Often overlooked by outsiders, but considered a clear barometer for the upcoming Oscars by industry professionals, the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony concluded last night. These awards are given by actors to their fellow colleagues, all of whom are part of the union that represents over 170,000 performers in film and television, from the most famous to the lesser-known ones.
The winner for Best Cast β equivalent to Best Picture β was Conclave by Edward Berger. On stage to receive the award were part of the large ensemble, represented on this occasion by Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. The only one missing was Stanley Tucci, who plays Cardinal Bellini in the film, which focuses on the process of electing the Pope, with strategic plots and alliances among cardinals to push their preferred candidate to the papal throne.
Isabella Rossellini, who captivated everyone with her eight-minute performance, brought up the film’s urgent relevance in light of Pope Francis’ hospitalization at Gemelli Hospital, wishing him a “speedy recovery.”
Sergio Castellitto, who plays the most reactionary aspiring pontiff in the film, echoed her sentiments: “This is a dramatic moment for us, for the whole world. In Italy, it’s very intense, and I am praying. I think this makes the film even more interesting because we are talking about the conclave, and soon there might actually be one.”
After sweeping the British BAFTA Awards, Conclave now appears to be a strong contender for the Oscar for Best Picture.
Other Awards
TimothΓ©e Chalamet won the SAG Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a young Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Nothing for Adrien Brody, who was left empty-handed for his role as a brilliant architect haunted by the Holocaust in The Brutalist. The SAG Award for Best Actress went to Demi Moore for her role in the horror film The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for A Real Pain and Emilia Perez, respectively.
Finally, a Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Jane Fonda, who received the unionβs Life Achievement Award. Without directly mentioning President Donald Trump, Fonda recalled the McCarthyism era of the 1950s and urged the film industry to “resist” the current political climate in the United States, just as it did back then: “Hollywood stood its ground,” she said, receiving a standing ovation.
The acting profession holds significant importance within the U.S. production system. Proof of this was the prolonged 2023 strike, which saw artists walk off the job for nearly 120 days before reaching a three-year agreement with major studios and streaming platforms. This resolved a tough labor dispute, covering not only economic issues but also concerns over the use of new technologies.