Film Forward

This episode of Film Forward features the incredible directors, Cassie Hay & Amy Winston as we discuss their new film Queens of Pain.

Queens of Pain is an intimate portrait of three athletes of Gotham Girls Roller Derby League. The film follows Suzy Hotrod, Evilicious, and Captain Smack Sparrow as they find their power on and off the track and face down the odds to play the sport they love.

As always, our guests join us in our segment Gimme Three, where they hook us up with 3 film recommendations of films that have inspired them and inspired their work.

Queens of Pain will be available to view at the Austin Film Festival from October 24th - 29th. Visit AustinFilmFestival.com for tickets.

We return with another one of our famous Gimme Three episodes, exploring the theme "Hispanic Horrors." As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month and plunge head first into Halloween Season - Hispanic Horrors seemed like an exciting and apt theme to explore.

Our guest is writer/director Felix Martiz (Santiago, Gone).

Listen as Felix and host, Nicholas Ybarra, explore some of their favorite horror films by Hispanic directors. Their selections are not only scary as hell, but they also explore some of the most important issues facing our society today.

Enjoy! Let us know what your favorite Hispanic Horror Films are. And if you dig what you hear - please subscribe and share.

One of our famous GIMME THREE episodes returns!

We are joined by our good friend, writer/director David Chiu. We do a deep dive on our favorite films from the year 2000.

David, Sonja Mereu and host, Nicholas Ybarra each give three film recommendations from the year that was exactly two decades ago. We draw connections with all of our selections and examine what the world was like in the year 2000 and how it is represented in these films. And as always, there's more than a few laughs along the way.

You can follow us on Instagram @ladiversityfest

You can follow us on Twitter @LADFF

Leave us a comment and let us know what your GIMME THREE are from the year 2000!

Haley Bishop stars in the new horror film that has critics and fans raving, Host.

Host takes place during the global pandemic and was shot remotely. The film follows six friends who accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence during an online séance, they begin noticing strange occurrences in their homes.

Haley and Nicholas discuss what it was like to film a feature film with a remote cast and crew and how their team was able to pull of some of their mind blowing practical effects and stunts. We do a deep dive on her impressive performance.

Host is available to stream now on Shudder.

If you’re looking for a good scare - look no further.

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

In this episode, we interview Emelie Claxton, the writer/director of the thriller Heather Would Never.

Heather Would Never follows Dani, a tired young woman who invents a sexy persona called Heather to tease her tactless boyfriend - until that persona starts acting out.

Emelie discusses the inspirations for her honest and eye-opening script. Her and Nicholas have a little too much fun chatting about Emelie’s Gimme Three!

You can follow Emelie here:

Website: https://www.emelieclaxton.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emelie.claxton/?hl=en

You can watch You Decide at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from August 4th - August 30th at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

In this episode, we interview Taiki Sugioka, the director of the feature documentary, You Decide.

Logline: Months away from starting her first job, Kaede Hatashima discards her male form and begins her journey as a working transgender woman.

You can learn more about the film at:

Website: https://www.youdecide.jp/en

You can watch You Decide at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from August 4th - August 30th at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.

LADFF festival director Sonja Mereu joins host Nicholas Ybarra in an episode dedicated to this year’s Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, which will be available online for the first time ever.

Sonja and Nicholas each do a Gimme Three of their picks from this year’s LADFF program.

The Los Angeles Diversity Film festival is available online from August 4th - August 30th exclusively at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

In this episode, we interview Sasha Pasternak, the director of the gripping short film Make Me The Tennessee.

Logline: In 1983, when the vengeful Kathy Morris attempts to poison the Tennessee cop who aided and abetted in the death of her sister, she gets cold feet. After all, the cop is her husband.

Sasha and Nicholas discuss the powerful themes in her short and what is was like working with her incredible cast; Annika Marks and Chris Sullivan (This Is Us).

You can learn more about the film at:

Website: https://www.makemethetennessee.com

You can watch Make Me the Tennessee at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from August 4th - August 30th at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

In this episode, we interview Hanna Mathis, the director of the documentary Wheels of Madness as well as the subject of the film Gal Mizrachi.

Wheels of Madness follows Gal to his favorite music festival, Sziget in Hungary, where he shows that everyone has the ability to find their passion in life.

Our guests discuss the making of this powerful documentary and how they are both coping without music festivals this summer.

You can follow Hanna & Gal:

Gal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galfestival/

Hanna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannathemathis/

You can watch Wheels of Madness at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from

August 4th - August 30th at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

In this episode, we interview Adriana Barbosa and Thiago Zanato, the directors of the mind-blowing short film La Flaca.

La Flaca follows Arely Vazquez, a transgender woman and leader of the Santa Muerte (Saint Death) Cult in Queens, New York. During her yearly celebration to the Bony Lady ("La Flaca" as she likes to call her), Arely faces life threatening challenges in order to fulfill a promise she made ten years ago.

Adriana and Thiago discuss their brilliant execution of docu-fiction, blending reality and surrealist filmmaking.

You can follow Adriana & Thiago:

Adriana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chica_barbosa/

Thiago Website: http://www.thiagozanato.com/la-flaca

You can watch La Flaca at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from August 4th - August 30th at LADFF.com

Follow us at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladiversityfilmfest/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LADFF/

Website: www.ladff.com

If you dig this episode, please subscribe and review.