Best in Show: Screenplay Edition with May December Writer Samy Burch

May December screenwriter Samy Burch joins Mia and Gemma for a chat, fresh from her New York Film Critics Circle win for Best Screenplay. Topics range from Melanie Lynskey to Sister Act to Persona (and Burch’s favorite Letterboxd review), and how the presence of major tabloid figures such as Monica Lewinsky informed her themes of media obsession, performance and agency. We also welcome our London editor Ella Kemp and Best in Show newsletter scribe George Fenwick to give us the lowdown on their attending the British Independent Film Awards, including its big winner All of Us Strangers. Cheers!

Sponsor: Film Independent

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Chapters:

• Opening credits (00:00:00)
• BIFA (00:04:06)
• Samy Burch (00:16:32)
• Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:39:55)
• Closing credits (00:44:15)

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Film Independent’s HQ page on Letterboxd

Ella & George’s Letterboxd profiles

Brian’s interview with Todd Haynes

Christian Jacob Ramón & Josiah Morgan’s May December reviews