
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Watching one movie a night sounds relaxing.
This episode of Your Dark Companion finds Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcoming back James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival, as DIFF gears up for its 20th anniversary. From the brutal realities of screening thousands of submissions to the delicate art of choosing films that won’t make audiences flee the theater, James pulls back the curtain on how film festivals actually work.
Along the way, the conversation veers (as it should) into popcorn rituals, Russian romantic comedies no one saw coming, mob-adjacent piano tuners, celebrity memories, Netflix House skepticism, and why “effort does not equal quality” might be the hardest truth filmmakers ever hear.
It’s part insider masterclass, part hang-session, and fully committed to reminding you that festivals aren’t gatekeepers — they’re exhausted movie lovers with college degrees and very strong opinions.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Lightning Strikes, Sports Takes, and Why This Episode Exists
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/
The Old Grey Wolf:
To reach out email us at: [email protected]
By Mike Rhyner5
44 ratings
Watching one movie a night sounds relaxing.
This episode of Your Dark Companion finds Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcoming back James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival, as DIFF gears up for its 20th anniversary. From the brutal realities of screening thousands of submissions to the delicate art of choosing films that won’t make audiences flee the theater, James pulls back the curtain on how film festivals actually work.
Along the way, the conversation veers (as it should) into popcorn rituals, Russian romantic comedies no one saw coming, mob-adjacent piano tuners, celebrity memories, Netflix House skepticism, and why “effort does not equal quality” might be the hardest truth filmmakers ever hear.
It’s part insider masterclass, part hang-session, and fully committed to reminding you that festivals aren’t gatekeepers — they’re exhausted movie lovers with college degrees and very strong opinions.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Lightning Strikes, Sports Takes, and Why This Episode Exists
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/
The Old Grey Wolf:
To reach out email us at: [email protected]

154,084 Listeners

41,148 Listeners

587 Listeners

531 Listeners

87,518 Listeners

301 Listeners

14,058 Listeners

684 Listeners

2,768 Listeners

10,610 Listeners

12,826 Listeners

113 Listeners

604 Listeners

229 Listeners

794 Listeners