In a stern reminder that we’re not free of COVID yet, 3/5 of last night’s “Outstanding Directors of the Year” only appeared virtually. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Jane Campion, and Steven Spielberg streamed their pre-recorded conversations, leaving Paul Thomas Anderson and Sir Kenneth Branagh to hold the live stage. The Hollywood Reporter‘s Scott Feinberg moderated both the live and pre-recorded segments.
Although it was disappointing not to have all five panelists in the room, this event was a fine example of SBIFF’s recent trend of hosting high-profile director tributes. Hearing the Oscar-nominated directors talk shop is sometimes more interesting than the star-gazing approach of the actor tributes.
Among the pearls of wisdom offered was Spielberg admitting that “I have always wanted to make a musical. I love the format.” Meanwhile, Anderson described the intuitive and non-linear process behind Licorice Pizza, which culled various inner narrative threads together into a surprising whole. In his “format,” he commented that “ideally, you have a story at the center, and the center will hold.” His was a balancing act which involved both a knowingness and a freedom of flight.”