While summer is behind us, the film industry is bringing out its biggest assets and 2025 is coming with a bang. So many films, so few awards. Luckily, Deadline is here to help cut through some of that noise with Contenders Film: London, our annual UK stop that kicked off Saturday with nine films in the awards season conversation.
As regulars already know, our event is like speed-dating for movie buffs, filled with juicy preview clips, star-studded panels, and behind-the-scenes insights from all the best players.
Fresh from their world premiere in Toronto, director Rian Johnson, producer Ram Bergman and actor Josh O’Connor will share the secrets of Wake up dead manthe last At loggerheads murder-mystery with Daniel Craig in the role of detective Benoit Blanc. Director Noah Baumbach will also be in attendance, along with star Adam Sandler, producer David Heyman and casting director Nina Gold to discuss Baumbach’s new film. Jay Kellywhich stars George Clooney as a Hollywood star facing a life crisis and Sandler as his longtime manager.
Right after last year’s papal coup Conclavedirector Edward Berger will be back in the hot seat for his intimate gaming thriller set in Macau Ballad of a Little Playeraccompanied by its stars Colin Farrell and Fala Chen as well as cinematographer James Friend. And on a larger scale, we have the creative team behind Paul Greengrass’ visceral action thriller. The lost bus: sound editing supervisor Rachael Tate, VFX supervisor Charlie Noble and re-recording mixer William Miller. The trio will be on hand to explain how the production so frighteningly recreates California’s deadliest wildfire on record.
For a change of pace, director Nia DaCosta will discuss Heddahis elegant period story in a British setting of Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, casting director Des Hamilton and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will talk about their creative choices. Director Luca Guadagnino, whose film After the hunt gives us a devastating look at cancel culture on campus. He will be joined by writer Nora Garrett, casting director Jessica Ronane and cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed.
Click to read Deadline’s Contenders Movie Preview Issue: London
On the song and show side, director Jon M. Chu will be on hand to reveal what awaits Elphaba and Glinda in the highly anticipated musical sequel. Villain: for goodwhile Kerry Condon will be on hand to discuss the high octane effect F1: The movie. And at the other end of the scale we welcome director Clint Bentley with his early 20th century rural saga. Form dreams. Joining him on stage will be stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones and Condon, as well as the film’s composer Bryce Dessner.
Add in a panel dedicated to the art of casting and this year’s Contenders promises to be one of the best yet. Follow us all day on Deadline.com and on our social networks via #DeadlineContenders.
Below is the list of today’s films and panelists:
Pretenders Film: London 2025
Programming and panelists in order of appearance (subject to change)
NETFLIX
Wake Up Dead Man: A knife-edge mystery
Rian Johnson (writer/director/producer)
Ram Bergman (Producer)
Josh O’Connor (actor)
Jay Kelly
Noah Baumbach (writer/director/producer)
David Heyman (Producer)
Nina Gold (casting director)
Adam Sandler (actor)
AMAZON MGM STUDIOS
After the hunt
Luca Guadagnino (Director/Producer)
Nora Garrett (writer)
Jessica Ronane (casting director)
Malik Hassan Sayeed (cinematographer)
Hedda
Nia DaCosta (writer/director/producer)
Sean Bobbitt (cinematographer)
Lindsay Pugh (costume designer)
Des Hamilton (Costume Designer)
Hildur Guðnadóttir (Composer)
SPECIAL PANEL: CASTING
After the hunt: Jessica Ronane (casting director)
F1: The film: Lucy Bevan (casting director), Emily Brockmann (casting director)
Hedda: Des Hamilton (casting director), Jo Harris (casting director)
UNIVERSAL IMAGES
Villain: for good
Jon M. Chu (Director)
ORIGINAL APPLE FILMS
The lost bus
Rachel Tate (supervising sound editor)
William Miller (re-recording mixer)
Charlie Noble (VFX supervisor)
F1: The movie
Kerry Condon (Actor)
NETFLIX
Ballad of a Little Player
Edward Berger (director/producer)
Colin Farrell (actor)
Fala Chan (Actor)
James Friend (cinematographer)
Form dreams
Clint Bentley (co-writer/director)
Joel Edgerton (actor)
Felicity Jones (Actor)
Kerry Condon (Actor)
Bryce Dessner (composer)
