• The Disciple directed by Chaitanya Tamhane
• Virunga directed by Orlando von Einsiedel
• The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan
• Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir
• All That Breathes directed by Shaunak Sen

Follow "The Shyness of Trees" film account on Instagram @shynessoftrees.gobelins and Maud is @grumpymaud, Loïck is @_ciklo_, and Jiaxin is @huanggechi. For "Beyond the Conflict," follow Atharva @atharva.raut and check out his website at www.atharvaraut.com.

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In today's episode, I interview Aaron Johnson, the director of the short film "The 17%," a documentary about Colette Divitto, a young woman with Downs Syndrome and her successful cookie business. The film received the silver medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the some of the people that Collete employs in her business, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the visual world of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
• Art of Living by Epictetus

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "The 17%" directed by Aaron Johnson
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower directed by Stephen Chbosky
• Good Will Hunting directed by Gus Van Sant
• Crip Camp directed by James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham
• The Peanut Butter Falcon directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz
• Baby Driver directed by Edgar Wright
• The work of Denzel Washington
• Gladiator II directed by Ridley Scott

"The 17%" is waiting to hear back from multiple festivals and is eligible for the 97th Academy Awards.

You can follow Aaron on Instagram @ajhoops and the film @the17percentfilm.

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In today's episode, I interview Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle Bonnardel, the directors of the short film "Au Revoir Mon Monde," an animated film about a man in a fish costume trying to reach the woman he loves before the world ends. The film received the gold medal in the animation category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Florian's own life, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the visual world of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick
• 2001: a Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
• The Cursed Kings
• Préférence système by Ugo Bienvenu

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "Au Revoir Mon Monde” directed by Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle Bonnardel
• 2012 directed by Roland Emmerich
• Ready Player One directed by Steven Spielberg
• Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story directed by Gareth Edwards
• Melancholia directed by Lars von Trier
• Your Name. directed by Makoto Shinkai
• Memories of Murder directed by Bong Joon-ho
• The Wickerman directed by Robin Hardy
• The Banshees of Inisherin directed by Martin McDonagh
• Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott
• Boogie Nights directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
• Boyz N' the Hood directed by John Singleton
• Transformers directed by Michael Bay
• The Place Beyond the Pines directed by Derek Cianfrance
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King directed by Peter Jackson
• Shrek directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
• Kung Fu Panda directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
• Big Trouble in Little China directed by John Carpenter
• Puss in Boots directed by Chris Matthew Miller
• Scrubs (TV show)

"Au Revoir Mon Monde" has been presented at numerous film festivals around the world this year and is in the running for the 97th Academy Awards.

You can follow the film on Instagram @au_revoir_mon_monde and follow the Florian @vaulfe, Maxime @grenade_bio, and Estelle @fat_mimi_the_third.

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In today's episode, I interview Rishabh Raj Jain, the director of the short film "A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)," a documentary about a one young woman seeking an opportunity to escape a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh and receive education in the West. The film received the bronze medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Rishabh's investigative reporting in Myanmar and Bangladesh, how refugees have to adapt their language and lifestyle to try and fit into their host country, and how Rishabh's personal connection to the story affected how he put the final film together.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Make No Law: The Sullivan Case and the First Amendment by Anthony Lewis

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)” directed by Rishabh Raj Jain
• Waltz With Bashir directed by Ari Folman
• Society of the Snow directed by J. A. Bayona
• The Settlers directed by Shimon Dotan
• The work of Rory Kennedy
• The work of Shah Rukh Khan
• The work of Riz Ahmed

"A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)" was presented at the Tasveer Film Festival in October and is looking for other .

You can follow Rishabh on Instagram @rishabh.jain403 and follow the film @adreamcalledkhushi.

Read some of Rishabh's reporting work at the links below:

• Rohingya Women Detail Rape by Myanmar Forces
• Indian farmers mark 6 months of protest with no end in sight
• Through kids’ eyes: Virus outbreak brings sadness, fear, joy

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In today's episode, I interview Hannah Rafkin, the director of the short film "Keeper," a documentary about one man's effort to keep bees in the Bronx while raising his daughters as a single father. The film received the gold medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how a small 5-minute project blossomed into this film, how Hannah built the trust necessary continue filming when Flynn got sick, and some experiences that didn't manage to make it into the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Bees by Laline Paull
• How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
• Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir by Roz Chast

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "Keeper” directed by Hannah Rafkin
• “Crush Icebergs” directed by Hannah Rafkin
• “The Clockmaker” directed by Hannah Rafkin
• All that Breathes directed by Salik Rehman
• Mayor directed by David Osit
• Hail Satan? directed by Penny Lane
• The Talented Mr. Ripley directed by Anthony Minghella
• But I'm a Cheerleader directed by Jamie Babbit

"Keeper" will be playing at DOCNYC next week on November 13th and 15th and there will be several screenings in New York later this fall.

You can follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahrafkin and follow the film @keeperdoc to see when and where the film will be playing this fall. Find out more about Flynn's honey business @boogiedownbronxhoney and Flynn's daughter Alaura @alaura.flynn.

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In today's episode, I interview Jens Kevin Georg, the director of the short film "Crust" which tells the story of a young boy in search of his first scar. The film received the silver medal in the narrative category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, how he knew he had selected the right actor to play his lead, how he found a roller coaster to fit in his film, and Jens' own first scar.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "Crust” directed by Jens Kevin Georg
• Midsommar directed by Ari Aster
• 2001: A Space Odyssey directed by Stanley Kubrick
• Superbad directed by Greg Mottola
• The Royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Anderson
• Banshees of Inisherin directed by Martin McDonagh
• Kajillionaire directed by Miranda July
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople directed by Taika Waititi

"Crust" will be playing at the Alcine Film Festival in Spain and the Izmir Short Film Festival in Turkey both in November.

You can follow Jens on Instagram @jens__georg and follow the film @kruste_film to see when and where the film will be playing this fall.

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In today's episode, I interview Sarah Blok, the director of the short film "Trouble" which explores the story of a family dealing with changing relationships amid the separation of the two parents. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the involvement of two actors in casting the film, how Sarah's background in playwriting contributed to the development of the characters in the film, and .

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Life Ceremony: Stories by Sayaka Murata

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "Trouble” directed by Sarah Blok
• A Woman Under the Influence directed by John Cassavetes
• Punch Drunk Love directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
• The Double directed by Richard Ayoade
• Poor Things directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
• The Big Lebowski directed by Joel Coen
• Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins

"Trouble" recently screened at the BFI London Film Festival and will likely be screening at other festivals throughout the fall and winter.

You can follow Sarah on Instagram @bloksarah to see what she is working on.

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In today's episode, I interview Jamie O’Rourke, the director of the short film "Calf." The film looks at a topic that is extremely relevant to many people around the world today, yet not talked about nearly enough and is it qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film in working on a documentary on abuse, some striking statistics around domestic abuse, and the benefits of being able to shoot almost the entire film on a recently retired farm.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Republic of Shame: How Ireland Punished ‘Fallen Women’ and Their Children by Caelainn Hogan
• Making the Future: The Unipolar Imperial Moment by Noam Chomsky
• There Are Little Kingdoms by Kevin Barry

Films mentioned in this episode include:

• "Calf” directed by Jamie O’Rourke
• Zone of Interest directed by Jonathan Glazer
• La Chimera directed by Alice Rohrwacher
• Aftersun directed by Charlotte Wells
• Ghost directed by Jerry Zucker
• Fargo directed by Joel Coen
• Groundhog Day directed by Harold Ramis
• "The Afters" directed by Jamie O’Rourke

Follow Jamie on Instagram @jamie_o_rourke and the film @calf_thefilm.

"Calf" recently screened at the Newport Beach International Film Festival and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last week and you can check out at the St. Louis International Film Festival November 7th-17th and the Norwich Film Festival November 11th-24th with more coming up this fall.

Find out more about domestic abuse in Ireland at the Women's Aid website.

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