Podcast appearances and mentions of Joshua Oppenheimer

In this Film Ireland podcast, recorded live on location in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Irish Film Festival, Gemma Creagh speaks with filmmaker Dennis Harvey about his exciting documentary Útóipe Cheilteach / Celtic Utopia.Útóipe Cheilteach / Celtic Utopia screens this Saturday, 20th June, at the Oh Yeah Music Centre as part of Docs Ireland. https://docsireland.iePresented annually by Solas Nua, the 20th edition of the Capital Irish Film Festival takes place in March each year, showcasing one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America.Docs Ireland runs until the 21st, celebrating the best of new international documentary filmmaking, showcasing the work of Ireland's indigenous non-fiction culture and creatives.Read more here: https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-filmmaker-dennis-harvey-on-utoipe-cheilteach-celtic-utopiaDennis HarveyDennis is a filmmaker from Ireland. He is best known for his short documentary The Building and Burning of a Refugee Camp (2024), which won the Swedish Academy Award for Best Short Film, was selected by the French Academy of Cinema as one of the Best Short Films of 2024, and received many other awards. Dennis mainly writes and directs documentaries, but has also produced and edited his own films. His first feature, I Must Away (2023), was a kaleidoscopic essay about movement filmed over seven years in six countries. His latest short, The New Policy Regarding Homeless Asylum Seekers (2025), is an uncompromising interrogation of Ireland's inhuman asylum system and a dedication to those resisting it. His second feature, Útóipe Cheilteach (2025), a ballad tour through postcolonial Ireland, premiered at Locarno. With a cinema vérité approach and a particular sensitivity to the human, Dennis' work interrogates the political through the personal. He is a member of the European Film Academy. He is a member of Noncitizen, a film collective which works to hand over the means of making films to migrants.Útóipe Cheilteach / Celtic UtopiaWhat do we do with the violent history we've inherited? Do we accept a repressive culture as is, or do we reshape it in our own image? In a world where oppression, occupation and war have become ambient, Útóipe Cheilteach plays at a different frequency, where hope is possible and a brighter future may be realised. Featuring music from artists including The Mary Wallopers, Poor Creature and Lankum, Celtic Utopia tells the story of a new Ireland and its vibrant music scene, but also that of a post-colonial society wrestling with its heritage. A society where folk music carries both the oppression of the past and the dream of a bright future. The Irish folk music renaissance sees artists coming from punk, hip-hop, and beyond, rediscovering an ancient tradition and taking it in unexpected directions. Winner of the Grand Prix Semaine de la Critique at Locarno Film Festival and the Audience Award at Leeds International Film Festival 2025.Capital Irish Film FestivalSolas Nua's annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C., presents one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers.Read more on SolasNua.org, follow Capital Irish Film Festival on FilmFreeway here.Docs IrelandDocs Ireland is Ireland's international documentary film festival. It celebrates the best of new international documentary filmmaking and showcases the work of Ireland's indigenous non-fiction culture and creatives. It is highly regarded internationally for its cutting-edge film programming and distinctive industry initiatives. Established in 2019 as the sister festival of the long-standing Belfast Film Festival, Docs Ireland takes place each June in Belfast.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Film Ireland, supported by the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund, are delighted to present Out of the Box, the first in a six-part podcast series exploring different perspectives in media today.Hosted by writer and filmmaker Róisín Kearney, each episode features conversations with people paving the way for greater equity and inclusion in the screen industries. Together, they discuss what has worked so far, what still needs to be done, and how we can all ensure that all creative voices are properly heard.For the inaugural discussion, Róisín sits down with Paul FitzSimons, a writer, musician and producer who founded Prelude Content to create high-end film and television drama; and Dan Airey, presenter, producer, filmmaker and one half of the award-winning podcast duo behind Dan and Darragh Do Ability. Out of the BoxMedia has always played a powerful role in shaping society. When public health campaigns in the United States sought to promote the idea of a designated driver and reduce road deaths among young men, they turned to popular television shows such as Cheers, L.A. Law and The Cosby Show to help shift public attitudes. Since its inception, media has influenced how we see the world...and each other.So what happens when that media does not reflect the full breadth of society? What happens when people are told which stories they can tell, who they can tell them about, or how those stories should be told? There have been countless studies examining how marginalised communities are perceived by wider society, but far fewer exploring how people from those communities perceive society itself. This series seeks to contribute to that conversation, placing those perspectives front and centre.Paul FitzSimonsPaul is a producer, screenwriter and tutor with 15 years' experience in the film industry. He runs Prelude Content, producing films and TV dramas, working with creatives in Ireland, the UK, Spain and Japan. He recently produced feature film Verdigris, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh, won awards at festivals around the world, was nominated for five IFTA awards and was released in April 2025. Paul is now producing the comedy series Starless and developing a number of features and TV dramas.He has a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Producing from TU Dublin and is an EAVE Producers' Workshop graduate. Paul was previously Development Executive at production company Danú Media. He also wrote and produced the feature film The Gift (2017, OC Productions, 15A) and worked as a story writer on the Irish TV drama Fair City. Dan Airey Dan Airey is a presenter, podcaster, producer and filmmaker. He is the co-producer and co-presenter of the award-winning Dan and Darragh Do Ability Podcast, which features conversations with people with disabilities, encouraging listeners to see the world through different perspectives. Dan holds a four-year degree in Creative Digital Media and a Master's in Broadcast Production for TV and Radio. He has worked across multiple genres and formats, from short documentary to prime-time television. His short film L.I.F.E. (Live. It. Fully. Everyday) was written and directed as part of the Virgin Media Sharp Shorts 2023 initiative, exploring themes of resilience and identity. Other production credits include the documentaries A Deluge of Memories and Swim With Richard, which centre on powerful human stories. He has worked as a researcher on major RTÉ programmes including Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything, The Late Late Show, and The Late Late Toy Show, and has contributed to content development for future programming. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The topic: Documentary Magazine, published by the International Documentary Association (IDA), released a list of what it determined to be the 25 greatest documentaries of the 21st Century. How the list was made: Documentary polled 300 documentary filmmakers and producers, critics, programmers, and academics, asking them to name three documentaries they deemed the “greatest.” Each documentary had to be released after January 1, 2000. Notable picks: Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing (2012) sits in the number spot, garnering the most votes. Other films that made the list include No Other Land (2024), the most recent release on the list, and The Gleaners and I (2000), the oldest release. Guest: Manuel Betancourt, film critic for LAist and assistant editor of Documentary Magazine. He also contributes regularly to Variety and The AV Club Check out Documentary’s full list here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

This year, Bloomsday Film Festival will present a special screening of Ulysses, New York - an ambitious 24-part adaptation of Ulysses introduced by director, Caveh Zahedi and hosted by Irish filmmaker Dean Kavanagh.Caveh is an American autobiographical filmmaker celebrated for his experimental, self-reflexive and adventurous work across film, web series, and podcasting. In this podcast, we catch up with Caveh to chat about his art, craft, and plans for the festival.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts or watch the original recording here.https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-filmmaker-caveh-zahedi-ulysses-new-york-at-bloomsday-film-festivalThis screening and talk will be taken place on 12th June 2026 7pm to 8:30pm in Belvedere College. Get your tickets here.The Bloomsday Festival runs from 11th–16th June, with screenings hosted at the historic James Joyce Centre and the Irish Film Institute (IFI).About Ulysses, New York An Introduction with Director Caveh Zahedi Ulysses, New York is an ambitious 24-part adaptation of James Joyce's Ulysses by Caveh Zahedi, an American autobiographical filmmaker known for his self-reflexive and formally adventurous approach to cinema. His feature films include Autobiographical Filmmaker Seeks Camera-Friendly Companion (2025), The Sheik and I (2012), I Am a Sex Addict (2005), In the Bathtub of the World (2001), I Don't Hate Las Vegas Anymore (1994), and A Little Stiff (1991). He is also the creator of the web series The Show About the Show and the writer/host of the podcast 365 Stories I Want To Tell You Before We Both Die.With Ulysses, New York, Zahedi attempts to do to Joyce's Ulysses what Joyce did to Homer's The Odyssey: transpose a canonical work into a new time, place and form. The events of 16 June 1904 in Dublin are reimagined as taking place on 16 June 2022 in New York City, on the centenary of the novel's publication. Following eight actors performing in a Bloomsday stage production of Ulysses, the film moves between Joyce's chapters onstage and the corresponding hours of the actors' real day. This special presentation features a work-in-progress version of the introductory episode, followed by a discussion with Zahedi on the challenges of adapting Joyce.Bloomsday Film FestivalIreland's most literary film festival was established as a celebration of cinema, literature, and artistic innovation, inspired by the far-reaching influence of Ireland's father of modernism, James Joyce. The festival is presented in partnership with the Bloomsday Festival and the James Joyce Centre, and runs from 11–16 June, with screenings hosted at the historic James Joyce Centre and the Irish Film Institute (IFI). Continuing its annual traditions, the festival marks the birthday of W.B. Yeats on 13 June with a curated programme of poetry and literature-inspired short films. On 14 June, in keeping with Joyce's radical and experimental spirit, the programme showcases a selection of innovative experimental films. The following day, 15 June, celebrates the anniversary of the publication of Dubliners with screenings of Joycean short films and adaptations of Dublin-based stories.Alongside its cinematic programme, the Bloomsday Film Festival presents a diverse range of events, including director Q&As, workshops, musical performances, and poetry readings. At its core, the festival is committed to fostering artistic innovation - championing filmmakers who forge their own paths and create work that pushes the boundaries of the medium, in the same pioneering spirit that defined Joyce's literary legacy.Check out the programme & get tickets at www.bloomsdayfestival.ie.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at RENDR 2026 we caught up with Oscar-shortlisted animator and acclaimed storyboard artist Giovanna Ferrari about her latest short film Éiru.With a career spanning major European productions and some of Ireland's most celebrated animated features, Ferrari reflects on her creative journey, the rewards and challenges of storyboarding, and the evolving language of animation. From her early work in France to her current role at Cartoon Saloon, she discusses the collaborative process behind award-winning films, as well as the personal inspiration driving her own directorial work.In partnership with RENDR Festival and supported by the National Talent Academy for VFX, this series of talks was recorded in The Spinners Mill Studio, a podcast and DJ studio based in Banana Block offering tailored solutions for DJ sessions, small-scale events and podcasting from concept to final distribution.About Giovanna FerrariSince the early 2000s, Giovanna has worked on several feature films across Europe both as Storyboard Artist and Animator. After working in France for 10 years, she moved to Ireland and worked with Cartoon Saloon on a number of projects, including Song of The Sea, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers. Recently she was Head of Story and Animation Director of Cartoon Saloon's new feature film My Father's Dragon produced by Netflix and directed by Nora Twomey. Giovanna's storyboarding on The Breadwinner was awarded with an Emile Award in 2018. ÉIRU, a short film written and directed by Giovanna, and produced by Cartoon Saloon was one of 15 Animated Short Films shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards® and has screened at festivals all across the globe.Éiru is the smallest child of a mighty and powerful clan of Iron age Irish warriors. When the village well mysteriously dries up, she can finally prove herself worthy of her clan's name by descending into the belly of the earth and facing whoever or whatever has stolen their water.RENDR FestivalThis is a unique event celebrating creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive two-day festival exploring the space between Creativity and Technology. Ignite your imagination with inspiring speakers from the worlds of Film, Gaming, Animation, Immersive, and more! Learn from the best, with 30+ creatives from the likes of Netflix, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios and Epic Games among others.Witness creative uses of new technology, explore the gallery of digital art, chow down at the food village or play in the arcade. You will be transported to the future, and provide you with unforgettable and inspirational nights. Like nothing you have experienced before, our unique combination is guaranteed to provide two nights you can't miss. Come for the talks, stay for the experience!National Talent Academy for Visual EffectsAs the newest of the Academies, the National Talent Academy for VFX provides support and opportunities for anyone interested in a career in VFX. Launched in 2024, the National Talent Academy for VFX is an initiative of Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland, managed by Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet. Their mission is to transform aspiring VFX artists into industry-ready professionals while providing ongoing upskilling opportunities for current talent.Through comprehensive courses and programmess, we introduce participants to best practices both locally and globally, creating clear pathways and solidifying Ireland's reputation as a premier destination for VFX. The National Talent Academy for VFX is dedicated to attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, fostering greater awareness of VFX as a viable and exciting career choice. Learn more about the work they do hereOver the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 26 of the DocArena Podcast, Ross Whitaker catches up once again with BAFTA Award-winning director John Dower (Lockerbie, Thriller in Manila, My Scientology Movie) to discuss his latest film, The Balloonists. In cinemas on 22nd May, this gripping documentary follows explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flying instructor Brian Jones as they take on the world's top aeronauts and billionaires in a high-stakes race to become the first to fly nonstop around the globe in a balloon.This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Welcome to The DocArena Podcast in association with Film Ireland. My name is Ross Whitaker and every fortnight, I want to dig deeply into the motivations of documentary filmmakers – how do they choose their subject material and what approaches and strategies do they employ to fund, craft and distribute their work…John DowerJohn Dower is a British director who recently won a BAFTA for his series Lockerbie. His feature Thriller in Manila played at Sundance in 2009, went on to be BAFTA and Emmy-nominated, and won a Grierson and a Peabody. His film Bradley Wiggins: A Year In Yellow was BAFTA nominated in the Best Director category. John's other films include the music documentary Live Forever, My Scientology Movie, the Netflix series Sophie – A Murder in West Cork, and The Mystery of DB Cooper, described by The Guardian as, “a real-life Twin Peaks … highly entertaining” and the Times calling it “all but flawless.”The BalloonistsThe Balloonists, a thrilling new documentary opens in the winter of 1999, when Piccard - from a family of record-breaking explorers - and Jones set out to complete the last great aviation challenge of the 20th century: circumnavigating the globe nonstop in a hot-air balloon. With rival teams launching across the world, the race is on to secure a place in the history books.Working together, they must overcome extreme weather conditions, survive potentially fatal technical failures, and endure mounting mental and physical exhaustion. An exhilarating ride through breathtaking heights and perilous challenges, The Balloonists is a life-affirming story of adventure, obsession and friendship - drawn from a rich archive capturing the highs and lows of their extraordinary journey.The Balloonists is produced by Rise Films, the Oscar-winning company behind Icarus, All That Breathes, Nuisance Bear, The Invisible War, The Interrupters and George Carlin's American Dream. The film is produced in association with Anonymous Content and Red Bull Studios.In Irish cinemas 22 May 2026.Check out more DocArena episodes herePodcast music composed by michaelflemingmusic.comRoss Whitaker is a filmmaker and former editor of Film Ireland Magazine and programmer of the IFI Dublin Documentary Film Festival @RossWhitakerTVRoss is a producer and/or director of the feature documentaries Beat the Lotto (2025), Katie (2018), Between Land and Sea (2016), Unbreakable (2014) and Saviours (2007). His recent work includes the TV documentaries This Is Open Country (2025) for NBC/Sky, Birdsong (2024) for RTÉ (+ BBC, ARTE), Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year (2021) for ITV/RTÉ, Barney Curley Beat the Bookies (2021) for BBC/RTÉ and The Boys in Green (2020) for RTÉ. His short documentaries include the award-winning Bye Bye Now (2009) and Home Turf (2011), as well as the documentary commercial Sleeping Flags (2019), which won prestigious D&AD and Cannes Lions Awards. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, we catch up with writer/director Róisín Kearney whose latest short, ÉIST, starring Stephen Rea, is set to premiere at the Fastnet Film Festival on Sunday 24th May following its Puttnam Script Award win.Róisín has established a career across film, TV and theatre, from directing RTÉ documentary series Keep It Up to producing award-winning shorts including The Ferry and Prodigy. She directed the short multi-award-winning short PADDY, which screened at festivals around the world. In this episode, Róisín joins fellow filmmaker Rachel Melita to talk about coming back into the industry, the realities of funding and development, directing documentary versus drama, writing authentic characters, and the collaborative process of bringing ÉIST to life.ÉIST Starring Stephen Rea, Aaron Monaghan, and Louis Kirwan, Éíst is written and directed by Róisín Kearney and produced by her long-time collaborator Caroline Grace-Cassidy as well as Kevin Cassidy for Document Films.Éíst is a meditation on memory, loss, and childhood trauma, explored through the quiet bravery of a young boy who listens. When he hears his ailing grandfather cry out, he hatches a plan to break him out of his nursing home and return him to his island home, where he hopes to make peace with the ocean that claimed his brother's life. A story of innocence and empathy, the film explores a child's sense of fairness as he breaks the rules to fulfil his grandfather's wish. A story of innocence and empathy, Éíst explores a child's sense of fairness as he breaks the rules to fulfil his grandfather's wish. Shot on location in West Cork, the film's cinematography is by Eleanor Bowman.Éíst will premiere at Fastnet Film Festival on Sunday, 24th May in the Palace Cinema at Schull Harbour Hotel. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Róisín Kearney, Caroline Grace-Cassidy, Stephen Rea, David and Patsy Puttnam, Jean Van Sindern Law, moderated by John Kelleher.Róisín Kearney Beginning her career in theatre lighting design and stage direction, Roisin moved into film after working on low-budget independent productions in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She later stepped back to focus on family, working on the periphery of the industry in script development and copywriting for producers. She returned to writing with the comedy short The Love Agency (2014), later developed as a radio play.Her film work includes The Ballad of Olive Morris (EP, shortlisted BAFTA 2023), The Secret Life of Jim (producer, multiple award winner), PADDY (director, premiered Galway Film Fleadh 2020), The Ferry (co-producer, Academy long-listed 2021), The Family Way (writer/producer, shortlisted EdFest New Voice Award), RUN (co-writer/director, premiered Galway Film Fleadh 2019 and toured internationally), No Dogs (writer/director, nominated Best Female Director Cork Indie FF), and Keep It Up (hybrid documentary series for Macalla Teo and RTÉ, Celtic Media Festival nominated).She is also producer of the award-winning radio play Adventures of a Young Pirate Queen, now in its third season on RTÉ Jr Radio. Her projects in development include Playing For Ireland (documentary, Tile Media), RIP (comedy drama series, Babyjane Productions, Screen Ireland supported), Spoke (feature film, Roundstone Media, Screen Ireland supported), Moon Walk(theatre, Arts Council supported), and Like, Vintage (comedy drama feature, with Caroline Grace Cassidy and Document Films). She has also developed TV scripts including Patrius (Belfast crime thriller) and Bloodlines (blue-sky drama series).Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland podcast, recorded live on location in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Irish Film Festival, Gemma Creagh chats with producer, writer and director Ruán Magan his films Báite and Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator, which were both screening in the programme. Presented annually by Solas Nua, the 20th edition of the Capital Irish Film Festival ran from 26th February to 1st March 2026, presenting one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America. We learn more about the great work they do by catching up with the festival's director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh.Finally we hear from some of the attendees at the event...BáiteA woman's body is found under the waters of a lake in the countryside, and the arrival of a Detective from Dublin is the last thing Peggy, the owner of Casey's Pub, needs as she tries to save her business and her family.Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator Narrated by Domhnall Gleeson, this hour-long documentary explores the life and legacy of Daniel O'Connell to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2025.Ruán Magan Ruán is a producer, writer and director whose work in drama, documentary and stadium events has reached audiences of millions throughout the world. Having begun his career in the movie business, Ruán has worked as an assistant director and location manger in major Hollywood films including Far & Away, The Devil's Own and Michael Collins. Ruán established Create One in 1996 spurred by the ideal of creating high end content that explored and celebrated the human condition. The company's first production was a documentary presented by the writer and playright, Manchán Magan filmed in India. This led to a long collaboration which saw the two brothers producing 30 documentaries filmed in India, South America, the Middle East, the USA, Europe and China.In 1998, Create One produced By Design. This 6 part documentary series produced by Ruán Magan in collaboration with Fox Laurber and Little Bird, design expert, Garrett O'Hagan and directer, Geoff Dunlop, looked at the crucial role that design plays in the human world. It aired across Europe and the US. Since then Ruán has continued to produce project through Create One while also embarking on an international career that has seen him direct and produce projects in the US, Europe and China for Discovery, History Channel, Smithsonian, BBC, ARTE and Tencent. Drama projects directed by Ruán Magan include Báite (Danu Media), Wrecking The Rising/Éirí Amach Amú (Tile Films), Éoinín na nÉan (TG4) and Angel (Create One). His screenplays No Fury and The Noticer.Maedhbh Mc Cullagh Maedhbh is a multidisciplinary cultural producer, arts programmer and creative consultant. For more than two decades she has been producing and managing artistic programs, presentations, productions, and special events for international festivals, cultural institutes and organizations, in Europe and the US, including appointments as the Associate Director of Irish Screen America, Managing Director of the world-renowned Abrons Arts Center, independent freelance producer at Performance Space NY, The Civilians Theater Company, The Foundry Theatre, the Alliance of Resident Theatres, and program director of the international Dublin Fringe Festival.About Capital Irish Film FestivalSolas Nua's annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C., presents one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers. The festival provides a US platform that amplifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond, and celebrates the strength of Ireland's contemporary cinematic culture. The programme highlights the country's rich cultural heritage while fostering an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning screenwriter Malcolm Campbell has worked on some of the most influential shows on UK television. His impressive back catalogue of films includes the gripping What Richard Did as well as the deeply affecting Herself. Now, his latest feature, 500 Miles, has just hit cinemas. This moving family drama, featuring Bill Nighy and Maisie Williams, follows two young brothers on a poignant journey across Ireland.In this Film Ireland Podcast, Malcolm discusses adaptation, notes, writing with empathy, working with actors, and the collaborative process of bringing 500 Miles to the screen.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Malcolm CampbellMalcolm is an award-winning screenwriter from Mansfield, whose credits include the acclaimed feature films, What Richard Did and Herself. He created and wrote C4's hit TV drama series Ackley Bridge, now in its 5th and final series, and he has written for some of the UK's most popular dramas, including Shameless and Skins. Malcolm's ​screenplay for What Richard Did, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and produced by Element Pictures, won numerous awards including The Evening Standard British Film Award's Best Screenplay, The Writer's Guild's Best Screenplay and the Irish Film and TV Award's Best Film Script. Malcolm co-wrote the film Herself with its star Clare Dunne. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, reviews for the film were outstanding and it was released globally across 2021, winning Best Script at the IFTAs that year.500 MilesWhile their fighting parents (Clare Dunne & Michael Socha) tear their hair out with worry, runaways Finn (Roman Griffin Davis) and his live-wire younger brother Charlie (Dexter Sol Ansell) embark on an epic adventure from Yorkshire, over land and sea, to the Wild West coast of Ireland. With the free-spirited busker Cáit (Maisie Williams) helping the young boys along the way, their destination is Dingle, County Kerry, and their estranged, beloved Grandfather (BAFTA-award winner Bill Nighy), who their parents haven't spoken to since the fateful events of the previous summer.Directed by BAFTA-winner Morgan Matthews and written by Malcolm Campbell, this powerful adaptation of Mark Lowery's acclaimed book Charlie and Me: 421 Miles from Home is produced by New Origin, Port Pictures and Minnow Films. Produced by David M. Thompson, Alexander Gordon, Martina Niland and Keren Misgav Ristvedt, and with music from Jamie Duffy, 500 MILES stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Living) alongside Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), Dexter Sol Ansell (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Clare Dunne (Herself, Kin), Michael Socha (This is England) and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).In cinemas 15th May 2026.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded at the 2026 edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, this episode sees Naemi Victoria catching up with two impactful and thought-provoking films screening at the festival.First, she speaks with filmmaker Fanny Texier about her powerful short A Woman's Place Is Everywhere, which won The Silver Bear Jury Prize for Best Short Film. Set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the film identical twin sisters Emilija and Ona as they face grief, looming eviction and an uncertain future after the sudden death of their mother. Then, Naemi is joined by director Fil Ieropoulos and writer Foivos Dousos to discuss Uchronia, a bold and visually expansive docu-essay inspired by Arthur Rimbaud's Une Saison en Enfer. The film follows the ghost of the French poet on a time-travelling journey through alternative histories, revolutionary politics and queer resistance.A Woman's Place Is Everywhere Identical twin sisters Emilija and Ona have lived in a rent-controlled warehouse loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for as long as they can remember. After the sudden death of their mother – a Lithuanian artist and dancer who first called the loft home in the 1970s – they find themselves on the brink of eviction. The neighbourhood has transformed; the landlord wants them out. Adding to the turmoil, Ona discovers she is pregnant. Fanny TexierThe documentary filmmaker was born in Paris, France and is now based in Brooklyn. She studied journalism at the University of Montreal and has a master's degree from the Sorbonne. As a feminist director, she is drawn to intimate and unusual stories, particularly those of women and individuals who are under-represented in traditional media. Her work has been presented by organisations including HBO, Netflix, “The New Yorker”, the BBC and Showtime. She recently participated in the Film at Lincoln Center Artists Academy and the newportFILM lab to develop her debut feature-length documentary.UchroniaIn this docu-essay inspired by Arthur Rimbaud's “Une Saison en Enfer”, we meet the French poet's ghost embarking on a time-travel adventure. His delirious visions become portals opening onto alternative timelines – or “uchronias”. Rimbaud gains the opportunity to meet revolutionary figures such as Emma Goldman, David Wojnarowicz and Marsha P. Johnson. Together, they explore the possibility of social change and reflect on the meaning of revolution in times of disillusionment. Inspired by the rich history of 20th-century experimental queer cinema, the film is a celebration of enfants terribles and dissident freaks across the globe. Ultimately, the film considers the current political milieu and its parallels with Rimbaud's own time. Could post-internet ennui and widespread defeatism be understood through the eyes of a late 19th-century decadent poet? Fil Ieropoulos, DirectorFil studied film, cultural studies and communication in the UK, completing a PhD in film poetry at the University of Kent in 2010. Since 2003, he has been a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, teaching video art, film theory and animation. His first feature, Orfeas2021, premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and was nominated for Greek Film Academy awards. His second feature, Avant-Drag!, premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and has been selected for over 70 international festivals, earning a Special Jury Mention at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.Foivos Dousos, WriterFoivos completed his PhD on narcissism in new media cultures in 2019. He was a contributing curator for the Athens Biennale and was a founding member of Sound Acts Festival, the Athens Museum of Queer Arts (AMOQA) and the publishing initiative Queer Ink. In his creative practice as part of the artistic duo FYTA, he has performed in Athens, Geneva, Berlin and London. FYTA's work problematizes Greek identity and nationalism and often employs playfulness, humour and irony.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live on location at RENDR 2026 in Banana Block Belfast, we caught up with acclaimed filmmaker Fede Álvarez, the director, writer and producer behind genre-defining features including Evil Dead, Don't Breathe and Alien: Romulus.In this in-depth conversation, he discusses breaking into Hollywood from Uruguay, working with iconic horror franchises and the key moment he reassessed his career. Fede has collaborated with some of the industry's biggest names, including Ridley Scott, and reflects on the success of Alien: Romulus, the evolution of genre filmmaking, and the cinematic worlds he enjoys building.If you want to watch the video recording of this talk, check out the episode page here.We are delighted to present this very special speaker series in partnership with RENDR Festival and supported by the National Talent Academy for VFX, recorded in The Spinners Mill Studio. Fede ÁlvarezDirector, writer & producer Federico Javier Álvarez Mattos is a Uruguayan filmmaker whose directorial debut was the 2013 remake of Evil Dead, which he also wrote. The film starred Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci, and opened at number one at the box office. Following the success of his first film, Alvarez wrote, directed and produced the hit genre film Don't Breathe. The film premiered to rave reviews, grossed over $157 million globally.Alvarez also directed and wrote the action-crime film The Girl in the Spider's Web, starring Claire Foy and LaKeith Stanfield, based on the characters from the bestselling Stieg Larsson series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He also produced and wrote Don't Breathe 2 and later produced and wrote the 2022 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which premiered at number one on Netflix's Top 10 list. On the TV side, Alvarez created, directed and wrote the Apple TV+ series Calls, an English adaptation of the French series of the same name.Most recently, Alvarez's film Alien: Romulus, which he wrote, directed and executive produced, was released in the summer of 2024, starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. The film is a standalone instalment in the Alien franchise and follows a group of young people on a distant world who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying lifeform in the universe. The film grossed over $350 million worldwide and received positive critical acclaim. It won Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards, received a Golden Globe nomination for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.RENDR FestivalThis is a unique event celebrating creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive two-day festival exploring the space between Creativity and Technology. Ignite your imagination with inspiring speakers from the worlds of Film, Gaming, Animation, Immersive, and more! Learn from the best, with 30+ creatives from the likes of Netflix, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios and Epic Games among others.National Talent Academy for Visual EffectsAs the newest of the Academies, the National Talent Academy for VFX provides support and opportunities for anyone interested in a career in VFX. Launched in 2024, the National Talent Academy for VFX is an initiative of Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland, managed by Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet. Their mission is to transform aspiring VFX artists into industry-ready professionals while providing ongoing upskilling opportunities for current talent.Through comprehensive courses and programmess, we introduce participants to best practices both locally and globally, creating clear pathways and solidifying Ireland's reputation as a premier destination for VFX. The National Talent Academy for VFX is dedicated to attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, fostering greater awareness of VFX as a viable and exciting career choice. Learn more about the work they do here. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh sits down with Dungannon actor Fra Fee to chat about his impressive catalogue of work that spans stage, film & TV, while delving into those key moments that shaped his career.From his breakout screen role as Courfeyrac in Les Misérables to performances in local films including Animals & Boys From County Hell, Fra has built a strong presence on screen, balancing indie projects against large-scale productions like Hawkeye on Disney+ & Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.Now, Unchosen is available to stream on Netflix, in which he plays the enigmatic & manipulative Sam. Fra discusses his approach to this complex, morally ambiguous role, the contrast in working across different mediums, & how he develops a character from script to performance.This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund.Listen now to the podcast on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast & Amazon, subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts or watch the original recording back:https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-actor-fra-fee-unchosen-rebel-moon-hawkeyeAbout Fra FeeImmediately after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Dungannon actor Fra landed a role in the West End production of Dirty Dancing. Since then, he has worked consistently across stage & screen. Recently, Fra Fee starred in the leading role of Emcee in the Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret in the West End. Fra also appeared in Jez Butterworth's critically acclaimed run, The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre, London's West End & on Broadway. Fra won the 2018 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, for his role in the show. Fra's other theatre credits include Translations & As You Like It, both at the National Theatre, the World Premiere of The Wind in the Willows, & the title role in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory. On screen, Fra is known for his portrayal of Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Misérables. In 2021, he appeared as Kazi in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He worked with director Zack Snyder, starring as Balisarius in Rebel Moon Part 1 & 2. He also had roles in Animals, Boys From County Hell, Pixie & The Laureate.UnchosenAll six episodes are available to stream on Netflix now.Molly Windsor & Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) star alongside Christopher Eccleston, Siobhan Finneran, & Fra in the series from Intergalactic writer/creator Julie Gearey. This psychological thriller takes viewers behind the closed doors of a fictional conservative religious sect.Unchosen follows Rosie, who lives in a cloistered Christian community with her husband, Adam (Butterfield) & their daughter. The fateful arrival of the mysterious Sam, an escaped prisoner, throws into relief the reality & restraints of Rosie's world: Perhaps her hidden religious community doesn't have her best interests at heart. As cracks begin to appear in Rosie & Adam's marriage, Sam presents himself as Rosie's savior. But with his dark criminal past, where does the greatest danger lie - with the cult, or with Sam?Sam is an escaped convict who was arrested as a teen for a deadly crime. He quickly integrates himself into the fellowship & uses his powers of coercion to become a pillar of the community. While balancing an affair with Rosie & flirtation with Adam, Sam lives in fear of being sent back to prison. “He is fiercely intelligent, highly manipulative, & able to get what he wants by abusing other characters' insecurities or their weaknesses,” Fee tells Tudum. “A lot of the time, I don't think it's necessarily premeditated. He's just very reactionary & a real survivor.” Figuring out how to play Sam was a lesson in embracing the grey areas. Because the character's intentions were often murky & complex, Gearey encouraged Fee to never “fully dot the i's or cross the t's” in scenes. “There always had to be room for an alternative intention,” Fee explains. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 25 of the DocArena Podcast, Ross Whitaker catches up with directors Peter Mortimer (The Alpinist, The Dawn Wall) and Nick Rosen (The Alpinist, Reel Rock) to talk about their biggest project to date, The Dark Wizard, which is available to stream now on HBO Max.This HBO Original four-part documentary series, The Dark Wizard, gives an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world's most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders fund.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.The Dark Wizard traces the jaw-dropping feats that made him a legend, as well as the personal turmoil that defined his life.From an early age, Dean grappled with inner demons that led him to seek the limits of human possibility. Climbing became his outlet and Yosemite National Park became the canvas for his unique talent and artistic expression. As his accomplishments on El Capitan and Half Dome elevated him to hero status in the adventure sports world, his mental state began to fracture and his fierce competitive drive pushed him to try to outdo both himself and others, including rising star Alex Honnold. Ultimately, it was wingsuiting and his lifelong desire to fly that would prove to be his riskiest and most transcendent endeavour.Drawing from decades of archival footage, Dean's personal journals, and intimate interviews with those who knew him best, The Dark Wizard chronicles the triumphs, tragedies, rivalries, romances, and near-death moments that shaped the life of a brilliant yet tormented artist and athlete whose imagination and audacity redefined what the body and mind could do.Episode 4 will be available to stream on HBO Max on 4th May 2026.Peter MortimerPeter grew up in Boulder, Colorado where he learned to rock climb as a kid and made his first home videos of climbing and skiing exploits with friends. After graduating with a geology degree from Colorado College, Peter made his first "real" climbing film (Scary Faces, starring Zac Barr) then went on to get his MFA in film at USC. He's blended his life-long passion for climbing, travel & adventure with his love of telling stories about the incredible people he's met along the way. Peter lives in Boulder with his wife Joss, daughter Pia, son Xavi, and little dogs Macho and Gnarly. Nick RosenNick received his BA in political science from Colorado College, and his masters at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. Nick began working as a writer, producer & director for Sender in 2005, and since then has created award-wining feature films, TV programs and creative campaigns. Nick lives in Boulder, Colorado with his partner and two kids.Check out DocArena Episodes herePodcast music composed by michaelflemingmusic.comRoss Whitaker is a filmmaker and former editor of Film Ireland Magazine and programmer of the IFI Dublin Documentary Film Festival @RossWhitakerTVRoss is a producer and/or director of the feature documentaries Beat the Lotto (2025), Katie (2018), Between Land and Sea (2016), Unbreakable (2014) and Saviours (2007). His recent work includes the TV documentaries This Is Open Country (2025) for NBC/Sky, Birdsong (2024) for RTÉ (+ BBC, ARTE), Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year (2021) for ITV/RTÉ, Barney Curley Beat the Bookies (2021) for BBC/RTÉ and The Boys in Green (2020) for RTÉ. His short documentaries include the award-winning Bye Bye Now (2009) and Home Turf (2011), as well as the documentary commercial Sleeping Flags (2019), which won prestigious D&AD and Cannes Lions Awards.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh catches up with writer/director David Gleeson ahead of the release of his semi-autobiographical feature Once Upon a Time in a Cinema. Growing up in a family-run cinema, he was immersed in the magic of the big screen...an influence that continues to shape his work today. He talks about his unusual start in the industry (including working in oil exploration in the Arctic Circle) and how he made the transition to selling scripts in the US.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.You can listen on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or watch the original video recording here: https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-director-writer-david-gleeson-once-upon-a-time-in-a-cinemaA dramatic night at the movies meets a powerful love letter to the cinema experience in Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, the new feature from acclaimed filmmaker David Gleeson (Tolkien, Don't Go, The Front Line, Cowboys & Angels). Set over the course of one eventful evening in a cinema in 1980s Ireland, a cinema owner wrestles with the legacy of the past and the challenges of the future in a drama that is funny, wise and rings of authenticity. Featuring a blend of some of Ireland's most-respected actors and exciting new talent, Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, is set over one night at the movies - where the plot twists offscreen are as surprising as any of those onscreen. Renowned Irish actor Colin Morgan (Belfast, Merlin) plays Earl Clancy, the manager of a small-town cinema who is firefighting the Friday night from hell while mulling over the sale of his cinema to a shady politician. Like James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, his journey leads him to realise his value to the community. Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is in cinemas 1st May 2026.David GleesonBorn to a family of Irish cinema-owners who opened their first theater in 1942, David grew up steeped in all things celluloid. Following a colourful and varied path, including a 5-year stint in oil exploration deep inside the Arctic Circle, Gleeson made his feature film debut as a writer/director with 2003's Cowboys & Angels. A youth comedy/drama set in his native Limerick, Cowboys & Angels was released in cinemas by Buena Vista International (Disney). The film won eight international film awards including Best Screenplay at Newport Beach (U.S.) and two Gold Medal Awards at Giffoni (Italy). The New York Times commented, [the film] 'offers a fresh mix of open-minded intelligence and a heartfelt point of view,' while The Chicago Tribune commented, 'Stack "Cowboys" against most of the fare American studios offer young adults and it's meatier by far'. Gleeson's next film which he also wrote and directed, the crime drama The Front Line, was released in cinemas in 2006 also through Buena Vista Intl. In 2008, Gleeson sold his time travel sci-fi spec screenplay The End of History to Sony Pictures. He followed this up over the next decade with several more spec sales and commissions to studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Focus Features, 20th Century Fox, Mattel Studios and Paramount Pictures. In July 2017, Gleeson wrote and directed Don't Go starring Stephen Dorff and Melissa George. In May 2019, Fox Searchlight Pictures released Tolkien, a Chernin Entertainment production based on Gleeson's original screenplay about the legendary author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien. Now, the semi-autobiographical Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is about to hit cinemas. Gleeson continues to work in wildly different genres and is currently in preproduction on a musical comedy called Violence, Foul Language and Scenes of a Sexual Nature.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh catches up with actor Anne McCrudden, who plays bereaved widow Catherine in drama feature Sunphlowers. We chat with Anne about her love of storytelling, how she found her character, and the exciting projects that lie ahead.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Sunphlowers is Directed by Dave Byrne. In a rural village along the east coast of Ireland, recently bereaved widow Catherine uncovers the truth of what her deceased husband has been hiding. Catherine must fight against all odds to keep her family business and home.Anne McCruddenAnne began acting in the 1980s and early '90s, performing in theatre productions by playwrights including John B. Keane, Synge, Martin McDonagh, Brian Friel and Jim Nolan. After stepping away from acting to pursue other work, she later returned to performance, when a chance meeting with filmmaker Dave Byrne led to her screen debut as Phyllis in Somebody (2023). After this followed by her role as Catherine in Sunphlowers (2025). Now represented by Capulet Actors Agency, she is developing film and television projects focused on complex female characters. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts podcast (@sotapod), filmmaker and writer Des Doyle sits down with senior entertainment executive Scott Farris to discuss his role in shaping global franchise storytelling.Produced in partnership with Film Ireland and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, the State of the Arts series explores the creative processes, industry challenges, and new opportunities that both Irish and international creatives face in today's ever-evolving artistic landscapes.In this conversation, Scott discusses his experiences in the changing world of TV development, offering insight into how large-scale projects are developed from the ground up. He discusses the realities of working with major IP, the collaborative processes behind franchise storytelling, and how the industry is evolving in response to changing audience expectations, technology, and global demand.Follow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/Read more about the podcast here: https://www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-senior-entertainment-executive-scott-farris-with-des-doyle/Scott FarrisScott is a senior entertainment executive with over 15 years of experience shaping global franchise storytelling. One of the earliest creative hires at Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, he helped build the studio from the ground up and played a key role in establishing Amazon as a major force in premium television.Scott pioneered Amazon's strategy for adapting global gaming franchises, securing and developing landmark properties including God of War, Mass Effect, Warhammer 40K, and The Sims, as well as the breakout hit Fallout, which drew over 100 million viewers worldwide and earned 16 Emmy nominations.Beyond gaming, his work focuses on large-scale worldbuilding and IP-driven storytelling, with projects including Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, RoboCop with James Wan, and Fourth Wing, based on Rebecca Yarros' bestselling romantasy phenomenon. Scott is particularly passionate about the intersection of creativity, technology, fandom, and the future of franchise storytelling.Des DoyleDes is a D.I.T. graduate who spent fifteen years working in the Camera Department in the Irish film industry before moving into directing. He is the writer/director of the critically acclaimed feature documentary Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show, featuring JJ Abrams (Alias, Lost, Fringe), Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife), Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) and Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) amongst others.He has created a number of courses in conjunction with Screen Ireland over the last few years, which provide breakdowns of all the major US and international streaming networks and what their evolving programming needs may be. He also initiated the Pitching Programme for TV Drama and Comedy with Screen Ireland, giving a selected group of writers the opportunity to pitch directly to some of the major Irish production companies based on briefs they provide, and created the LA Writers Room Placements scheme, which allowed Irish writers to travel to LA and spend time in real-world US TV series writers' rooms.He has also lectured on Showrunning, US TV Production and the Future of Content at USC Los Angeles, Rowan University Philadelphia, Scriptmakers Berlin, APIT TV Producers Conference Lisbon, Northern Ireland Screen, IADT Dublin, Writers Guild of Ireland and as part of the recent Greenlight Screenwriting Labs in Galway. He is currently developing a new documentary series, which is a US/Irish co-production, as well as providing creative consultancy services to Irish producers, writers and directors with projects targeting the US or global streaming markets.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with co-writer/directors John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck to discuss their latest film The Three Urns, in cinemas from April 17th. They chat about their creative partnership, their fascinating (and very different) career paths, and what they learned from making their first feature that they brought onto this one.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.The Three UrnsEqual parts picturesque and picaresque, Mr. O'Connor's journey across Ireland is filled with playful misadventures and serendipitous encounters. Along the way, he stumbles upon a cohort of colourful characters: a Lithuanian painter, an itinerant priest, horse traders and whisperers, and a Choctaw native travelling to commemorate the Great Famine. He is also given refuge by a group of mystic women, whom he finds worshipping at the ancient Beltany Stone Circle.He visits his brother, who still runs the family dairy farm, and uncovers the truth about his wife's favourite cousin. Yet misfortune dogs his path. From the outset, Mr. O'Connor is followed by a mysterious Woman in Black, who trails him in a diminutive electric car plagued by persistent charging issues.Will Penn goes on a musical pilgrimage in his review of ‘The Three Urns.'John-Paul Davidson and Stephen WarbeckStephen Warwick is one of Britain's most successful composers, soundtracking films such as Shakespeare in Love (for which he won an Oscar), Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and Billy Elliott.John-Paul Davidson is best known for his documentary travelogue series with Michael Palin and Stephen Fry In AmericaJohn-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck go back a long way. They have known each other since they attended Bristol University in the mid-1970's. They lived together in a London squat and although their lives within the creative sphere spiralled off into different directions – Stephen becoming one of Britain's most successful composers, soundtracking films such as Shakespeare in Love (for which he won an Oscar), Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and Billy Elliott, and John-Paul Davidson becoming a director and film producer, best known for his documentary travelogue series with Michael Palin – they remained friends. “We have known each other since Bristol University,” says Warbeck. “We often spend holidays together in France and our children are all friends with each other.” Davidson and Warbeck are friends and creative partners. Davidson adds: “I got Stephen to do some music for films I was making at the BBC and that's how our working collaboration started again after university.” Both schools of absurd comedy were manifested in The Man in the Hat (2020), Davidson and Warbeck's first directorial collaboration.” Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tawfik Sabouni breaks down his Berlinale-bound documentary Other Side of the Sun and how it grew out of lived experience, from filming protests during the Syrian revolution to imprisonment, exile, and ultimately shaping that reality into his first feature. He doesn't separate fiction and nonfiction, approaching cinema as one language built around truth and urgency.The film follows survivors returning to the prison where they were held, using reenactment to access memory rather than spectacle. Built around faces instead of events, it focuses on the human imprint of trauma, with the process itself forcing Sabouni to confront experiences he nearly walked away from.Drawing from filmmakers like Rithy Panh (The Missing Picture) and Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing), the film blends personal testimony with cinematic form. The takeaway is clear: tell the stories that matter, especially the ones others would rather ignore.What Movies Are You Watching?This episode is brought to you by BeastGrip. When you're filming on your phone and need something solid, modular, and built for real productions - including 28 Years Later and Left Handed Girl - BeastGrip's rigs, lenses, and accessories are designed to hold up without slowing you down. If you're ready to level up your mobile workflow, visit BeastGrip.com and use coupon code PASTPRESENTFEATURE for 10 % off.  Revival Hub is your guide to specialty screenings in Los Angeles - classics on 35mm, director Q&As, rare restorations, and indie gems you won't find on streaming. We connect moviegoers with over 200 venues across LA, from the major revival houses to the 20-seat microcinemas and more.Visit revivalhub.com to see what's playing this week.  Introducing the Past Present Feature Film Festival, a new showcase celebrating cinematic storytelling across time. From bold proof of concept shorts to stand out new films lighting up the circuit, to overlooked features that deserve another look. Sponsored by the Past Present Feature podcast and Leica Camera. Submit now at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeatureSupport the showListen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as well as at www.pastpresentfeature.com. Like, subscribe, and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeatureThe Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 20-22, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature

How is important art and fandom shaped? In today's episode, we're joined by more wonderful LGBTQIA creatives from starGAZE: multidisciplinary artist Venus Patel, writer/filmmaker Jack Warren and director, screenwriter, and concept artist Stephen T. Lally discuss their literal journeys, professional achievements, the films and art that inspired them, and the impact starGAZE has had on their careers so far.We're delighted to partner with the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama to celebrate this year's starGAZE participants.starGAZE, the professional development initiative supporting six emerging LGBTQIA filmmakers, returns for its third year in 2026. Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 20th April. For more information on how to apply, visit www.nationaltalentacademies.ie/film-tv.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast & Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Venus Patel is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist working in film, theatre & visual arts. Her work examines social conformity & Queer/POC suppression through the lens of absurdity, informed by her experiences as a trans woman of colour. Her debut short film, Eggshells, which she directed, wrote & acted in, premiered at GAZE Film Festival & won the RDS Taylor Art Award & the Image Now Multimedia Award. Her most recent short film, Daisy: Prophet of the Apocalypse, has screened at film festivals across the US, the UK, Ireland, Germany, & France, & won an Audience Award from Translations: Seattle Trans Film Festival. Her film work has been exhibited in the Crawford Art Gallery, the Complex, IMMA, Butler Gallery & Hypha Gallery (Mayfair, London).Jack Warren is a writer/filmmaker based in Dublin. Their award-winning short films have screened all over the world, including: Papergirl, which has screened at GAZE, Final Girls Berlin, Body is Reality: Trans Horror on Screen at the Irish Film Institute & the Trans Genre, Trans Form Film Festival, where it took home the audience prize; Toxic Astrology Ex-Best Friends, which has screened at the FRINGE! Queer Film & Arts Fest & TITE; and Artemis, which screened at the Woodstock Film Festival. Jack recently took home the Bronze Prize from Soho Horror Film Festival for their horror comedy short Blair's Craft Projects, where it was honoured by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) & Jed Shepherd (Host). Jack's screenplay Violent Delights was selected to be pitched at the American Cinematheque's PROOF Festival, as well as selected for workshop by Stowe Story Labs and the NTAs Writers' Club, facilitated through the GALPAL Collective. Their screenplay Forty Foot, which they co-wrote with Beatrix Herriott O'Gorman, was selected for a Screen Ireland Fellowship for the Stowe Story Labs Connemara Writers' Retreat.Stephen T. Lally is an award-winning queer director, screenwriter & concept artist known for his visually inventive storytelling & commitment to LGBTQIA narratives that blend humour with heart. A graduate of Technological University Dublin, his breakout short film musical Lost for Words screened at over thirty international festivals, including Cork Film Festival, Brno 16 & Stuttgart Filmwinter. The script was nominated for an Oxygen SMEDIA Award, while the film won multiple accolades, including at the New York International Independent Film Festival. His work is defined by bold, whimsical storytelling & a distinctive visual style. Alongside his narrative projects, Lally has directed commercial content, music videos & animation for global clients such as RuPaul, Rimmel London, Disney, Universal & The Royal Opera. His LGBTQIA fantasy romcom Empress Clawscream marked a significant step into narrative filmmaking, earning awards including Best Sci-Fi Film at the Berlin Short Film Festival.The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland & is managed by Ardán.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, we're delighted to partner with the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama to celebrate this year's starGAZE programme participantsWe're joined by producer Billy Buckley, writer-director Eleanor Rogers, and producer-director Lewis Doherty to discuss their creative journeys, the projects they're working on, and the impact starGAZE has had on their careers so far.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-in-conversation-with-stargaze-participants-billy-buckley-eleanor-rogers-lewis-dohertystarGAZE, the professional development initiative supporting six emerging LGBTQIA filmmakers, returns for its third year in 2026. Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 20 April. For more information on how to apply, visit www.nationaltalentacademies.ie/film-tvBilly BuckleyBilly is an emerging queer producer from Galway focused on contemporary Irish and queer storytelling. With a background in live-action drama, his work explores identity and morality.He was casting director and production manager for Soulmate Wanted with Heritage (premiered at Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023) and production manager on Medicinal (Galway Film Fleadh 2024, “Best of Kerry” winner). His short Where Will We Go? explored the defective concrete crisis and screened at Disappear Here Film Festival before broadcast on Virgin Media. In 2024, he joined the National Talent Academies' First Credit scheme, mentored by Maggie Ryan.His latest short Over the Moon, about a young trans man revisiting his past in the Burren, premiered at Dublin International Film Festival 2025. Billy also produces music videos for queer artists and works with Tiny Ark across commercial and documentary projects.Eleanor RogersEleanor is a queer writer, director, and photographer from Co. Louth. A First-Class Honours graduate of IADT, she wrote and directed Breastfriends (2018), which premiered at GAZE and won Best Irish Short before screening internationally. She was nominated for Best Under 25 Director at Underwire and has since directed music videos for artists including Elkae and PureGrand. In 2022, she was selected for Screen Ireland's Spotlight TV Comedy scheme. In 2024, she was filmmaker-in-residence at An Táin, where she developed her debut feature Going Somewhere.Lewis DohertyLewis Doherty is a queer Irish producer/director working across film, TV, and documentary. Starting in the camera department, they progressed to director of photography on indie and major productions including Dungeons and Dragons. Their directing work includes Pastor Ed, and documentaries such as It Takes a Village, When It Rains (Docs Ireland award winner), Viet-Glish, and Outlasting (BBC NI), selected for Docs Ireland and GAZE 2025. They have also worked on unscripted shows including Britain's Got Talent, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Lewis has participated in development programmes including Sheffield DocFest and Cork International Film Festival IGNITE Docs. They were runner-up at the 2024 Docs Ireland Feature Pitch and are a 2025 Celtic Media Festival finalist.National Talent Academy for Film & Television DramaEstablished in 2021, the NTA (an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, managed by Ardán) supports emerging talent across Ireland.It provides training, mentorship, and career pathways for writers, directors, producers, and creatives, with a strong focus on regional and diverse voices. The Academy aims to remove barriers to entry and build a connected, inclusive screen industry.GAZE International LGBTQIA Film FestivalFounded in 1992, GAZE is a cornerstone of Ireland's LGBTQIA cultural landscape. The festival champions bold queer storytelling across genres, celebrating the full spectrum of LGBTQIA experiences while fostering a strong community of filmmakers and audiences.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, we're delighted to be chatting with Colin McIvor, director and co-writer of No Ordinary Heist as the film arrives in cinemas across Ireland and the UK.Inspired by true events in Belfast in December 2004, No Ordinary Heist tells a gripping fictional story of two bank employees forced into a chilling scheme, orchestrating a £26.5 million robbery to save their families' lives, while those behind it never set foot inside the bank. Taut, claustrophobic and immersive, the film stars Eddie Marsan, Éanna Hardwicke, Eva Birthistle and Michelle Fairley.We chat with the Colin about working across television and commercials, the importance of creative collaboration, and how he built tension and atmosphere in this high-stakes, emotionally driven story.This podcast has been made possible with the support of Screen Ireland's Stakeholder's Scheme.The film was produced by Ruth Carter, Damon Lane and Johanna Hogan for Picture Locked Productions and Next Wednesday Films with funding from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, RTÉ, Epic Pictures Group and Wildcard.The film is released theatrically in Ireland and the UK from Friday 27th March and will come to Sky Cinema as a Sky Original later in the year.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Colin McIvorNo Ordinary Heist marks Colin's third feature film, based on the remarkable £26.5m Northern Bank Robbery, and stars Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke. Its world premiere took place at Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026, from which it went on to make its Irish premiere at Dublin IFF, followed by its UK premiere at the Glasgow IFF. It is due for theatrical release in theatres across the US, UK and Ireland in March 2026.Previously, Colin wrote and directed a number of award-winning short films. His debut feature film, Cup Cake, starring Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) and Clive Russell (Game of Thrones), won numerous international awards, including Best Feature at Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Audience Award at Belfast Film Festival.His second feature, Zoo, as writer/director, starring Toby Jones (The Hunger Games) and Dame Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), was released in US (Samuel Goldwyn) and UK (eOne) cinemas to great critical acclaim. Zoo went on to win its category at Seattle International Film Festival, Giffoni Film Festival, Filemon Int. Film Festival, Castellinaria Int. Film Festival and Doha Int. Film Festival. He has also directed numerous TV dramas, including, recently, the WW2 epic World on Fire (2023) for primetime BBC One.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to create the visual worlds of modern cinema? Recorded on location at RENDR 2026 in Belfast, we catch up with CG & On-Set Supervisor Noel O'Malley and BAFTA-winning DFX Supervisor Dean Koonjul of Union VFX. With credits spanning Ex Machina to 28 Years Later and Poor Things, they discuss their exciting careers, creative collaboration, and the changing demands of high-end visual effects across film and TV.After, (at timecode 31:37) we speak to James Carson, CG Supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks, whose work includes KPop Demon Hunters and the upcoming feature Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. In this conversation, he reflects on his career journey from Belfast to supervising major international productions, sharing insights into working in animation and live-action, and working with teams on ambitious projects.This series of talks was recorded in The Spinners Mill Studio, a podcast and DJ studio based in Banana Block offering tailored solutions for DJ sessions, small-scale events and podcasting from concept to final distribution. We are delighted to present a very special speaker series in partnership with RENDR Festival and supported by the National Talent Academy for VFX.James Carson - CG SupervisorJames is a CG Supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks, most recently working on the global phenomenon KPOP Demon Hunters for Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix. Carson is currently supervising the live-action feature Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling. His other CG Supervisor credits include the animated feature In Your Dreams and the Academy Award®-nominated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Carson joined Imageworks in 2015 and has served as a Lighting TD and Lighting Lead, working on both animated and live-action projects. His additional Imageworks credits include: In Vaulted Halls Entombed, Mulan, the Academy Award®-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Smurfs: The Lost Village, The Angry Birds Movie 2, The Meg, and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Prior to Imageworks, Carson worked in various roles at Image Engine, ScanlineVFX, Prime Focus World, MPC, DNEG, and Zoic Studios. Carson is from Belfast, Northern Ireland.Union VFXHeadquartered in Soho, London with a sister company in Montréal, Union has established an unrivalled reputation for seamless invisible effects on a wide range of projects building strong creative relationships with really interesting directors including Danny Boyle, Susanne Bier, Martin McDonagh, Marjane Satrapi, Sam Mendes, Fernando Meirelles & Yorgos Lanthimos. The studio's regular clients number some of the world's top filmmakers, who return to Union time and again as a trusted technical partner and creative ally. The team works closely with clients throughout every phase of the creative process. Union has been the sole visual effects studio behind many prestigious film projects, including Three Billboards Outside, Ebbing Missouri, Florence Foster Jenkins, T2: Trainspotting, 127 Hours, Black Sea, The Two Popes, Radioactive, The Dig, Stan & Ollie, Mamma Mia! Here we go again, The Gentlemen, Empire of Light, The Banshees of Inisherin and Poor Things. Episodic projects include Black Mirror, The Regime, Moon Knight, Trust, The Third Day, The Irregulars, Pistol, The Undoing, Happy!, The Crown, Outlander, For All Mankind, The Wheel of Time, The Sandman, The Power and Slow Horses. A significant highlight on the Union roster saw the company joining Danny Boyle's creative team to deliver the short films for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.RENDR FESTIVALThis is a unique event celebrating creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive two-day festival exploring the space between Creativity and Technology. Ignite your imagination with inspiring speakers from the worlds of Film, Gaming, Animation, Immersive, and more! Learn from the best, with 30+ creatives from the likes of Netflix, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios and Epic Games among others.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-in-conversation-with-creative-producer-laura-mcnicholas-spilt-milk/In this Film Ireland Podcast, we're delighted to be chatting with creative producer Laura McNicholas, as her film Spilt Milk hits cinemas across the country.Founder of 925 Productions, Laura has been doing exciting work developing and produces television drama and feature films. Following a series of acclaimed shorts and extensive work across the industry, now her debut feature, Spilt Milk, has enjoyed a successful festival run, picking up major awards including the MUBI Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival, the Golden Slipper for Best Film at the Zlín International Film Festival, and a top prize at the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People, alongside many others.We chat with Laura about her career journey, bringing Spilt Milk to the screen, and her approach to developing strong, character-driven stories.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-in-conversation-with-creative-producer-laura-mcnicholas-spilt-milk/Spilt MilkIn a gritty 1980s Dublin inner city neighbourhood, 11-year-old Bobby (Cillian Sullivan - Blue Moon) idolises TV detective Kojak and sets up a private eye agency with his best friend. However, when Bobby's rebellious older brother goes missing, their investigations turn chillingly real — leading them into secrets and danger far beyond what children are ready to face. Nevertheless, Bobby's brave, loving and inspirational Mother (Danielle Galligan -House Of Guinness) leads him through these tough times.The filmmaking team includes Cathal Watters (The Dry, Peaky Blinders, Foundation), director of photography; Shane McEnroe (Foundation, Abigail, Disenchanted), production designer; Gwen Jefferes Hourie (Sing Street, Abigail, I Kill Giants); Colin Monie (Hallam Foe, The Magdalene Sisters), editor; Scott Twynholm (Vanilla Sky) as composer and Áine O'Sullivan (The Tourist). Spilt Milk is in cinemas from 20th March 2026. Laura McNicholasLaura established and runs 925 Productions, which develops and produces television drama and feature films. Her debut feature, Spilt Milk, had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and was nominated for four Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Spilt Milk went on to win the MUBI Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival, the Golden Slipper for Best Film at the Zlín International Film Festival, and a top prize at the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People. It also received audience awards at the Mediterranean Film Festival Split, the British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg, and the Kerry International Film Festival. Further festival selections included its US premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival and a screening at Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, supported by Screen Ireland, we're delighted to be chatting once again with director Brendan Muldowney. An accomplished filmmaker, Brendan is the talent behind features such as Pilgrimage and The Cellar, and now his latest offering, One Last Deal, explores the high-stakes world of sports. Set against the ruthless backdrop of football politics, this is a fast-paced, pressure-cooker thriller, with Danny Dyer delivering a standout performance.Directed by Muldowney (Pilgrimage, The Cellar), the film sees Dyer (The Football Factory, Marching Powder, Rivals) take centre stage as Jimmy Banks, an old school football agent who desperately needs to get his troubled star footballer one last big payday before Jimmy's life, and his player's reputation, comes tumbling down. When the prospect of a major new deal with a promising young player appears, Jimmy sees a route to get himself back on top… but when a blackmailer calls and the shady dealings of his past resurface, can Jimmy keep calm and get the job done?Written by Peter Howlett and shot on location in Ireland last year, the film was produced by Paul Kennedy (Nightride) for Village Films, Richard Bolger (Father, Mother, Sister, Brother) for Hail Mary Pictures, and Patrick O'Neill (Kneecap) for Wildcard, with support from Screen Ireland / Fís Éireann and Northern Ireland Screen.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Brendan MuldowneyBrendan is an Irish writer/director. After graduating from the National Film School/IADT he wrote and directed 9 award winning shorts. His debut feature Savage (2009) was nominated for 6 Irish Film and Television awards and he was nominated for the IFTA ‘Rising Star' award. His second film, Love Eternal (2013) has played at over 80 festivals worldwide and was winner of the ‘Dublin critics circle' award for best Irish film at the 2014 Dublin Film Festival. His film Pilgrimage (2017) starring Tom Holland, John Bernthal and Richard Armitage, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and sold to multiple territories, including the US (RLJ Entertainment) and the UK (Studio Canal).His last feature, The Cellar (2022), premiered at the SXSW film festival. It has made a theatrical box office of over 2 million worldwide and is streaming on Shudder and multiple platforms. He is represented by the Independent Talent Agency. He is one of the founders and co-owner of the Irish production company SAVAGE PRODUCTIONS. He has taught at the LIR, Huston School of Film, Filmbase, and mentors under the Screen Skills Ireland – Mentorship Programme. He lectures in directing.This episode has been made possible with the support of the Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we're delighted to partner with the Foyle Film Festival, which takes place in the Nerve Centre in Derry each year. An Academy Awards® and BAFTA-qualifying festival, Foyle Film Festival is celebrating its 39th year this November. First, we chat to from Eavan King, Head of Film Programming at the Foyle Film Festival & Nerve centre, about how the festival began, how it has evolved and how much fun it is to visit.Then, at 10:08, we catch up with David Pope, an internationally renowned script consultant, who was working with screenwriters at the festival as part of their comprehensive industry programme. Finally at 17:12 we host a live discussion on presenting local stories to an international market, recorded live and featuring producer Dearbhla Regan from Wild Atlantic Pictures and Louise Gallagher from Hat Trick Productions and Gallagher Films.Submissions have just opened for the Foyle Film Festival, so get yours in.https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-david-pope-dearbhla-regan-louise-gallagher-at-foyle-film-festivalFoyle Film FestivalThis vibrant film festival takes place in venues across Derry each November to bring the best of international cinema and industry players to the city. The festival also delivers screenings, events and workshops throughout the year, including Reel Lives which has replaced the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Festival, as well as Educational and Community Outreach Screenings. The prestigious Light In Motion (LIM) competition is open to filmmakers and animators across the world, with winners qualifying for consideration in the Live Action and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards® and BAFTA.Louise GallagherLouise has been working in the media industry for 30 years, with 23 of those years spent at the BBC in Belfast in various production roles across Radio, TV and Online services. In 2011 she flew the BBC nest and moved into the independent film and TV sector, working on independent shorts and features. Louise went on to found Gallagher Films in 2018. Major recent projects for Gallagher Films include BAFTA award-winning ‘Blue Lights', a BBC drama series set against the backdrop of policing in Northern Ireland, on which Louise is Co-Creator / Executive Producer. Her first feature film, ‘A Bump Along The Way', had a successful cinema release and won several awards at home and internationally. Written by Tess McGowan, directed by Shelly Love and produced by Louise, it starred Bronagh Gallagher and Lola Petticrew. ‘A Bump Along the Way' was developed with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen through their New Talent Writers and New Talent Focus programmes. Louise recently received an IFTA for best short film ‘Rough' written and directed by Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson.David PopeDavid is a script consultant and screenwriter working internationally. Script consultation projects include Obraz, candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2026; Tiger Stripes, winner of the Jury Prize Critics' Week Cannes Film Festival 2023 and candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2024; Take It or Leave It, candidate for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award 2019; and Truth or Justice, candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2020. Other recent projects as script consultant include the feature films Natatorium; Last Sentinel; Splendid Isolation and the drama series Imperial Spy for Fremantle (American Gods, Deutschland 83). David was Creative Producer on feature film The Goat. In addition to designing and delivering for Stowe Story Labs, he is the long-standing annual advisor & facilitator for Rotterdam Lab at IFFRPro for producers. David has been a creative consultant on Rawi Screenwriting Lab for Royal Film Commission - Jordan, facilitated the Convergence programme funded by Screen Scotland & British Film Institute, and is the script consultant for Funny Features delivered by Glasgow Film Festival and funded by British Film Institute.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was an issue with this podcast where the wrong file was originally uploaded. If you are listening on an app or in a browser... and find yourself listening to that incorrect file, please either delete the downloaded version from your device and download it again, OR try another browser, as it's likely just saved in the cache. If you have any problems getting this to work, please email us at info@filmireland.ie. Thanks for your patience. In this Film Ireland podcast, recorded live on location in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Irish Film Festival, we chat with author, playwright and screenwriter Sheena Lambert about her feature Báite.Presented annually by Solas Nua, the 20th edition of the Capital Irish Film Festival ran from 26th February to 1st March 2026, presenting one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America. Irish-language feature Báite tells the story of a rural village during an All-Ireland weekend in 1975. Blending murder mystery with family drama, the film follows Peggy Casey as her life begins to unravel after a body surfaces in the local man-made lake.In this episode, we catch up with Sheena Lambert about her journey as a writer, the origins of the story, and the ins and outs of adapting a project from page to screen.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Sheena LambertDublin-based screenwriter, playwright and novelist Sheena Lambert has an exciting few months ahead with the 2025 release of her debut feature film, BÁITE, an adaptation of her own novel The Lake (HarperCollins, 2015) which was filmed in Galway and produced by Danú Media under TG4/Screen Ireland's Cine4 Scheme. Following a hugely successful, sold-out, extended summer run, Sheena's stage play COSIMA, based on her Screen Ireland supported feature screenplay of the same name, is scheduled for an Irish tour via Breda Cashe Productions, with some pre-Christmas Dublin dates already announced. Cosima was the daughter of Franz Liszt, who refused to allow her to perform publicly; she married Richard Wagner to get away from her controlling father and helped him become a much greater success than her father had ever been.BáiteWinner of Best Irish Language Feature Film at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh and nominated in four categories at the 2026 Irish Film & Television Academy Awards, Báite arrives in cinemas nationwide on 6th March 2026 to coincide with Seachtain na Gaeilge (1–17 March). Directed by Ruán Magan (The Hunger, Our Blue World – A Water Odyssey), the film is a haunting Irish-language mystery set in rural Ireland in September 1975.When a body is discovered in the receding waters of a lake, the find sends shockwaves through a small community. For 23-year-old Peggy Casey, who runs the local pub, the revelation threatens to upend not just her life, but an entire town built on secrets long submerged.About Capital Irish Film FestivalSolas Nua's annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C., presents one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers. The 20th edition of the four-day festival takes place 26 February – 1 March 2026 in partnership with the prestigious American Film Institute's Silver Theatre & Cultural Center.The festival provides a US platform that amplifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond, and celebrates the strength of Ireland's contemporary cinematic culture. The programme highlights the country's rich cultural heritage while fostering an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers. Capital Irish Film Festival champions emerging voices on Irish screens, showcases the exceptional talent and craft within Irish filmmaking, and reflects the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts podcast (@sotapod), filmmaker and writer Des Doyle sits down with acclaimed television creator, writer, and showrunner Shawn Ryan to discuss his journey from playwriting in Illinois to creating some of the most influential drama series in modern television.Produced in partnership with Film Ireland and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, the State of the Arts series explores the creative processes, industry challenges, and new opportunities that both Irish and international creatives face in today's ever-evolving artistic landscapes.In this conversation, Shawn reflects on his early years writing plays after his move to Los Angeles, where he worked on popular series such as Nash Bridges and Angel before creating FX's first original drama, The Shield. He discusses his craft and his work on The Night Agent in some depth, his career journey, and the evolving landscape of television.Follow the journey of State Of The Arts on instagram.Listen to this podcast now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Soundcloud, Podtail, Podbean and Deezer. https://www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-showrunner-shawn-ryan-the-night-agent-the-shield-s-w-a-t-with-des-doyle/Shawn RyanShawn was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, and graduated from Middlebury College, where he began writing plays. After moving to Los Angeles, he was staffed on Nash Bridges and Angel before creating and showrunning FX's first original drama, The Shield. For his work on The Shield, Ryan received a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama, an Emmy nomination for writing, a Peabody Award, and two AFI Awards.Other series Ryan has created, co-created, or showrun include The Unit, The Chicago Code, Terriers, Last Resort, Mad Dogs, Timeless, S.W.A.T., The Night Agent, and the forthcoming series American Hostage.Ryan has also served on the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild of America West and was Co-Chair of the WGA Negotiating Committee in 2020.Des DoyleDes is a D.I.T. graduate who spent fifteen years working in the Camera Department in the Irish film industry before moving into directing. He is the writer/director of the critically acclaimed feature documentary Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show, featuring JJ Abrams (Alias, Lost, Fringe), Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife), Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) and Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) amongst others.He has created a number of courses in conjunction with Screen Ireland over the last few years, which provide breakdowns of all the major US and international streaming networks and what their evolving programming needs may be. He also initiated the Pitching Programme for TV Drama and Comedy with Screen Ireland, giving a selected group of writers the opportunity to pitch directly to some of the major Irish production companies based on briefs they provide, and created the LA Writers Room Placements scheme, which allowed Irish writers to travel to LA and spend time in real-world US TV series writers' rooms.He has also lectured on Showrunning, US TV Production and the Future of Content at USC Los Angeles, Rowan University Philadelphia, Scriptmakers Berlin, APIT TV Producers Conference Lisbon, Northern Ireland Screen, IADT Dublin, Writers Guild of Ireland and as part of the recent Greenlight Screenwriting Labs in Galway. He is currently developing a new documentary series, which is a US/Irish co-production, as well as providing creative consultancy services to Irish producers, writers and directors with projects targeting the US or global streaming markets.He is also the co-founder of Destination TV along with Ciarán Donnelly, a creative skills live events company that recently brought Oscar and Emmy-nominated writer/director/showrunner Jonathan Nolan to Dublin for a masterclass.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, contributor Will Penn chats with Irish-American harpist Joy Shannon, who's preparing to shoot a documentary in Ireland. Her new album In The Forest Singing Sorrowless, released in late November, is inspired by the poetry of J. R. R. Tolkien and features a special collaboration with his great-granddaughter. Unfortunately there are some technical issues with this section that have impacted the audio. Then at 28:56, contributor Dolapo Agunbiade sits down with writer-director Adam Mura to discuss his indie series Midlands Mayhem. From the origins of the concept to the realities of independent production, they delve into the making of the show and look at what audiences can expect.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-midlands-mayhem-writer-director-adam-mura-harpist-joy-shannonMidlands MayhemJared Ennis is a disaffected young man working in a scrapyard in the midlands of Ireland. In years prior, Ennis was a hard-partier among a group of young people in the town who frequently drink, do drugs and engage in petty crime, branding themselves The Sesh Council. Ennis is contacted by Council member and former friend Tristan ‘Canner' Corcoran, who reveals their acquaintance, Fearghal, has been murdered. The two meet with Jessica ‘Seshica' Hegarty, the Grand Elder and leader of the Sesh Council, who tries to bring Ennis back into the fold to investigate the murder. A local young man and former classmate of Ennis, Mad Jack Wensleydale, takes credit for Fearghal's murder, vowing to rid the midlands of the crime and violence that the Council brings. It's made clear to the Council that he's not working alone. The two main creative minds behind the project were Adam Mura and Shane O'Baoill, who met studying film at college. They produced the series together with Adam in the director's chair and Shane serving as the Director of Photography. Adam went to school in the Midlands and most of his friends were from the area. This included two of the main characters portrayed by William Ennis and Tristan Canning.Joy ShannonJoy is an Irish harpist and singer whose ethereal and haunting songs come from depths of Irish folklore. Her melodies evoke images of witch's lairs in dark woods or the distant echoes of the voices of spirits in the ancient places of the Irish countryside.Joy Shannon's newest album release In the Forest Singing Sorrowless is inspired by author J.R.R. Tolkien's poetry, with Shannon's original music accompanying Tolkien's wonderful words. Shannon decided to create this album during a personally challenging year, when she went through medical treatments for breast cancer. Tolkien's works have always been an inspiration for Shannon, especially to have hope and purpose at the darkest times, so the recording of this album carried her through a difficult time. The resulting album is a mystical dream-walk through Tolkien's landscapes, through the magical lens of Shannon's intimate harp and vocals.Last year, Shannon released an album called An Chailleach, or Irish for the crone or elder goddess. For this album, Shannon delved into the lore of the dark wintertime goddess of Ireland, with stark and stunning compositions. Shannon's fascination with ancient lore, led her to this year's album, as Tolkien's works are similarly inspired by ancient mythologies. Through her signature dark folk, full of longing and a mystical air, her music pairs perfectly with the words of Tolkien.The record, which has been met with critical praise, was composed while Shannon was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Shannon is set to head to Ireland in 2026 to shoot a new documentary titled The Cailleach, based on her own life experiences. Check out her website here: www.joyshannon.com.Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italian documentarian Parsifal Reparato discusses She, his five-year journey inside Vietnam's electronics manufacturing world, where young migrant women work 12-hour shifts producing devices for the global market. What began as labor-rights research grew into a portrait of fear, capitalism, and survival, earned through slow trust-building with workers afraid to speak openly.We unpack creative influences like Lars Von Trier's Dogville, Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act of Killing, and the observational approach he absorbed from working with Roberto Minervini. Parsifal explains how the film's black-box reenactment set became a space where workers could rebel, speak freely, or even destroy it. Instead, they rest together, revealing exhaustion itself as resistance.We talk filmmaking as labor, the emotional toll of activist storytelling, parting with his first editor and later rebuilding the film with Alice Roffinengo, whose perspective shaped its final form. Parsifal reflects on his Locarno premiere, the weight of representing real people on screen, and the responsibility of carrying stories born from hardship.Advice to filmmakers: trust your voice early, accept risk, and if you're going to struggle, struggle for something that matters.What Movies Are You Watching? Listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as well as at www.pastpresentfeature.com. Like, subscribe, and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature The Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 20-22, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature

Frank Ruda and Agon Hamza sit down with the American-British movie director Joshua Oppenheimer to discuss his first narrative feature film, The End, as well as The Act of Killing, documentary filmmaking, movie making, politics, catastrophes and apocalypse, critique of ideology, and many other topics.You can listen to our podcast here: https://anchor.fm/crisisandcritique If you like this and other episodes, please consider subscribing and supporting us at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=71723553You can find our Substack here: https://crisiscritique.substack.com/Crisis and Critique Journal: https://www.crisiscritique.org/

After spending a number of episodes in the past, today we're jumping to the 2010's. We're looking at two documentaries from Joshua Oppenheimer; The Act of Killing (2012) and The Look of Silence (2014). These docs reveal two different aspects of the chilling aftermath of Indonesia's 1965-66 anticommunist massacres, one looking at the perpetrators and one looking at the legacy of the victims. We also draw on Vincent Bevins' book The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World for our discussion on how the Washington-backed violence helped install a regime where the perpetrators not only won but shaped the official history ever since. Through state-sponsored propaganda, like Treachery of G30S/PKI (1984), and the active erasure of victims' stories from cultural memory, the truth went largely unaddressed within broader Indonesian society for decades. What makes these films deeply unsettling isn't just the brutality (although that is unsettling), but also the lessons they carry for the present. The rhetoric of the need to annihilate political opposition, once used to justify state terror in Indonesia, echoes in today's right-wing American discourse, where the constant invocation of civil war and the erasure of history are frighteningly familiar. Follow us at: Patreon / Instagram / Letterboxd / Facebook 

We meet Paul Pfeiffer inside his retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago to talk about ghosts, spectacle, and the metaphysics of sports. Known for erasing athletes from footage and turning stadiums into stages of worship, Pfeiffer opens up about boxing as performance, the haunted loop of fandom, and building media rituals in the Philippines. Also: parrots, Deion Sanders, lip sync monks, and the death of the moment.   Names dropped: Deion Sanders - https://www.instagram.com/deionsanders/?hl=en  Manny Pacquiao - mannypacquiao.ph The Bible (yes, the text) - https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/hail-satan?srsltid=AfmBOoqTwkeDSDwxOmlvVLQX8QQduw8ehfzt3sYzUMFMvJO-_ym35hOg Tom Gunning - https://cms.uchicago.edu/people/tom-gunning Joshua Oppenheimer - https://cream.ac.uk/people/josh-oppenheimer/  DJ Spooky (Paul Miller) - djspooky.com Gina Osterloh - ginaosterloh.com Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago - mcachicago.org Biennale of Sydney - biennaleofsydney.art Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver - cagvancouver.org

Happy 2nd anniversary to the pod, and I can't think of a more vital filmmaker for our time and for this episode than Nathaniel Lezra. His film ROADS OF FIRE (2025), winner of the Best Feature Documentary at the 2025 ‪@officialSBIFF‬ interweaves the lives of a human smuggler navigating the treacherous Darién Gap (the only land bridge between North and South America), an asylum seeker rebuilding her life in New York City, and volunteers working on the frontlines of a growing humanitarian emergency.It found distribution from ‪@NewMountainFilms‬ with a theatrical release in September 2025, with event screenings in markets like New York and Los Angeles. As we talk about, it's the straight shooting explainer of the migrant crisis that our country needs right now. So much to be excited for in the third year of the podcast — happy Fourth of July. In this episode, Nat and I talk about:does he see ROADS OF FIRE as an explainer of the migrant crisis?how the film is a straight shooter politically;the theatrical run planned for September;the ambition of the film and the three threads — asylum seekers in NYC, migrants in Colombia, and humanitarian organizations — that he nimbly showcases in the film;his recommendation for film school graduates in getting started with shoots near Ukraine and Colombia; why documentary and not narrative?how narrative films demand life experience;how much he cares about gear as a filmmaker often on the road;what's next for him.Nathaniel's Indie Film Highlight: THE ACT OF KILLING (2012) dir. by Joshua Oppenheimer; THE LOOK OF SILENCE (2014) dir. by Joshua Oppenheimer; Matthew Heineman; THE TERRITORY (2022) dir. by Alex Pritz; 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL (2023) dir. by Mstyslav ChernovMemorable Quotes:“ This film…traces very much my own exposure and journey becoming more aware of the migrant crisis”“ I've never put myself in a position other than once or twice in Colombia where I felt like I was letting go of control and truly just riding what was given to me.”“You'd be surprised what your own nuts and bolts production literacy will get you.”“ I don't want to be scared of the world. I want to have experiences.”“ And for me, the only way to do that is to find those stories and just accept my vulnerability and accept my ignorance to some degree and walk out into the world and see what the world has to offer.” “You need to live life in a serious way before you take a bite out of a narrative project.” “I spoke to some high schoolers not too long ago, and a lot of people are really astounded to learn just the value of your iPhone.” Links:Follow Nat On InstagramROADS OF FIRE WebsiteSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

From the italian salt mine where the film was shot, the exclusive interview with Joshua Oppenheimer for The End The post “The end”, interview with director Joshua Oppenheimer appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The End, Joshua Oppenheimer's first narrative feature sees George McKay as the son in the last living family on planet earth The post “The end”, interview with actor George McKay appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Phil Cox discusses the importance and challenges of navigating the film ecosystem and festival landscape, and the innovative storytelling techniques used in his documentary “Khartoum”, which just screened at the Berlin Film Festival following its Sundance premiere. Past filmmakers discussed include the films of Frederick Wiseman and Joshua Oppenheimer.Phil shares insights on collaboration and community among filmmakers, the challenges of activist filmmaking, which aims to resist traditional narratives, and the significance of self-care in the industry. He also addresses cultural sensitivity in storytelling and the intricacies of structuring non-linear narratives, all while reflecting on his journey as a filmmaker and the future of independent filmmaking.What Movies Are You Watching?Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Costa-Gavras es uno de esos veteranos directores europeos que siempre ha defendido la dimensión social del cine y su compromiso político. Lo vuelve a demostrar con más de 90 años en 'El último suspiro', una reflexión entre la filosofía y la medicina sobre la muerte. Además comentamos el musical de Joshua Oppenheimer, analizamos los estrenos españoles con 'La isla de los faisanes' y 'Todo lo que no sé', os contamos cómo ha abierto el Barcelona Film Fest y os recomendamos un par de series. Os ponemos al día en 30 minutos. 

Costa-Gavras es uno de esos veteranos directores europeos que siempre ha defendido la dimensión social del cine y su compromiso político. Lo vuelve a demostrar con más de 90 años en 'El último suspiro', una reflexión entre la filosofía y la medicina sobre la muerte. Además comentamos el musical de Joshua Oppenheimer, analizamos los estrenos españoles con 'La isla de los faisanes' y 'Todo lo que no sé', os contamos cómo ha abierto el Barcelona Film Fest y os recomendamos un par de series. Os ponemos al día en 30 minutos. 

Sergio Pérez entrevista en el Festival de San Sebastián al director y protagonista e esta historia postapocalíptica de una familia en un búnker.

Tilda Swinton talks about her role in Joshua Oppenheimer's post-apocalyptic musical film The End, and about her intention to take a break from acting, Actor and artistic director of the new Welsh National Theatre Michael Sheen, and screenwriter Russell T Davies reveal plans for the company's first season. Plus we discuss the influence of schoolmaster Philip Burton on the legendary actor Richard Burton, as a new book, and a film starring Toby Jones, explore the impact of the teacher on Burton's life. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

We start on a director's chair. We pull back to reveal its back. On it is emblazoned a name. That name? George MacKay, the wonderful star of this week's thought-provoking original movie musical, Joshua Oppenheimer's The End, who pops into the podbooth to have a good old natter [from 30:49 - 48:20 approx] with... We pull back. It's another director's chair. On it, another name: Chris Hewitt. Everyone shrugs their shoulders. But wait! There's another chair, and another name! That name is Irwin Winkler, the legendary producer of Rocky, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Irishman, Creed, and now The Alto Knights, as he talks to Chris about going double De Niro on that movie. [1:00:37 - 1:17:11 approx] And then there are three more chairs, with three more names, as Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent join Chris in the podbooth for a topsy-turvy episode that flips the format of the show upside down. Our intrepid quartet answer a listener question about Double De Niro, review A Working Man, The Woman In The Yard, and Novocaine, and discuss the week's movie news, including the glacially-paced reveal of the cast of Avengers Doomsday, which was unfolding as we recorded this very show. But they don't necessarily do all of those things in that order. If you're not an MCU stan (or Stan), that discussion comes right at the end of the episode, so here's a rough time stamp should you wish to skip. [1:32:24 approx] For MCU fans, though, dive in. Enjoy.

In this conversation, Nathaniel Lezra discusses his journey as a documentary filmmaker, focusing on his latest project, “Roads of Fire”, which just won Best Documentary at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Nathaneil's past inspirations include Joshua Oppenheimer's “The Act of Killing” and “The Look of Silence”.He reflects on the challenges and triumphs of cinematically capturing the humanitarian crisis and the political climate's impact on filmmaking. He also shares insights into the smuggling industry and the importance of capturing authentic experiences in documentary storytelling. Nathaniel discusses the complex, harrowing realities faced by migrants, the need for empathy when addressing these issues, and how filmmakers can play a crucial role in pushing for change.What Movies Are You Watching?Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

From his home in Copenhagen, a city he's called home for more than a decade, Texas-born Oscar-nominated American-Danish filmmaker JOSHUA OPPENHEIMER talks about his new narrative film The End (2024), an apocalyptic musical. Joshua discusses The End alongside his Oscar-nominated documentary films The Act of Killing (2012) and The Look of Silence (2014), and how the three provocative and divisive projects are mirrors to challenge us to look at ourselves.Joshua selects a work by Pieter Bruegel the Elder from the SMK collection.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS1639(Photographer: Pascal Bünning)----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/email: info@danishoriginals.com----------And we invite you to donate to the American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst and become a patron: https://donorbox.org/american-friends-of-statens-museum-for-kunst

Eric, Robert, The Minister, and Jericho from the Third Act Podcast gather to discuss the Bob Dylan biopic A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, and Joshua Oppenheimer's first narrative feature, THE END. Bask in the bloat!   A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.......7:48 THE END.......1:14:36   Email:  FlicksationPodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Bluesky Call or text the voicemail line:  (608) 535-9302   2025 Flicksation Podcast Network

Joshua Oppenheimer, the director of the recent apocalypse musical The End, starring Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon, joins us to discuss musicals and his past work crafting brilliant documentaries. Plus, we'll hear a direct dispatch from our friend Meghan Daum, whose house was destroyed in the Southern California fires. And I think we can safely say that Donald Trump won't be waging war on Greenland, even if he won't say it clearly. Listen to Meghan's full story from The Unspeakable Podcast at her substack, and consider becoming a paid subscriber. She's a friend of The Gist, a fantastic writer, and a person who could use your support. Voices and Votes: The State of Free Speech After the Election Harry's: harrys.com/gist for a $13 trial set for just $3 Prolon Life: prolonlife.com/gist for 15% off Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Fraley catches up with filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer about his new apocalyptic musical “The End" starring Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon. He describes his first foray into feature-length narrative filmmaking after his Oscar-nominated documentaries “The Act of Killing” and “The Look of Silence.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

"The End" had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where it received a polarizing reception from audiences, but those who loved it really, really loved it. It's the first narrative feature film from Director Joshua Oppenheimer after his two Oscar-nominated documentary films, "The Act Of Killing" and "The Look Of Silence." Oppenheimer and star Michael Shannon were both kind enough to spend some time talking about their work on the musical film, its themes, and resonance to an audience in today's political climate, which can be listened to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON and is up for your consideration for the 97th Academy Awards in all eligible categories. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's an extreme Arthouse Tuesday here at Breakfast All Day. First, we have a super-early review of "Nosferatu," Robert Eggers' exceptionally crafted retelling of the classic vampire story. Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe and Bill Skarsgard co-star. It comes out Christmas Day, but we couldn't wait to talk about it, so we're reviewing it now. Next is "The End," Joshua Oppenheimer's ambitious drama about a family living in an elaborate underground bunker after an environmental disaster. Did we mention it's a musical? Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, George MacKay and Moses Ingram co-star. In limited release this weekend. Finally, a palate cleanser: Our review of "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary." The film takes an appreciative, nostalgic look at soft rock stars of the '70s like Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross, and how they've shaped pop culture decades later. This is the music of our childhood, so we loved this. Streaming now on Max. We'll back back on Friday with "Nightbitch," "Y2K" and Movie News LIVE!, so come on back then. Thanks for being here! Subscribe to Christy's Saturday Matinee Newsletter: https://christylemire.beehiiv.com/

On this special edition of On-Screen Live, we were live (thanks to the spotty hotel wi-fi holding out) from the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival! In this episode, Andrew and Chris reviewed films they caught during our first two days at the fest, including David Cronenberg's The Shrouds, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cloud, Joshua Oppenheimer's The End, David Gordon Green's Nutcrackers, Mati Diop's Dahomey & more! The second, and final part of our #TIFF24 coverage will broadcast live on our YouTube and Twitch channels this coming Thursday, September 12 at noon/eastern. The audio from that show will be turned around the following week! Be sure to head to our website for all ticketing information on our final shows of the year in Seattle, Portland (Oregon) & Boston! And don't miss our worldwide digital event on October 23 where we're talking Scream 4! Can't make it the night of? The show has a 14-day replay window after the broadcast! And if you're a Patreon subscriber at the $8 level or up, you can bundle in our exclusive After Party Q&A totally free! That's right, you can watch us vibe and imbibe as we answer audience questions, totally gratis!

Social media has been full of smiling genocidiers lately, so it's a good time to revisit THE ACT OF KILLING (2012). Joshua Oppenheimer's experimental documentary about the legacy of the Indonesian mass killings asks: What would it take to prick a mass murderer's conscience? And how does violence linger in the human soul? PLUS: So, have you heard about this guy Joe Biden? Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus "The 'Liberal World Order' Was Built In Blood" by Vincent Bevins - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/sunday/united-states-cold-war.html