Sixteen years ago, Andrew Garfield portrayed the Facebook co-founder who was ousted from the very company he helped to establish in "The Social Network," but ultimately fell short in the awards race. Now, he finds himself in a different role within a different company — as the CEO who was removed from OpenAI, only to negotiate his return just five days later. Both were pivotal figures in their respective companies and now they share a common narrative, hoping for a successful outcome this time around.
As “Artificial” makes its debut at the New York Film Festival, Variety has learned that Garfield will compete in the supporting actor category for his role in Luca Guadagnino’s drama centered around OpenAI. Yura Borisov, who plays co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, will be in the running for best actor. Oscar winner Mark Rylance will join Garfield in the supporting actor competition, while Monica Barbaro, portraying former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati, will seek a nod for supporting actress.
The film’s campaign will encompass all of the major categories including best picture, director, and various acting nominations, with Simon Rich’s screenplay nominated for original screenplay, and all creative departments receiving attention during the awards season.
For Guadagnino, this film represents a significant milestone as it marks his fifth participation at the New York Film Festival, following acclaimed works like "Call Me by Your Name," "Bones and All," "Queer," and "After the Hunt,” which opened last year’s festival. After its premiere, the film is set to travel to the BFI London Film Festival.
Garfield, a two-time nominee for best actor for "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016) and "Tick, Tick… Boom!" (2021), is taking on the most prominent role in the film. However, it is not uncommon for lead actors to seek nominations in the supporting category, evident in instances with Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods” and Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Chicago.”
The narrative of "Artificial" spans decades in the lives of Sam Altman (played by Garfield) and Ilya, two individuals from starkly different backgrounds united by a quest to improve the world during the optimistic tech-filled days of the Obama era. As the plot unfolds through the tumultuous seasons of the Trump and Biden administrations, their technological ambitions take a darker turn, leading to Altman’s eventual dismissal. This story puts the audience in the perspective of the one who made the tough decisions rather than the one bearing the consequences.
The best actor race is already poised to be competitive, drawing attention from several contenders at the festival, with one highlight being Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of a cellist in “Behemoth!”
Borisov, fresh from his first Oscar nomination for his role in Sean Baker’s “Anora,” joins a well-regarded ensemble cast. Rylance, an Oscar winner for “Bridge of Spies,” and Barbaro, just two years post her nomination for her performance in a Bob Dylan biopic, contribute to the film’s esteemed pedigree. The cast also features names like Cooper Hoffman, Ike Barinholtz, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Billie Lourd, and Zosia Mamet.
Behind the scenes, Guadagnino collaborates with several of his trusted associates. Marco Costa returns as editor, while casting director Jessica Ronane has worked on Guadagnino’s projects since “Queer.” Production designer Stefano Baisi and assistant production designer Roberta Federico help bring the film’s environment to life, while J.W. Anderson returns as costume designer.
New to the team is cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed, distinguished for his work on Spike Lee and Beyoncé projects. Meanwhile, Damon Albarn, known for his accomplishments with Blur and Gorillaz, composed the original score and contributed new songs for the film, with details on submissions for these songs yet to be revealed.
Guadagnino aims to reclaim a spot at the Oscars, having previously earned four nominations for "Call Me by Your Name," which notably won for adapted screenplay. Producing the film are Jeffrey Clifford, Jennifer Fox, Guadagnino, David Heyman, and Simon Rich, with Fox having received recognition for “Michael Clayton” and Heyman for films like “Gravity,” “Marriage Story,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “Barbie.”
Now, the team behind "Artificial," including Guadagnino and Garfield, hopes for their return to award-winning glory as they push forward in the Oscar race.
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‘Artificial’ Oscars Campaign: Andrew Garfield in Supporting Actor
