How Netflix’s ‘Emilia Pérez’ Emerged as the Top Awards Season Contender Despite Online Backlash
variety.comEmilia Perez” wasn’t talked about as an Oscar hopeful after it first bowed at the Cannes Film Festival, but eight months on and Jacques Audiard‘s musical thriller about a Mexican cartel boss who undergoes gender affirmation surgery to become a woman looks like it’s in pole position to land some major statuettes.
On Sunday, it won big at the Golden Globes, emerging ahead with four gongs, including best motion picture — musical or comedy (over Cannes’ Palme d’Or winner “Anora,” which was snubbed entirely), best supporting actress for Zoe Saldaña, best motion picture — non-English language and best original song.
Just two days earlier, it was the top film out of the BAFTA longlists, with 15 slots across the various categories. The emergence of “Emilia Perez” as arguably the film to beat isn’t just a testament to the feature itself, but Netflix’s flair, foresight and finances, having splurged on a movie that appeared to have so many red flags that most major U.S.
distributors steered clear. After buying the movie in Cannes for the U.S. and the U.K. in a deal worth approximately $12 million, the streamer is believed to have spent several times that amount on the campaign.
Read more on variety.com
