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If you follow the awards season, it’s quite clear that the best films and TV series aren’t always the ones that win the awards. And this Oscar season is no different. While people are quick to criticize “Black Panther” for getting a Best Picture nomination, there’s also the opposite problem of work like “Leave No Trace,” “The Rider,” and “You Were Never Really Here” getting zero recognition, even though those films received some of the best reviews of the year. Ultimately, it all comes down to the awards campaign. And filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón opens up about how he hates the modern Oscar campaign in a new interview.

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In a discussion with Deadline, Cuarón is asked his opinion about the current state of the Oscars, including how he feels the contentious nature of the awards show affects his enjoyment of being nominated. And as you might imagine, the “Roma” filmmaker is not happy at all with being pit against other filmmakers in what seems like the antithesis of celebrating art.

“You see it with the media, when they come and say, ‘What do you think are your chances?’” said the filmmaker. “You know what? The problem is that I don’t think there are filmmakers—certainly not very many filmmakers—that think like that. We’re just happy for the ride. We’re relieved in many ways, that our films are performing. There’s always the fear that your film is not going to perform one way or the other. So we’re in the mood to celebrate; it’s great that we are able to be on this ride.”

READ MORE: Alfonso Cuarón Talks ‘Roma’ Oscar Noms Crediting The Academy’s Recent Focus On Inclusion & Audiences’ Desire For Diverse Films

He continued, “This industry has turned everything into something a bit more vicious; or even very much so. The sad thing is it has become almost like a projection of how political campaigns are nowadays. Rather than politicians showing a vision, it’s about throwing dirt to the opponent. So rather than strengthening the values—and I’m not talking moral values, but the artistic merits of a film and the influence it may be having—it’s about trying to push the others down. I find that very sad. And I hope there’s a way—though I’m not sure there is—that it can be regulated by the Academy. I don’t know how.”

Sadly, it appears that the campaigning for awards recognition isn’t going away any time soon. Until the Academy, or whoever, can figure out a way around it (if they even want to), then it would appear that Cuarón, and other filmmakers like him, are destined to have this bittersweet feeling during what should be the time of their lives.