It’s awards season crunch time, in the sense that I’m crunching in as much work as I can before a Thanksgiving respite — including a guide to some of the highlights from this week’s issue of The Envelope, covered by my profile of Renate Reinsve.
Whether it’s while you smell turkey legs being turned into gravy (i.e., if you’re me as I write this) or as you’re lounging around over the holiday weekend, I hope you’ll dive into the great stories below. And be sure to take a breather from the mayhem in the process. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
Digital Cover: Ethan Hawke
(Victoria Will / For The Times)
In the years since the Golden Age of TV, it’s not been uncommon for actors to vie for major awards on both the big and small screens at once. But few in recent memory have done so in such distinct projects as Ethan Hawke in “Blue Moon” and “The Lowdown”: One is a chamber drama about the last days of legendary songwriter Lorenz Hart, the other a noirish tale of a hangdog journalist.
It’s a reflection of the actor’s voracious appetite for the unexpected (see also: “Black Phone 2”), which he reveals that some in Hollywood once found “irritating.”
“Generally, people are more comfortable when they know exactly what you are and what your thing is, and if you keep changing your thing it’s confusing,” he tells writer Emily Zemler. “But it’s always been interesting to me to do different things. It makes acting really exciting to me to keep shaking it up. Each thing has its own geometry and math, and that keeps you really engaged.”
Eva Victor on ‘Sorry, Baby’
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
One of my favorite films of the year, “Sorry, Baby” works on many levels — as a campus satire, a portrait of a friendship, a slice of small-town life. And as writer-director-star Eva Victor writes in a new essay on the film, it took all of those other levels to make the film’s deepest, darkest level possible.
“There was a time in my life when I was looking for a film about going through a trauma that held my hand while I was watching it,” Victor notes, contrasting “Sorry, Baby” with films that depict similar subjects with violent imagery. “I needed the film to care for me, the person who’d been through the difficult thing. I didn’t need a film that existed to teach people how bad it is to go through a bad thing, I needed a film that existed to make me feel less alone.”
How ‘F1’ became a part of F1
As an avowed fan of Formula One, from docuseries “Drive to Survive” to scripted miniseries “Senna,” what fascinated me most watching Apple TV’s summer blockbuster “F1” was the delicate logistical dance it must’ve required to shoot a major theatrical film at actual races on the actual F1 circuit. Maybe that’s my stressed-out editor brain at work, but I asked Nate Rogers to dig into the question.
He reports back that even with legendary racer Lewis Hamilton and Apple on board, the film had to prove “that they could set up at an event like the fabled British Grand Prix at Silverstone and not cause a pileup.”
“We had to rehearse the blocking and staging for about two weeks with a stopwatch … to prove to them that we could actually shoot a scene and get off the track before the race started,” director Joseph Kosinski tells Rogers.
I’m Matt Brennan, editor in chief of The Envelope, and each Wednesday from now until Jan. 7, I’ll be sending you a (digital) editor’s letter with some highlights from our Phase I issues.
Our first issue of the 2025-2026 campaign features stories on documentaries, films about the Palestinian experience and “Marty Supreme’s” Odessa A’zion.
A Deeper Dive: Documentaries
(Illustration by Daniel Stolle / For The Times)
I won’t pretend to be Nostradamus when it comes to Hollywood’s top awards — my Gold Derby Emmys ballot didn’t even crack the top 1,000 — but most anyone who ran into me at this year’s Sundance Film Festival heard at least one bold prediction that turned out to be correct: 2025 has been a sterling year for documentaries.
With journalists under attack in the U.S., Ukraine, Gaza and beyond, the form’s close connection to reportage has never felt more urgent, at least not to me. In the contraband prison images of “The Alabama Solution,” the body camera footage of “The Perfect Neighbor,” the conflict coverage of “2000 Meters to Andriivka” and “Love + War,” the portraiture of “Cover-Up” and much more besides, the year’s finest documentaries — no, the year’s finest films — manage to unearth new ways of seeing our society’s most pressing issues, often with more precision and subtlety than scripted films much longer (and costlier) in the making.
I can confirm Tim Grierson’s reporting that Odessa A’zion is a hugger: I received several myself from the “Marty Supreme” and “I Love L.A.” performer when she stopped by The Times newsroom recently for an Envelope digital cover shoot, her own 16mm still camera in hand.
As Grierson notes of the actor, A’zion “doesn’t behave like a rising star” — and she’s not particularly comfortable with the label, either.
“A’zion has heard those predictions before, so she’s wary about being anointed the next big thing,” he writes. “After all, she remembers all the auditions that went nowhere. She remembers being behind on her rent. She remembers almost being evicted. She remembers getting fired from gigs. Simply being cast in a Josh Safdie film doesn’t make those old wounds disappear. ‘To all of a sudden be like, “OK, I’m done [worrying about my career]!” — I don’t see that feeling coming anytime soon.’”
A trio of Palestinian films in the international feature race
A scene from “All That’s Left of You.”
(Watermelon Pictures)
Palestinian stories are no stranger to awards season. But this year, as Gregory Ellwood writes, a trio of films from female directors — each submitted by a different country and each set in a different time period — make for a particularly remarkable confluence.
“In a way, the movie lived what most Palestinians live: war, exile, fleeing,” “All That’s Left of You” filmmaker Cherien Dabis told Ellwood of her film having to shift production after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war. “All of the uncertainty, the financial and logistical crisis of it all. I think that what really grounded me during that time was just knowing that the movie was more relevant than ever, and that it had to get done.”
AFTER 26 years heading up The Sun’s travel team – while bringing up three children – there’s not a lot I don’t know about family holidays.
After hundreds of trips together, I’m sharing my guaranteed winners – from our favourite campsites to the best foreign cruises.
Lisa Minot has been The Sun’s Travel Editor for 26 years, during which time she’s taken her kids on hundreds of holidays across the worldCredit: SuppliedLisa says Port Aventura theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for familiesCredit: SUPPLIED
With three kids, I’ve had the same problems as anyone who doesn’t fit the ‘two adults, two kids’ rule that most traditional travel companies work within.
Finding ways around booking two separate rooms – or being in group rooms where us parents have to go to bed at 7pm with the babies – became a mission.
This fabulous theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for families.
You get the fun and excitement of thrill rides across six distinct worlds, plus great themed hotels and, of course, all that sizzling Mediterranean sunshine to enjoy.
There’s also a separate Ferrari World and a water park with 50,000sq metres of pools, lazy rivers, slides and rides, including King Khajuna, one of Europe’s tallest free-fall body slides.
The six on-site hotels are also themed and have a huge variety of rooms that sleep up to eight, ideal for big families.
And with a host of very well-priced restaurants in the park and at the hotels, it really is possible to have a traditional family summer holiday with the added benefit of all that theme park excitement.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Mexican-themed Hotel El Paso, including unlimited access to PortAventura park and a day pass for Ferrari Land, is from £429pp, based on two adults and two children sharing.
Lisa’s son soaks up the rays on a beach in the south of FranceCredit: SuppliedEurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus has a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and CannesCredit: Eurocamp
EUROPEAN CAMPING
WITH three kids and a limited budget when they were young, camping specialists like Eurocamp and Siblu were the answer to our prayers.
With mobile homes, tents and even treehouses sleeping up to eight at campsites across Europe, we loaded the kids and as much luggage as we could squeeze into the car and drove south for guaranteed sunshine.
You can even break up the long journey with overnight camping stays en route.
A roof-box meant I could pack all the essentials from food and drinks, bedding and towels, to inflatables and toys, so we weren’t shelling out on holiday.
When we were young, having our own space was just perfect. We could wear the kids out by day in the park’s pools and on nearby beaches, and when they were tucked up in bed, we could relax with a glass of wine or beer on the verandah.
Favourites included Eurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus with a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and Cannes.
We always preferred heading south for the warmer weather, but other favourites for half-term holidays include Duinrell in South Holland, which comes with its own theme park and water park and La Croix de Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere, just an hour from Disneyland Paris and Park Asterix.
GO: Seven nights’ self-catering for up to six at Eurocamp’s La Baume is from £464 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See eurocamp.co.uk. Seven nights’ self-catering at Siblu’s Lac des Reves is from £294 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See siblu.co.uk
ALTON TOWERS
Lisa loves the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age, including its weatherproof waterparkCredit: Alamy
Of course, no list of fabulous family holidays would be complete without the UK’s number one theme park. I love the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age.
The little ones will adore CBeebies land – watch out for the UK’s first Bluey ride coming in 2026.
All ages will love the fantastic water park between the Alton Towers and Splash Landings hotels, while tweens and teens will go straight for the thrill rides.
And mum? Well, I just love a stroll through the stunning grounds with quiet, landscaped gardens and tranquil lakes – they make you forget you’re even in a theme park!
For families like mine, the huge variety of accommodation makes stays a breeze.
Rooms at the hotels – including CBeebies Land Hotel – can sleep up to five with a double bed, bunk beds and a pull-out truckle bed. All have great theming that will keep the kids entertained.
The Woodland lodges are also great for larger families or those who want to bring the grandparents or team up with friends. To really push the boat out, the whimsical Treehouses sleep up to eight and come with their own hot tub.
But my favourite probably remains the original Alton Towers Hotel, with its epic Explorers theme that sees a magical balloon ship anchor the bar and restaurant space, giving parents the chance to relax with a drink while the kids are entertained.
GO: Overnight breaks at Alton Towers start from £42pp and include room, breakfast, parking and evening entertainment. See altontowers.com.
Lisa sailed with her kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships and it was a treat for both adults and childrenCredit: Supplied
DISNEY CRUISE LINES
IT’S fair to say no one does family cruises quite like Disney – and Sun readers agree, voting them their favourite cruise line in our Sun Travel Awards.
I’ve sailed with my kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships, and this was definitely a treat for both adults and children.
I loved the Art Deco vibes and the fact that the ship was first and foremost a beautiful, luxury ship with plenty of places to enjoy adult-only time.
The kids could not get enough of the fabulous kids’ facilities – it was hard to drag them away from the clubs – and endless opportunities to meet their favourite characters.
While cruising with Disney could never be seen as a cheap option, for those who want to experience the magic without the theme park slog, it is definitely worth every penny.
The latest Disney ship to set sail will be the Disney Destiny. As the cruise line has grown ever more popular, it has grown more confident in making its incredible entertainment legacy a bigger part of the ship.
With Destiny, there’s a fabulous Heroes and Villains theme alongside the chance to enjoy some West End-style entertainment and even a water coaster across the top deck that pays tribute to some of its most feared baddies.
Combining a three or four-night sailing on any of Disney’s ships with a stay in Orlando must surely be the ultimate family bucket list holiday.
And with the Disney Dream returning for multiple sailings from Southampton next year, there’s the chance to get on board for all the magic without the pricey flights.
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise Lisa took her whole family on, when her youngest was just 18 months oldCredit: sbw-photo
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
ROYAL Caribbean was the first cruise we did as a family when my youngest was just 18 months old, and from then on, we were hooked on life on the open sea.
As my kids have grown, so has Royal’s incredible roster of family-friendly ships. And with the launch of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, last year, they reached peak family fun.
The new Surfside neighbourhood is a game-changer for parents with small children, a stay-all-day area with Splashaway Bay aqua park, and Water’s Edge, a kid-friendly infinity pool.
And parents can relax while their kids play with casual family-friendly dining and places to grab a drink.
The area features a beach-themed carousel, arcade and playground and it’s close to the ship’s superb Adventure Ocean kids clubs.
Older kids will love Thrill Island, the largest water park at sea, with a host of slides as well as Crown’s Edge, the hybrid ropes course and thrill ride that dangles you 154ft above the ocean.
And Royal have spent just as much time designing cabins that work for families, including the Surfside Family Suites, with balconies overlooking the neighbourhood and a ‘kids’ nook’ with bunk beds and a split bathroom to make getting ready easier.
Topping it off with multiple family-friendly shows and activities as well as their family-friendly private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal is the perfect starting point for family cruises.
GO: Seven nights’ full-board on Icon of the Seas is from £534pp, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Miami on September 19, 2026 and calls at St Maarten, St Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Lisa’s children play on the beach during a trip to Butlin’sCredit: SuppliedLisa doesn’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’sCredit: BUTLIN’S
BUTLIN’S MINEHEAD & BOGNOR
I don’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’s.
With live shows, perfect pools and even a traditional fairground, youngsters will find a host of great activities for all ages from tots to teens.
We loved our stay at the West Lakes chalets at Butlin’s Minehead. Great for multi-gen holidays or for families sharing, the light, bright chalets sleep up to eight.
Working with online parenting forum Mumsnet, they have a nod to the traditional Butlin’s chalet, but with all the modern touches for today’s families.
There’s an open-plan lounge and diner with a high-spec kitchen as well as an outdoor veranda or Juliet balcony.
Perfect for the pre-schoolers, breaks start from just £39, which works out to £2.50pp a night, and include live shows with Peppa Pig and her new baby sister, Mister Maker and Fireman Sam, splash zones and soft play areas as well as unlimited rides in the Little Stars Fairground.
There’s also another reason to visit in term time, the chance to enjoy all-inclusive breaks that include alcoholic drinks, coffee and three meals a day.
GO: Four-night all-inclusive midweek breaks are from £399 for two adults and two children. See bultins.com
With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something in Dubai to delight every ageCredit: Alamy
DUBAI
It may be known as a mecca for reality TV stars and influencers, but Dubai is actually a brilliant destination to take the kids.
With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something to delight every age.
A great option for families is the Centara Mirage Beach Resort with its five restaurants, beachfront pool, water park and kids clubs.
But little ones are also spoiled with their own sweet-themed spa with edible treatments, gaming zone and an outdoor playground.
My kids adored the chance to visit the original Kidzania attraction where kids can role-play 40 different jobs from firefighters and pilots to doctors and dentists.
But most magical was the trip into the desert, where after a thrilling 4×4 dune ride, we watched an amazing falconry display and enjoyed dinner after dark.
GO: Four nights’ B&B at the Centara Mirage Beach Resort is from £717pp including flights from Heathrow in June 2026. See onthebeach.co.uk
TUI’s flagship Holiday Village AQI hotel in Sarigerme, TurkeyCredit: TUI
The huge resort on the country’s west coast has everything from Stage Academy drama classes, Football Academies and a Go Ape-style high-ropes course, to overwater, inflatable obstacle courses, chocolate parties and archery.
Then there’s the massive amphitheatre with a packed nighttime itinerary, video arcade, bowling alley and seven pools – including a mini waterpark.
Little wonder the hotel’s own sandy beach, with bath-warm sea water was empty most days.
Breakfast was enormous, with every taste catered for and lunch by the pool was equally impressive, with a huge 40-dish mezze selection.
But the best meal was dinner, with themed nights, when the entire menu was changed — our favourites being the Turkish and Asian evenings. Plus a separate kitchen for kid-friendly (and often healthy) food.
And finally, the almost guaranteed sun.
With prices from £673pp next May, including all-inclusive board, a family room and flights from London Gatwick.
Billund in Denmark, home to Lego House, truly is the perfect family short breakCredit: Alamy
BILLUND, DENMARK
An action-packed weekend break just over an hour from the UK, with creativity, wildlife and thrill-seeking all wrapped in sounds like a unicorn of a holiday – but Billund in Denmark truly is the perfect family short break.
The town Lego built, carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen invented the famous building bricks in the 1940s from his workshop in the town, and many of the global company’s offices are still there.
Yes, the two million annual visitors usually go there for the awesome Legoland and Lego House – easily two full days of building and rollercoaster fun.
But there’s also Aquadome, Scandinavia’s biggest waterpark, and Wow Park (tickets from £26.50), a huge treetop adventure in woodland spanning the size of 40 football pitches.
The town is so small that almost everything is walkable, it’s super clean and practically designed with families in mind.
Plus the flights take just 1 hour and 35 minutes currently from London Gatwick, and 1hour and 41minutes from Edinburgh to Billund on the newest flight route launching next year.
Lisa’s lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales
HUNTERS LODGES, CELTIC MANOR
IF it’s good enough for American presidents, it’s good enough for the kids!
My lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.
This is top-tier self-catering accommodation with each lodge sleeping up to eight in four stylish en-suite bedrooms.
There’s a vast open-plan kitchen, living, and dining room with vaulted ceilings and a wall of glass looking out onto open countryside. The outdoor hot tub was used constantly by both adults and kids.
A great option for kids as they get a bit older, the resort itself has some fantastic outdoor adventure activities, including adventure golf, laser combat, ropes courses and archery as well as a large adventure playground.
Explore the 2,000-acre estate’s family-friendly woodland trails on a free, self-guided treasure hunt.
When rain stops play, there’s swimming in the resort’s two health clubs as well as a games room and indoor play area.
The resort can offer babysitting services and a day nursery as well as kids’ clubs in the peak summer holidays, allowing parents time to enjoy the championship golf courses or spas.
GO: Two-night stays in a Hunters Lodge start from £636per lodge, for up to eight adults plus two additional children, including a round of Adventure Golf and 25per cent off all indoor and outdoor activities. See hunter-lodges.com.
A resurfaced video of BBC News Online’s Middle East editor Raffi Berg, who has launched legal action against journalist Owen Jones over allegations of pro-Israel bias, is seen expressing deep admiration for Mossad. Speaking about the Israeli spy agency, Berg said it makes him “tremendously proud.” The comments have drawn fresh scrutiny as Berg faces allegations of pro-Israel bias, first detailed in a widely shared article by Jones titled The BBC’s Civil War Over Gaza.
Jones’ article, published in December 2024 on DropSite News, accused the BBC, and Berg in particular, of downplaying Israeli actions in Gaza and sidelining critical voices. Now, nearly a year later, Berg has initiated legal proceedings, claiming reputational damage. He is reported to have hired the former director of the notorious UK Lawyers for Israel to sue Jones.
BBC editor hires former director of UK Lawyers for Israel to sue Owen Jones for alleging his pro-Israel bias. You couldn’t make it up! pic.twitter.com/6LGBVwL3dr
Jones detailed accusations from 13 current and former BBC staffers who alleged that coverage of Israel and Palestine was being distorted under Berg’s editorial direction. Sources accused him of “aggressively pushing” pro-Israel framing, marginalising Palestinian perspectives, and undermining colleagues who tried to challenge editorial lines. The article suggested Berg exerted “wild” control over headlines and content related to Gaza.
Claims of Berg’s pro-Israel bias was further compounded by revelations in Mint Press News, which uncovered Berg’s close ties to Israeli intelligence institutions. Berg is reported to have previously worked with the Foreign Broadcast Information Service — an entity long linked to the CIA — and authored a book (Red Sea Spies) about a Mossad operation, written in collaboration with senior Mossad operatives, including Dani Limor. The book has been praised by Mossad leadership and has been promoted as a success story of Israeli intelligence.
BBC’s online Middle East editor, Raffi Berg, seems to have a framed letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a framed picture with former Israeli ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, proudly displayed on his wall at home.
In the MintPress report, investigative journalist Alan MacLeod outlines how Berg has received support from top Israeli officials and prominently displayed memorabilia tied to Mossad and Israel in his BBC office. MacLeod argues this undermines any claim of neutrality, especially in the context of the BBC’s coverage of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Despite mounting questions about conflicts of interest, the BBC has remained largely silent on Berg’s affiliations. Meanwhile, the legal case against Jones is viewed by many observers as an attempt to silence journalistic scrutiny of the broadcaster’s internal dynamics.
The timing of the lawsuit, as global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza intensifies, has only added to concerns that critical voices are being targeted. Jones has defended his reporting, insisting that it was based on documented testimonies and internal sources, and called the legal action an attack on press freedom.
