As part of a , the four-week Oscar Winners season gives you a front-row seat to a parade of award-winning films.
Catch them 9.30pm weeknights on SBS World Movies from Monday 28 December to Friday 22 January. Most will also be available at SBS On Demand for 30 days after they air; we've called out which are only available for a more fleeting appearance there, or only available on air, so you can plan your award-winning viewing schedule!
WEEK 1
Monday 28 December
Precious
MA15+
United States, 2009
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Lee Daniels
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Bill Sage, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patton, Mo'Nique
What's it about?
Set in Harlem in 1987. Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) endures unimaginable hardships in her young life. She's pregnant for the second time to her abusive father; at home she must wait hand and foot on a poisonously angry mother. In these conditions she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. But underneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. A Best Picture Oscar nominee, the film scored a Best Adapted Screenplay win, plus a Best Supporting Actress award for Mo'Nique.
[link title="Precious Review" url="node/4875"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: Precious" url="node/14750"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 27 January.
Tuesday 29 December
The Grand Budapest Hotel
M
United States, 2000
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Léa Seydoux, Tony Revolori, Owen Wilson
What's it about?
Adventures are in store for legendary concierge Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), who works at a famous European hotel between the wars. His problems begin with the sudden death of one of the hotel's guests (with whom he has had a romantic encounter). The deceased woman (Tilda Swinton) leaves Gustave a valuable painting, much to the horror of her son (Adrien Brody). The popular film garnered nine Academy Award nominations, and took home four, including Best Original Score, at the 2015 Oscars.
[link title="The Grand Budapest Hotel Review" url="node/14302"]
[link title="The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson interview" url="node/15742"]
Will not be available at SBS On Demand.
Wednesday 30 December
The Great Beauty
MA15+
Italy, 2013
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: Italian
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Starring: Tony Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferelli
What's it about?
In Rome, a jaded writer (Toni Servillo) recollects his passionate, lost youth. Sorrentino's film won the Best International Feature Film (formerly called Best Foreign Language Film) Oscar at the 2014 Academy Awards.
[link title="The Great Beauty: Toni Servillo interview" url="node/1771"]
[link title="The Great Beauty Review" url="node/6239"]
[link title="Italy's 'The Great Beauty' wins best foreign language Oscar" url="node/14650"]
[link title="Dinner and a Movie: ‘The Great Beauty’ and pasta e fagioli" url="node/206855"]
Now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Thursday 31 December
12 Years a Slave
MA15+
United States, 2013
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o
What's it about?
The shocking true story of a free man from upstate New York, abducted and sold into slavery in the Deep South. Facing cruelty from his owner, Solomon (Chiwetel Ejiofor) struggles to stay alive, and to retain his dignity. Inspired by the true story of Solomon Northup, the film won Best Picture at the 2014 Academy Awards.
[link title="'12 Years a Slave:' an American story unearthed by British filmmaker" url="node/1744"]
[link title="12 Years A Slave Review" url="node/6313"]
[link title="'12 Years a Slave': Interview" url="node/13892"]
[link title="'12 Years a Slave' makes history with best picture Oscar" url="node/14668"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 30 January.
Source: SBS Movies
Friday 1 January
The King's Speech
M
United Kingdom, 2010
Genre: Drama, History
Language: English
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter
What's it about?
After his brother abdicates, George, aka 'Bertie', (Colin Firth) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war. Nominated for numerous Academy Awards, the film won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor for Colin Firth, in 2011.
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 31 January.
WEEK 2
Monday 4 January
Still Alice
M
United States, 2015
Genre: Drama
United States, 2015
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, Kristen Stewart, Julianne Moore
What's it about?
Fifty-year-old Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) leads a seemingly perfect life, with a happy marriage and three grown children, and a successful career as a renowned linguistics professor. However her life is turned upside down when she starts forgetting words. She receives a devastating diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, which will put Alice and her family through the test, as she struggles to remain the woman she once was. Moore won Best Actress at the 2015 Academy Awards for her role.
Fifty-year-old Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) leads a seemingly perfect life, with a happy marriage and three grown children, and a successful career as a renowned linguistics professor. However her life is turned upside down when she starts forgetting words. She receives a devastating diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, which will put Alice and her family through the test, as she struggles to remain the woman she once was. Moore won Best Actress at the 2015 Academy Awards for her role.
[link title="Still Alice review" url="node/30968"]
[link title=" Julianne Moore on 'Still Alice', and getting inside the mind of Alzheimer's sufferers" url="node/31590"]
Now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Tuesday 5 January
Whiplash
MA15+
United States, 2014
Genre: Music, Drama
Language: English
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller
What's it about?
In New York, a young musician (Miles Teller) who aspires to become a top jazz drummer is pushed to his limits by a ruthless teacher (J.K Simmons). Nominated for Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards, the film won Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing gongs, while J.K. Simmons collected the award for Best Supporting Actor.
[link title="First look at Mickey Rourke as Whiplash" url="node/2005"]
[link title="Whiplash review: The music movie as bloodsport " url="node/23289"]
[link title="Whiplash treats music school like a warzone (interview) " url="node/24087"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 19 January.
Source: SBS Movies
Wednesday 6 January
Amour
M
France, Germany, 2012
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva
What's it about?
Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack and the couple's bond of love is severely tested. Riva was nominated for a Best Actress award for her role, and the film took home the Best International Feature Film award at the 2013 Academy Awards.
[link title="A Minute With: Michael Haneke and the story behind 'Amour'" url="node/1340"]
[link title="Amour: Jean-Louis Trintignant interview" url="node/1363"]
[link title="Amour wins Oscar for best foreign language film - Oscars 2013" url="node/1371"]
[link title="Amour review: Leave it to the master to tackle dying with dignity" url="node/5843"]
Now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Thursday 7 January
Spotlight
M
United States, 2015
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, Michael Keaton, John Slattery
What's it about?
Directed by Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, Win Win), Spotlight follows a team of reporters at The Boston Globe who, in 2001, launched a dogged investigation into the misdeeds covered up by the Catholic Church. They were eventually able to out nearly 90 Boston-area priests as molesters and exposed a pattern of corruption at the church where the higher-ups privy to the scandal would effectively silence any accusers who came forward. The film won Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars in 2016.
[link title="Spotlight review: Smart, subtle approach exposes villains hiding in plain sight" url="node/57070"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 6 February.
Friday 8 January
Birdman
MA
United States, 2014
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan
What's it about?
An actor (Michael Keaton) who once found fame by playing an iconic superhero attempts to reclaim his former success by mounting a Broadway play and must overcome his ego and family trouble in the process. He has to deal with his fresh-from-rehab daughter (Emma Stone), who works on the play as his assistant, as well as his cast: co-star and love interest Laura (Andrea Riseborough), method actor Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), and the latter's girlfriend Lynne (Naomi Watts). The 2015 Best Picture winner also scored Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Director.
[link title="Michael Keaton and Alejandro González Iñárritu talk Birdman, Batman, and Tim Burton " url="node/19651"]
[link title="Birdman review" url="node/29055"]
[link title="2015 Oscars: Birdman flies high" url="node/29917"]
[link title="'Birdman' wins Oscar for Best Picture" url="node/33190"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 7 February.
WEEK 3
Monday 11 January
Lost in Translation
M
Japan, 2003
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
What's it about?
An ageing actor (Bill Murray) bonds with a bored 20-something woman (Scarlett Johansson), while both are adrift in Japan. Coppola won Best Original Screenplay at the 2004 Academy Awards and was also nominated for Best Director. The film was also nominated for Best Picture.
[link title="Lost In Translation Review" url="node/3025"]
Will not be available at SBS On Demand.
Sofia Coppola's 'Lost In Translation' Source: SBS Movies
Tuesday 12 January
Son of Saul
M
Hungary, 2015
Genre: Drama, Thriller, War
Language: German, Hungarian, Yiddish
Director: Laszlo Nemes
Starring: Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn
What's it about?
In the horror of 1944 Auschwitz, a prisoner forced to burn the corpses of his own people finds moral survival trying to save from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son. The drama won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film in 2016.
[link title="Son of Saul review: An unforgettable experience" url="node/59885"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 11 February.
Wednesday 13 January
Dallas Buyers Club
MA15+
United States, 2013
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Steve Zahn, Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto
What's it about?
1986, Texas. Homophobic womaniser Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey) is completely oblivious of AIDS, even as it spreads through the world, terrifying the public. So when Ron contracts HIV, he is blindsided. Given just 30 days to live, he tries in vain to be included in the AZT drug trial. Ron seeks out other untested, alternative medications in Mexico, and establishes an underground network of drug supply for the growing numbers of people being diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The film won three Oscars in 2014, including Best Picture and a Best Actor award for McConaughey.
[link title="Dallas Buyers Club: interview" url="node/1883"]
[link title="Dallas Buyers Club Review" url="node/6315"]
[link title="'Dallas Buyers Club': underdog film turned scrappy Oscar contender" url="node/13874"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 10 February.
Source: SBS Movies
Thursday 14 January
Zero Dark Thirty
M
USA, 2013
Genre: Thriller
Language: English
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Jason Clarke, Mark Strong, Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt
What's it about?
For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret locations across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal to track down and eliminate wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. The film had multiple nominations including Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards, winning the nod for Best Sound Editing.
[link title="Zero Dark Thirty Turns Political Firestorm Into Box-Office Triumph" url="node/1239"]
[link title="Zero Dark Thirty review: Fact blurs with fiction into a crackerjack thriller" url="node/6094"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 13 February.
Friday 15 January
Babel
MA15+
United States, Mexico, France, 2006
Genre: Drama
Language: English, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, other
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Rinko Kikuchi, Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt
What's it about?
A rifle shot in the Moroccan desert sets in motion a series of events that will have tragic consequences for the two young Moroccan gunmen, as well as a married American couple who are grieving on holiday, a Mexican nanny struggling to make ends meet and a rebellious, deaf Japanese girl. The film won the 2007 Oscar for Best Original Score, and was also nominated for Best Picture.
[link title="Babel: Alejandro González Iñárritu interview " url="node/223"]
[link title="Babel betters with age" url="node/2448"]
[link title="Alejandro González Iñárritu’s epic ‘Babel’ embodies the greatness of Mexican cinema " url="node/203455"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand until 29 January.
WEEK 4
Monday 18 January
Midnight in Paris
PG
Spain, United States, 2011
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Language: English, French, German, Spanish
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Michael Sheen, Nina Arianda, Carla Bruni
What's it about?
A romantic comedy about a family travelling to the French capital for business, Midnight in Paris won Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards in 2012. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
[link title="Midnight in Paris Review" url="node/5659"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast (until 17 February).
Tuesday 19 January
Her
MA
United States, 2013
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Language: English
Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson
What's it about?
In future Los Angeles, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely man who has had his heart broken. He makes money composing intimate letters for other people. He uses his savings to invest in a personalised computer operating system called Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), who is designed to meet his every requirement. Theodore and Samantha have a fulfilling life together, serving each other's needs, but over time their relationship develops and deepens, becoming more complicated than anyone could have predicted. A Best Picture nominee, the film took home a Best Original Screenplay award.
[link title="Actor Joaquin Phoenix finds love in a virtual world in 'Her'" url="node/1868"]
[link title="Her: Spike Jonze interview" url="node/1886"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast (until 2 February).
Source: SBS Movies
Wednesday 20 January
A Separation
PG
Iran, 2000
Genre: Drama
Language: Persian-Farsi
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Starring: Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi
What's it about?
A couple, Nader (Peyman Moaadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami), have opposite ideas about living abroad but the same opinions about divorce. They have acquired visas to emigrate from Iran, but while Simin is anxious to ensure a better future for their 10-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi), Nader refuses to leave his elderly father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. When the judge refuses to formalise their separation, Simin resolutely departs the family home, leaving the obstinate Nader to contract the services of a housekeeper. Razieh (Sareh Bayat) is a devout, impoverished woman who tends to the apartment and Nader's father with her own four-year-old daughter in tow. When Nader returns one day to find his father alone and compromised, his fury leads to an altercation that has unexpected and devastating consequences. A Separation won Best International Feature Film in 2012.
[link title="A Separation impresses judges yet again" url="node/848"]
[link title="A Separation Review" url="node/5503"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast (until 19 February).
Thursday 21 January
Blue Jasmine
M
United States, 2013
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, Peter Sarsgaard
What's it about?
When Jasmine's (Cate Blanchett) life and marriage to Hal (Alec Baldwin) begins to fall apart, the wealthy New York socialite decides to visit her sister in San Francisco. Blanchett won Best Actress at the 2014 Academy Awards for her role.
[link title="Blue Jasmine: Alec Baldwin interview" url="node/1721"]
[link title="Blue Jasmine Review" url="node/6288"]
[link title="Cate Blanchett wins best actress Oscar for 'Blue Jasmine'" url="node/14670"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast (until 20 February).
Friday 22 January
The Big Short
M
United States, 2015
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Brad Pitt
What's it about?
Based on the book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side), The Big Short tells the story of bond and real estate derivative geeks who saw the housing crash of 2008 coming and bet against the collateralised debt obligation bubble, thus striking it rich. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the film won Best Adapted Screenplay.
[link title="Watch Christian Bale and Brad Pitt profit from the GFC in 'The Big Short' trailer" url="node/47443"]
[link title="The Big Short review: Laughing all the way to the bank" url="node/55954"]
Available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast (until 21 February).
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