The Irish producer behind Poor Things has said the award season building up to the Oscars is like a “political campaign”. 

The comedy fantasy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos has received 11 Academy Award nominations, taking second place for most nominations before Oppenheimer and ahead of Barbie. 

The engine that fuelled this commerical and critical success was Element Pictures, a company based on O’Connell Street, Dublin city, that has worked on hits like Room, The Favourite and Normal People. 

Element Founder Ed Guiney told The Anton Savage Show the list of Poor Things nominations is “seared into my brain somehow”. 

“It’s a film that takes quite a big swing and isn’t a sort of... well, I don’t know what an ‘Oscar film’ is,” he said. 

“If you were thinking what the cookie-cutter Oscar movie, you wouldn’t say Poor Things. 

The film centres around Emma Stone as Bella Baxter, a woman who was revived from near-death, but came back with the mind of infant. 

Mr Guiney agreed the film was a “risky project”, but with director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone, Element Productions knew it had something special on its hands. 

“Nine or 10 years ago when Yorgos first showed us the book and said he wanted to adapt it, our decision to back him was primarily because we love working with him,” he said. 

Poor Things during award season

Now a box-office and critical success, he said the nomination period is actually better than the award ceremony itself in many ways. 

“There’s all sorts of potential,” he said. “We’ll enjoy this and see what happens on Oscars night – we won’t be too troubled. 

“The whole Oscar things is like a political campaign – there's so many mini award ceremonies leading up to March 10th. 

“The Golden Globes is well-known, there’s the Director Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, the BAFTAS. 

“It’s a bit like a political campaign from December to March. 

“You end up in rooms with all the films you're competing with - but it’s not a contact sport obviously.” 

Poor Things previously won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Ms Stone.

Support for Cillian Murphy

One of Poor Things’ main competitor will be the box office hit Oppenheimer, starring Ireland’s own Cillian Murphy. 

Mr Guiney assured Anton the whole team at Element Pictures are rooting for their Irish competitor to secure the Best Actor award. 

“I think he’s got a real chance – I'm very optimistic,” he said. 

“It’s very easy for us to root for him, not only because we love him, but because we actually don’t have anyone competing in that category.” 

The 96th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles, California, on March 10th. 

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Main image: Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, by Element Production. Image: Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo