Pia Marais shares insights from her filmmaking journey, including the making of her atmospheric new film “Transamazonia,” which just screened at the New York Film Festival following a Locarno world premiere. Past inspirations include Werner Herzog’s “Wings of Hope” and Asif Kapadia’s “Amy”.

Pia’s latest film explores themes of faith and family dynamics, and she discusses the complexities of casting, production, the importance of film festivals, and the ongoing challenges of securing distribution for independent films. 

Other topics include the evolving landscape of cinema culture, which has shifted significantly over the years with a need for more curated film experiences, as business decisions heavily influence American cinema these days. Also touched on are the differences between American and international cinema, particularly in funding and audience engagement.

What Movies Are You Watching?

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/PastPresentFeature

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