Alex and Orla count down the 30 best films of 2021 and discuss the process behind creating the list.

On this episode:

• Why this bonus episode is free to everyone (0:00)
• Selecting the list and where we look for films (0:56)
• Another strong year for Indigenous films (7:37)
• Why we only have three American films (16:02)
• Films directed by women (19:00)
• The importance of psychological complexity and new approaches to social change (22:24)
• Documentaries (24:55)
• The list (26:41)
• Conclusion (1:10:01)

Show Notes:

• Read Alex's 2020 interview with Monkey Beach director Loretta Todd
• Read Orla's interview with Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
• Read Alex's interview with Slalom director Charlène Favier
• Read Orla's interview with Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
• Purchase your copy of our ebook Subjective realities: The art of creative nonfiction film, which includes interviews with Robert Greene (Procession), Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Flee), Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt (No Ordinary Man), Cheryl Foggo (John Ware Reclaimed), and more.

Related Episodes

• Ep. 118: The Souvenir Part I and II
• Ep. 114: Mia Hansen-Løve's Things to Come and Bergman Island
• Ep. 113: The sci-fi love stories of About Time and I'm Your Man
• Ep. 101: Magnus von Horn's Films: The Here After and Sweat
• Ep. 95: Reclaiming history in documentary: No Ordinary Man and John Ware Reclaimed (Member's Only)
• Ep. 93: The films of Agnieszka Holland (Member's Only)
• Ep. 87: Couples dealing with cancer: Ordinary Love and Hope (Member's Only)
• Ep. 86: Depictions of childhood sexual assault: Una & Slalom (Member's Only)
• Ep. 85: The films of Naomi Kawase, featuring True Mothers (Member's Only)
• Ep. 84: Berlinale 2021, Part 2: The Competition (Member's Only)
• Ep. 82: Genocide on film: Quo Vadis, Aida

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