Andrew Garfield responds to Oscar buzz for Sam Altman film ‘Artificial’

Andrew Garfield has responded modestly to growing Oscar speculation surrounding his performance as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman in Artificial, following an enthusiastic reception at the film’s London premiere.

Speaking to Variety on the red carpet at the BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL on October 11, Garfield said he was proud of the project but remained focused on making work he believed in rather than awards predictions.

“As I’m getting older, I’m starting to understand that the things outside of ourselves, we just have no control over,” he said. “I feel really, really proud of this film.”

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Artificial examines the five day period in 2023 when Altman was removed as OpenAI’s chief executive before returning to the role. The film premiered at the NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL last week and has drawn attention for its portrayal of influential figures in the technology industry.

Garfield, who has received two Oscar nominations, said he felt grateful that audiences would see the film at all, describing the positive response as an unexpected bonus.

Yura Borisov, who portrays OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, also reacted to the awards discussion with surprise, saying the outcome remained unpredictable. Borisov previously received an Academy Award nomination for his supporting performance in Anora.

The cast also includes Monica Barbaro as former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati, Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk and Mark Rylance as artificial intelligence expert Geoffrey Hinton.

Garfield said the film felt particularly relevant because its central figures continue to influence public conversations about artificial intelligence. Barbaro similarly noted that AI is being used across industries, making it important to question the motives behind powerful technologies.

The film has also attracted scrutiny after Amazon MGM Studios dropped it in June, shortly after Amazon announced a $50 billion investment in OpenAI. Neon subsequently acquired the film for distribution and began an awards campaign.

Artificial is scheduled to open in US cinemas on December 25, 2026, followed by a UK release on January 22, 2027.