The first rumblings of the holiday season don’t only bring buzzy new drinks at Starbucks and slightly more temperate L.A. weather; they also signal the start of everyone’s favorite inside-Hollywood pastime, Fevered Academy Awards Speculation.

So far this year, grown-up, emotionally honest films seem to be striking a chord with critics and industry insiders. Amazon Studios’ The Big Sick was a breakout indie hit this summer, turning a stranger-than-fiction true love story into an instant classic romcom. And Sony Pictures Classics has steadily accumulated buzz for Call Me By Your Name since acquiring the film at Sundance. Esquire’s Corey Atad calls it “the most utterly ravishing film of the year.” See more of his top picks for awards season here.