Cinemafile

Ripped from today's headlines, MEN OF WAR is an insider account of the failed 2020 coup in Venezuela as told by former US Army Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star recipient who organized the ill-fated mission. A harrowing look into the realpolitik world of exiled leaders, private armies and shadowy intelligence operatives and what made one man believe he could change the course of a nation's history. MEN OF WAR chronicles the astonishing true story of Operation Gideon—the failed 2020 coup attempt in Venezuela—and the covert network of ex-generals, mercenaries, and political operatives behind it. Co-Directors Jen Gatien and Billy Corben join us to talk about the Brave New World of private militias, rogue operators, and the very dangerous game of “playing army” with little or no idea of what comes next. It’s “Rambo meets Fyrefest” with a country’s future at stake.

About the filmmaker - Emmy, Peabody and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning filmmaker Billy Corben is a Florida native, lifelong Miamian and co-founder of the Miami Beach-based production company rakontur. He has directed such documentaries as the Sundance Film Festival selection Raw Deal: A Question of Consent (2001), the Cocaine Cowboys franchise, including the Netflix Original Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami (2021), Dawg Fight (2015), TIFF World Premiere Screwball (2018), the HBO Original 537 Votes (2020), executive produced by Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice), and the ESPN 30 for 30s The U (2009), Broke (2012) and The U Part 2 (2014). His latest, God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty (2022) is the most watched doc in Hulu history.

About the filmmaker - Jen Gatien is a Canadian filmmaker born and raised in Cornwall Ontario with Lebanese and Metis roots. Known for producing first time filmmakers under her production company deerJen, Men of War is her directorial debut. Jen’s work includes a documentary about the iconic Chelsea Hotel which premiered as Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was directed by Abel Ferrara and stars Milos Forman, Grace Jones and Dennis Hopper. Other works include Hounddog starring Dakota Fanning and Robin Wright, Holy Rollers starring Jesse Eisenberg, and For Ellen starring Paul Dano, all of which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Kiss of the Damned, directed by Xan Cassavetes, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Alongside Spike Lee, Jen also produced Evolution of a Criminal for PBS, a documentary directed by Darius Clark Monroe on the bank robbery he committed as a teenager and reconciling his past as an adult.

A deeply moving, multigenerational drama, ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU follows a Palestinian teenager who gets swept into a protest in the Occupied West Bank and experiences a moment of violence that rocks his family. The film unfolds as his mother recounts the political and emotional threads that led to that fateful moment. Spanning seven decades, the film traces the hopes and heartaches of one uprooted family, bearing witness to the scars of dispossession and the enduring legacy of survival. Recently submitted as Jordan’s entry for Academy Award consideration in the Best International Feature category ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU was “shortlisted”. Our conversation with director / screenwriter and co-lead actor Cherien Dabis joins us to talk about the multi-generational approach in telling the story, cast three actors from the celebrated Palestinian acting family of Saleh, Adam and Mohammad Bakri and casting herself into a pivotal role.

About the filmmaker - Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian American filmmaker and actress who has established herself as a creative force across a variety of mediums. Dabis got her start with her trailblazing debut feature “Amreeka,” which she wrote and directed. Exploring the immigrant journey of a Palestinian single mom, the film had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival before going on to win the coveted FIPRESCI International Critics Prize in the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes. It won a dozen more international awards and was nominated for a Best Picture Gotham Award, three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Picture, Best First Screenplay and Best Actress, and was named one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the Year by the National Board of Review. The film landed Dabis on Variety’s “Ten Directors to Watch” list that same year.

HOMEGROWN follows three conservative activists—a newly politicized father-to-be in New Jersey, an Air Force veteran organizing conservatives in New York City, and an activist from Texas—crisscrossing the country in the summer of 2020 campaigning for Donald Trump. When they become convinced that the election is stolen, they take their fight to the streets. The result is a chilling portrait of the growing unrest pushing American democracy to the brink. Shot across battleground communities and key flashpoints of national tension, the documentary reveals the lived experiences of people whose determination to turn their beliefs into action places them on the front lines of America’s political divide. HOMEGROWN has since garnered top honors on the global festival circuit, and was nominated for the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award, recognizing exceptional independent nonfiction filmmaking.HOMEGROWN brings raw intimacy and unprecedented access to a political moment still unfolding.

About the filmmaker - Director / Producer / Cinematographer Michael Premo is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and artist. His work spans film, radio, theater, installation and photography. He directed and produced the short film and photo exhibition Water Warriors (POV). With his frequent collaborator Rachel Falcone, he co-directed the participatory documentary Sandy Storyline (Jury Award winner at the Tribeca Film Festival), co-wrote the site-specific performance Sanctuary (The Working Theater), and co-created the multi-platform exhibit 28th Amendment.

American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit organization devoted to the collection, preservation, and distribution of genre movies — most of them works made on the margins of the mainstream film industry — that is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The archive’s collection currently holds over 6,000 films, many of which it distributes theatrically to repertory cinemas, and AGFA makes many of its titles available to home viewers via its physical media label. More importantly, the archive applies its resources and technical expertise to vital restorations of films that might otherwise be lost; among many others, the movies of important directors like Doris Wishman and Jon Moritsugu have been restored to their original glory. AGFA also provides film scanning and restoration services. AGFA Theatrical Sales Director Bret Berg joins us to talk about his passion for overlooked and forgotten film as well as the rise of microcinemas and its potential to revitalize and energize the local film going experience by virtue smaller, neighborhood based theatrical exhibition.

Established by independent film veteran Mark Mathias Sayre, THE FORGE is a distributor and international sales agency of compelling independent films and documentaries. As CEO and founder, Sayre’s vision for The Forge extends beyond distribution. It’s about creating a conduit for films that embody authentic voices and narratives that might otherwise be overshadowed in the conventional studio system. In addition to the release of the South By Southwest Special Jury prize winning film, We Are Dangerous, The Forge has also distributed a string of other award winning films that include Sujo, The Resynator and Back Dog. Coming out in January of 2026 is Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut feature film, The Chronology of Water, starring Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp and Jim Belushi. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section of the prestigious festival. Mark Sayre joins us for a wide ranging conversation on the current state of film distribution and the importance of The Forge’s vision that goes beyond limited screenings to a more engaging release strategy, starting with premieres in major U.S. cities and followed by wider distribution. His approach is indicative of a deeper commitment to not only promoting films but also nurturing a symbiotic relationship with filmmakers.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

About the filmmaker - Director, Co-Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor and Art Director Gints Zilbalodis is a Latvian filmmaker and animator. His debut feature film Away which he made entirely by himself won the Best Feature Film Contrechamp Award in Annecy. It has been selected in more than 90 festivals and sold in 18 territories. His fascination for filmmaking began at an early age watching classic films and making shorts. Prior to Away he made 7 short films invarious mediums including hand-drawn animation, 3D animation and live-action and often mixing their characteristic aesthetics. Flow is his second animated feature film, having its World premiere at the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes.

This haunting and beautifully calibrated first feature, Sky Peals, from director / writer Moin Hussain is set in an eerie petrol station. It follows Adam, a night-shift worker who is plagued with strange visions and blackouts as he becomes increasingly convinced he is descended from someone from outer space. In his mid-thirties, Adam works at a burger restaurant in a motorway service station, living a small and lonely life of isolation. When his estranged father, who had recently been trying to contact him, suddenly dies, Adam attempts to piece together a picture of a man he never knew. His uncle reveals that his father believed he was 'sent here from somewhere else'. As Adam experiences strange blackout episodes and struggles with communication and connection, he begins to question if his father was indeed from another place, and if so, what that means for him.

About the filmmaker - Moin Hussain studied cinema and photography at Leeds University and has since made short films, including Real Gods Require Blood and Naphtha, both of which were screened in Critics’ Week at the Cannes film festival. In 2018, he was named one of Screen International magazine’s Stars of Tomorrow.

Patrick lives with ALS, and faces extraordinary challenges with simple, everyday tasks. But inside his head, a running internal monologue offers wry observations on life's absurdities during his most intimate moments. Through Patrick's uncensored thoughts, the film navigates the complexities of relationships in a world where his body no longer does what his brain says it should do. Balancing dark humor with raw honesty, it reveals an unfiltered perspective on living with ALS—one that's both heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny. Director Evan Mathis joins us for a conversation on working with his friend and colleague, Patrick Sean O’Brien, and the collaboration with a cadre of artist and friends to make this compelling and creative film.

About the filmmaker - Patrick Sean O'Brien is a fearless and relentlessly inspiring filmmaker who has transformed his battle with ALS into a quarter century long, raw, and unexpectedly life-affirming creative exploration, culminating in his acclaimed documentary TransFatty Lives. A film school graduate whose early work already showcased his boundary-pushing vision, Patrick refused to let complete paralysis silence him. Instead, he is still directing his deeply personal story capturing the humor, pain, and surprising beauty of his experience.

About the filmmaker - Evan Mathis is a three-time Emmy-winning director and creative whose work has been recognized by One Show,Clios, Promax BDA, and the Television Academy. He has served on judging panels for Promax BDA, The Television Academy, and SXSW Interactive, and his work has been featured in Adweek, Ad Age, Variety, and Sports Illustrated. Evan has spoken at design conferences worldwide and collaborates with leading companies across the globe.

When defamed actress Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve) is abruptly called into a parent-teacher meeting after hours, she is presented with scathing allegations that trigger a tangled web of accusations between parents and faculty. As Elisabeth struggles to uncover the truth amid the empty school rooms and dark corridors, a chaotic fight for redemption arises where desire, madness and obsession prevail.

About the filmmaker - Lead actor / Executive Producer Renate Reinsve made her huge breakout with the role of Julie in the critically acclaimed film THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD. The film premiered in the main competition at Cannes in 2021, and Renate won the award for Best Actress. The film was later nominated for two Oscars, and two BAFTAs, one of which was for Best Female Lead. The Norwegian actress’s performances has received universal acclaim, as critics commend her natural charisma, emotional depth, and captivating presence on screen. Some of her recent projects releasing this year includes; A DIFFERENT MAN (2024) and HANDLING THE UNDEAD (2024), as well as the upcoming Apple+ series PRESUMED INNOCENT (2024) and the highly anticipated ARMAND (2024), which debuted at the 2024 UnCertain Regard at Cannes.

About the filmmaker - Director / Writer Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel studied directing at Westerdals School of Arts. He made his debut with the short film BIRD HEARTS (2015), which premiered in Karlovy Vary and won the ‘Golden Chair’ award at the Grimstad Short Film Festival in 2016. It was nominated for an Amanda award, and was selected on Cineuropa's list of the best European short films that year. In 2017, he made the short film FANNY , which premiered in Aspen and was also nominated for an Amanda award, as well as making the same list of Europe's best short films. Both films have been screened at festivals around the world. In 2024 his debut feature ARMAND, starring Renate Reinsve and Ellen Dorrit Petersen, premiered in Un Certain Regard in Cannes.

Keeping schools open in Ukraine is an attempt to recreate at least some of the normal life they had before the war - until February 24, 2022 (and in some regions even earlier, in 2014). Without the interviews, narration and reenactments, TIMESTAMP provides an insight into how the war is affecting the daily lives of students and teachers. The film has a mosaic-like structure: it explores how a school functions in-person and online in these terrible times, both on and off the frontline, how day-to-day life is intertwined with constant danger. Despite the hardship, the film highlights the courage and resilience of a society that the Russian army is trying to destroy. Joining us is the director and writer of TIMESTAMP, Kateryna Gornostai.

About the filmmaker - Scriptwriter and Director Kateryna Gornostai was born in Lutsk in 1989. She graduated with a degree in biology and later studied journalism at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. In 2012–2013, Kateryna studied documentary filmmaking at Marina Razbezhkina’s School of Documentary Films and Theater. She returned to Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity to film the events. Later, she started exploring narrative and hybrid forms of filmmaking. STOP-ZEMLIA, director’s narrative feature debut, premiered in the Generation 14plus 2021 at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival and received the Crystal Bear Award from the Youth Jury.