First Time Go

By Benjamin Duchek

A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

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FAQs about First Time Go:

How many episodes does First Time Go have?

The podcast currently has 238 episodes available.

First Time Go episodes:

June 16, 2026Special Tribeca Episode: Shan Jiang 姜姗, dir. of EPHEMERA (2026)
It's one thing to say you're going to create the "Chinese lesbian version of BEFORE SUNRISE (1995)"; it's another thing to actually pull it off.
In EPHEMERA (2026), the debut feature for filmmaker Shan Jiang which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, it appears she has done just that. It took global producers, a fantastic team, and a truly extraordinary story in how she found the actors, but the film will stand as wide shoulders for so many people and so many future projects.
In this episode, we talk about:
how she describes EPHEMERA and whether "unhurried" is an adjective she likes to describe the film;
the incredible story of how she got involved in filmmaking;
her storytelling philosophy, which has been described as " inhabit[ing] familiar narrative tropes and bends them from within to allow new perspectives to emerge" (an amazing quote);
the global producers that made EPHEMERA and the concept of China as an entity reacting to a lesbian-focused film;
what she took away from this experience for her next feature;
finding the incredible actors in this film;
what she learned from rehearsals with the actors in a film that is very dependent on them;
her direction philosophy in this film and what she views as her job in regarding to structure;
why Tribeca ("it's coming home for this film") and the Chinese film festival market;
what's next for her.

Shan Jiang's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Celine Sciamma; Peter Greenway
Links:
Follow Shan Jiang
Follow EPHEMERA On Instagram
...more
21min
June 15, 2026 Special Tribeca Episode: Meriem Sakrouhi, dir. of MON TAXI (2026)
MON TAXI (2026), which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, is a "love letter to the filmmaker's dad." Architect + filmmaker Meriem Sakrouhi created a film that is part New York, part Moroccan, and altogether touching cinema, and we talk about how she did it for the podcast.
Along with directing, she edited and produced the first Moroccan entry at Tribeca in 20 years. Given that she pitched a project at Cannes Docs this year and beautifully describes what Moroccan influence looks like, we shouldn't have to wait that long for another.
In this episode, Meriem and I discuss:
why Tribeca for this particular film;
growing up in Morocco and how she got involved in filmmaking;
how architecture informs her filmmaking;
how she describes MON TAXI and what she wants viewers to feel -- "the film is about communication about my dad after he passed";
editing, producing, shooting the film -- how did she make it all work?
what is the Moroccan influence on the film?
what's next for her and what she pitched at Cannes Docs.
Meriem's Indie Film Highlight: BOUCHRA (2025) dir. by Orian Barki; Meriem Bennani
Links:
Follow Meriem On Instagram
MON TAXI Website
...more
14min
June 14, 2026 Indie Film Highlight: LURKER (2005)
Watch This Episode On YouTube
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: LURKER (2025)
Director: Alex Russell
Writer: Alex Russell
Stars: Théodore Pellerin; Archie Madekwe; Havana Rose Liu;
SYNOPSIS
A retail employee infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom. As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
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2min
June 12, 2026Special Tribeca Episode: Rob Rice, dir. of PONDEROSA (2026)
The career path -- M.S. in Neuroscience to filmmaking -- is a wholly original one and so is his filmmaking. His second feature, PONDEROSA (2026), is a comedy-horror film that looks at American masculinity in a way I've never seen before. It is a gift to watch -- beginning to end -- not because I understood everything going on, but because I didn't.
The best type of filmmaking should challenge you and make you think differently about the world around you. Mission accomplished here by Rob, with brilliant actors by his side. I'm texting my friend with a neuroscience degree, telling him to get on over to Tribeca and make a film!
In this episode, Rob and I talk about:
going from CRISPR engineer to filmmaking;
how PONDEROSA came about and the trickiness of describing the film;
what his experiences at prominent film festivals taught him;
how he got some of the best actors out there -- Bill Camp; Alexis Bledel -- to work on his film;
how he did the score and music FIRST and then edited accordingly;
how he balances directing and producing;
what's next for him.

Rob's Indie Film Highlight: THE MISCONCEIVED (2026) dir. by James N. Kienitz Wilkins
Links:
Follow Rob On Instagram
...more
18min
June 10, 2026Special Tribeca Podcast: Lyle Lindgren, dir. of MOUTH FULL OF GOLDS (2026)
Very rarely, you'll watch a documentary, and think...how did he get that all on film? That was the case for me and the film MOUTH FULL OF GOLDS (2026) premiering this week at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's about "grillz" -- the teeth attachments/implants and their cultural connection in New York City, Miami, Atlanta, and Paris.
If that description sounds incredible, that's because the film is incredible. Director Lyle Lindgren joins for me the pod and traces his history from car salesman to his first film festival here in New York City.
Grillz or not, you'll want to be on this ride.
In this episode, Lyle and I talk about:
the insular community of "grillz" and how he was able to make this film;
how did he get into filmmaking -- it's an absolutely crazy story ("I always thought I'd be a car salesman");
what his previous films taught him about making MOUTH FULL OF GOLDS;
his many jobs on this set -- what jobs did he like the most and least?
how they casted for this film and their philosophy for re-enactments;
why Tribeca and what New York City means to him;
how he approaches going to the festival as a producer versus coming from a working class background to his first film festival!;
what's next for him.

Indie Artist Highlight: Pouria Khojastehpay
Links:
Follow Lyle On Instagram
MONOMANIA Production Company
...more
28min
June 09, 2026Special Tribeca Podcast: Branislav Jankic dir. of WHITE BELT (2026)
The journey from Yugoslavia to New York City is a wild one, and filmmaker Branislav Jankic has been a keen observer along the way. Coming off a debut feature that was released at the height of COVID, Branislav is now at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival with a story about his wife called WHITE BELT (2026). The film traces the journey of supermodel Monika "Jac" Jagaciak from the runway to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). It's a tight, accomplished film that shows what he's learned about the process, and it was so cool for him to explain how he made such an exciting and personal film.
In this episode, Branislav and I discuss:
the tight runtime for this film and how he was able to condense so much into the film;
how he got involved in filmmaking -- going from Yugoslavia, Germany, all the way to Tribeca;
why he's able to tackle topics like " addiction, fetishism, and the complexities of identity";
his debut feature, THE WITCH'S CAULDRON (2020), and what he learned from it;
what WHITE BELT is about, in his words;
why he didn't mention himself in the film and his advice for filming when you're married to the subject;
why Tribeca and what's next for him.
Links:
Follow Monika On Instagram
...more
14min
June 07, 2026 Indie Film Highlight: OUT OF LOVE (2025)
Watch This Episode On YouTube
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: OUT OF LOVE (2025)
Director: Nathan Ambrosioni
Writer: Nathan Ambrosioni
Stars: Camille Cottin; Monia Chokri; Juliette Armanet
SYNOPSIS
A woman is forced to take care of her niece and nephew after their mother voluntarily disappears.
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2min
June 04, 2026Special Cannes Podcast: Anna Berthollet of Lightdox
The podcast concludes this unreal Cannes Film Festival series with Lightdox founder and CEO, Anne Berthollet. Lightdox has consistently championed stunning documentaries, like GABIN (2026); FLOPHOUSE (2025) and so much more. How is the company able to find such amazing documentaries? What happens when Lightdox grows -- will they be able to maintain their quality offerings? And what is her advice for aspiring documentarians?
See you next year, Cannes!
In this episode, Anna and I discuss:
why she founded Lightdox;
her slate at Cannes and why Lightdox chose these particular films;
the process in selecting her films and what she is looking for;
their sales and distribution strategy in the current market;
is there a redline for films and sales where Lightdox *won't* go?
whether she'll be able to maintain the high quality of Lightdox's slate as the company expands;
how she feels about true crime docudramas in the documentary space;
how documentary filmmakers are surviving right now;
what it's like being at Cannes as a Swiss film company;
what's next for Lightdox.
Links:
Follow Lightdox on Instagram
Lightdox
...more
21min
June 03, 2026Special Cannes Podcast: Nguyễn Phan Linh Đan
I'd argue the Pierre Angénieux Tribute is the best thing going at the Cannes Film Festival. Why? Two reasons:
they elevate one filmmaker -- this year, it was Japanese cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa -- by way of tribute. If you haven't seen her work, now is your opportunity. But they don't stop there.
they utilize the platform of that tribute to give a "special encouragement" to a young cinematographer. This year, it was my guest, Nguyễn Phan Linh Đan, who combines Vietnamese and French cultures to offer a new and fresh perspective on storytelling.
Listen to both conversations and tell me this isn't truly amazing what Angénieux is doing at Cannes. May there be 100 more companies that follow their lead.
In this episode, we talk about:
the press release indicated that she "belongs to a new generation of Vietnamese filmmakers who seek to redefine the contours of a national cinema" -- what do those words mean to her?
how she got involved in filmmaking and decide to be a cinematographer;
how much cinematography can be taught?;
her relationship with technology and cinematography;
the amazing respect she has for Akiko Ashizawa;
why there aren't more female cinematographers;
what she's looking for when working with a director and whether she wants to direct;
how she maintains her currency on her equipment.

Indie Film Highlight: Akiko Ashizawa
Links:
Follow Linh Dan on Instagram
My Conversation With Akiko Ashizawa
Pierre Angénieux Tribute
...more
15min
June 02, 2026Special Cannes Podcast: Akiko Ashizawa 芦澤明子
What an incredible honor to be joined by famed cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa, who was honored at the Cannes Film Festival with the 2026 Pierre Angénieux Tribute. We talk about her career, how she thought the tribute was spam!, females in cinematography, and more.
The episode is recorded thanks to a translator.
In this episode, Akiko and I discuss:
how she found out about the Pierre Angénieux Tribute and thought it was spam!;
how she got her start;
what defines Japanese cinema and its visual style;
her views on technology and cinematography;
her mentors and her advice for young cinematographers like Nguyễn Phan Linh Đan;
why there aren't more female cinematographers and whether it's improved since she started.

Akiko's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Shuichi Okita 沖田修
Links:
2026 Pierre Angénieux Tribute
Akiko Ashizawa
...more
22min

FAQs about First Time Go:

How many episodes does First Time Go have?

The podcast currently has 238 episodes available.