Kermode on Film – "Are All Awards Nonsense?"

Mark Kermode & Jack Howard
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Podcast Version of MK3D (BFI Southbank live show)

Overview of Episode Theme

In this episode, Mark Kermode and Jack Howard dive into the recent BAFTA awards and explore the deeper question: are all film awards fundamentally "nonsense"? Their engaging and often humorous discussion is fueled by Jack’s personal experiences as a short filmmaker amidst his own awards journey, and Mark’s decades-long vantage point as a critic and industry observer. The episode offers practical wisdom, empathetic reflection, and real talk for filmmakers and film lovers alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emotional Aftermath of the Awards Season

(00:54 – 12:27)

• Jack Howard shares his intense journey with his short film, The Second Time Around, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster of being "on all the lists," coming close to Oscar and BAFTA nominations, and then missing out.
  • “I think it's only just started to hit me... to have been working toward something for about seven months on the campaign... then it just stopped.” (Jack Howard, 03:21)
• He reveals how he didn’t initially make the film for awards, but how quickly ambitions escalate once the film enters the awards circuit.
  • “I have a clear separation in my mind of the film that I've made and how I feel about it... but what it meant to me, the symbol of winning an award or being up for an award... was booting in the door for me as a filmmaker.” (Jack Howard, 06:47)

2. Are Awards Nonsense?

(04:10 – 11:59)

• Mark Kermode argues that awards are inherently absurd:
  • “All awards are ridiculous. The whole idea of comparing one film with another for a prize of best thing we made up yesterday... it's all nonsense.” (Mark Kermode, 04:10)
• However, he concedes that awards only feel pointless until you’re in the running or win one.
  • “It's all nonsense until the point that you get drawn into its gravity and suddenly it's not nonsense.” (Mark Kermode, 04:39)
• The urge for recognition is universal, but Mark warns that dependence on external validation through awards is a dangerous trap.
  • “The most dangerous thing about awards is that thing… it’s like, you know, the drug dealer thing about, ‘I'll give you the first taste for free.’” (Mark Kermode, 06:23)

3. The Value of the Journey

(08:40 – 12:27)

• Both hosts stress that the true value in awards campaigns is the energy and visibility that come with being "in the conversation.”
  • “It's not that nothing happened. What happened is a trajectory happened that happened up until a certain point... the hoo-ha, the stuff, the lead up, the blah blah, that is the thing.” (Mark Kermode, 10:19)
• Mark points out how few people can recall who actually wins, emphasizing the fleeting relevance of the actual victory.
  • “The only way it has any significance is that you have to keep… telling people that you won an award, which always makes you sound like a bit of a twat.” (Mark Kermode, 07:20)

4. Processing Disappointment, Embracing Reality

(12:27 – 18:41)

• Jack and Mark discuss the importance of acknowledging disappointment and the post-project void, rather than suppressing it.
  • “I've not allowed myself to be like, oh, no, I'm disappointed. And I have to say goodbye to this thing that I put all of myself into.” (Jack Howard, 13:56)
  • Mark: “Embracing the sadness… the disappointment that—it's really important not to pretend that it's not there.” (13:20)
• Jack's girlfriend offers a creative’s truth: “That's what being an artist is like. You take a huge swing and, you know, then you down tools, you rest, and then you get up and you do it again.” (Jack Howard quoting, 14:09)

5. The Subjectivity and Flaws of Award Recognition

(15:16 – 16:19, 37:32 – 43:44)

• The hosts highlight famous examples of artists winning for the "wrong" project or being unjustly overlooked, exposing the randomness and politicking of awards:
  • “Scorsese won the Oscar for The Departed... it was sorry for Goodfellas.” (Mark Kermode, 15:22)
  • Multiple cases (Juliette Binoche vs. Lauren Bacall, Olivia Colman’s surprise win) show how erratic these awards can be and how little public memory persists.

6. The Power and Challenge of Independent Filmmaking

(18:41 – 26:21)

• Jack describes crowdfunding The Second Time Around through Kickstarter after institutional funders turned him down, raising over £30,000 from about 500 people.
  • “It is amazing to me... just having around 500 people go, ‘Yeah, I want to help you make that happen.’ Honestly, it moves me tremendously.” (Jack Howard, 21:43)
• Discussion of new industry disruptors and “just do it” filmmakers like Zach Cregger and the creators of Nirvana the Band the Show and Markiplier.
  • “These are the people that I like to look to... because they are going out and just doing it. They are just making it happen.” (Jack Howard, 24:07)

7. Inspirations from Unlikely Places

(25:08 – 26:46)

• The success stories of Markiplier’s Iron Lung and Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar campaign showcase changing power dynamics, audience mobilization, and new models for breaking into the industry.
  • “Kind of like shaking up Hollywood a bit. They're like, oh, my God, you did it without us... you didn't need our commercial advertising budget.” (Jack Howard, 26:46)

8. BAFTAs 2026: Surprises, Standouts & Cultural Moments

(27:02 – 37:32)

• Major talking points:
  • Robert Aramayo’s surprise Best Actor win, emotion in the room, and impact on his career:
    • “His dad jumping around and yelling and crying is… the moment of the awards for me.” (Jack Howard, 27:47)
    • “I can't remember the last time I was that surprised... Then there was a standing ovation in the room, because as you say, that feeling of joy...” (Mark Kermode, 30:48)
  • The victory of Two Black Boys in Paradise for Best Animated Short, personal resonance for Jack, and recognition for new voices.
  • Conversation on Best Score, Oscar eligibility rules, and perennial confusion over eligibility (Johnny Greenwood’s There Will Be Blood snub, Max Richter’s nomination for a 20-year-old piece in Hamnet).

9. Awards as Networking, Not Endpoint: The Joachim Trier Anecdote

(33:30 – 37:09)

• Mark shares how championing short films on TV unknowingly gave future Oscar nominees like Joachim Trier their first break, emphasizing how recognition can have ripple effects far beyond awards.
  • “That kid who I don't even remember... whose short film I did like, then went on to be Joachim Trier.” (Mark Kermode, 37:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On awards meaninglessness:
  “All awards are ridiculous. The whole idea of comparing one film with another for a prize of best thing we made up yesterday... it's all nonsense.” (Mark Kermode, 04:10)

• On getting caught up in the game:
  “It’s all nonsense until the point that you get drawn into its gravity and suddenly it's not nonsense.” (Mark Kermode, 04:39)

• On post-award disappointment:
  “I've not allowed myself to be like, oh, no, I'm disappointed. And I have to say goodbye to this thing that I put all of myself into.” (Jack Howard, 13:56)

• On making your own work:
  “It is amazing to me... just having around 500 people go, ‘Yeah, I want to help you make that happen.’ Honestly, it moves me tremendously.” (Jack Howard, 21:43)

• On the fleetingness of victory:
  “No one remembers. No one remembers anything.” (Mark Kermode, 42:18)

• On perseverance:
  “Get up and you do it again.” (Jack Howard, 14:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 – 12:27: Jack recounts the personal impact of missing out on nominations, and Mark on the reality of awards.
• 15:16 – 16:19: Award recognition quirks—Scorsese and others’ misaligned trophies.
• 18:41 – 22:31: Jack’s Kickstarter journey and the power of crowd support.
• 25:08 – 26:46: Independent disruptors: Markiplier, Iron Lung, and new industry models.
• 27:02 – 32:08: BAFTA surprises—Robert Aramayo’s heartfelt win and industry response.
• 33:30 – 37:09: The story of Joachim Trier and the longevity of small gestures in creative recognition.
• 37:32 – 43:44: Specific snubs, eligibility controversies, and randomness of “big” wins.

Final Thoughts & Takeaway

The episode delivers an honest, nuanced reflection: awards may be arbitrary and fleeting, but the real reward is in the work, the connections forged, and the energy of creative pursuit. To artists, the message rings clear—embrace the highs and lows, honor the ups and downs, and above all, keep creating, no matter who’s watching.

Next on Kermode on Film:
A discussion on Pluribus, Vince Gilligan’s new show.
Subscribe for more cine-literate, emotionally candid conversations from Mark and Jack.