The Vatican thriller "Conclave," starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, is generating Oscars buzz after screening at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday. The film dives into the secretive process of how Catholic cardinals select a new pope, showcasing their high-stakes meetings behind closed doors.
"Conclave," based on Robert Harris’s novel, imagines the intense power struggles that unfold after the death of a pope. Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, who is in charge of organizing the conclave, while Tucci and John Lithgow portray cardinals competing for the papal throne. Fiennes, a two-time Oscar nominee, is already on experts' lists for a possible Best Actor nod for his role.
The film is directed by Edward Berger, who won four Academy Awards last year for "All Quiet on the Western Front." It features a gripping score by Oscar-winning composer Volker Bertelmann, adding to the film’s suspenseful pace and surprising conclusion.
Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation's "The Wild Robot," also premiered in Toronto, is expected to be part of the awards conversation. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o voices Roz, an intelligent robot stranded on an island after a storm. To survive, Roz befriends various animals, including a gosling named Brightbill. Directed by Chris Sanders, known for "Lilo & Stitch," the film is based on Peter Brown’s popular book.
The animation is praised for its unique, almost painted look, breaking visual norms. Sanders and the cast, including Pedro Pascal and Mark Hamill, attended the premiere, with Nyong’o sharing how her voice brought warmth to Roz’s character.
The Toronto International Film Festival, which is one of the major platforms for awards contenders, continues until September 15.
