Gitanjali Rao is an original artist, animator and filmmaker who has caught the attention of both kids and adults with her touching, thought provoking work. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Gitanjali talks to Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson about the landscape of animation film in India, why she chooses to continue to paint and shoot frame by frame, and the art of conveying emotion and connection without dialogue.

Gitanjali also discusses writing for animation, how the 'feeling comes in the drawings' and why in India, filmmaking is considered more of a profession than an art.

Head of Locarno Pro, Markus Duffner, has been around the block more than once on the film festival circuit. Since 2014 he has worked for Locarno Pro taking charge of projects such as First Look and Match Me!, while in 2020 he became project manager of the new and highly innovative platform Heritage Online, devoted to digital distribution of classic and auteur movies, conceived by Duffner himself. Markus talks to Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson about founding the Video On Demand platform 'Spamflix', the 360° role Locarno Pro plays in the support of auteur cinema, and why the Locarno Film Festival is such a driving force within the cinema industry. This episode was recorded in August of 2022.

Sociologist and writer Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou's research spans social and political theory, political and economic sociology, and studies about social movements. Talking to Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson, Aris examines the sociological lens and its imagination, the current radical uncertainty that dominates life, and the rise of speculative communities. Aris also discusses the attention economy and how that relates to film, sharing his observations in the distorted use of social media and in politics, and highlights the important role art plays in offering people more hopeful narratives to inspire them and improve lives in general.

 

Aris' latest book 'Speculative Communities: Living with Uncertainty in a Financialized World' is out now.

Film director, screenwriter and editor Kelly Reichardt is an author

of free, independent, and brave cinema. She is best known for her minimalist films closely associated with slow cinema, many of which deal with working-class characters in small, rural communities.

Kelly talks to Futurespectives Gabby Sanderson about why she is drawn to telling stories in which 'characters have to make only one mistake to see themselves sunk', about her continuing partnership and friendship

with actress Michelle Williams, and how the animals that feature in her movies 'direct you'. Kelly also shares why she likes to personally edit the majority of her films, and reflects on the challenges she faced early on in her career due to her gender.

Director, Writer, Producer, Head of the Locarno Filmmakers Academy and Project Manager of Basecamp Stefano Knuchel has lived an extraordinary life and he's not slowing down! The self-taught director talks to Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson about some of his incredible life adventures and how that is reflected in his films.

Stefano also shares stories of a young Penélope Cruz and Spike

Lee finding their way in Locarno, what it was like to grow up with a

father who was a conman, and his hopes for the bright young

creatives who take part in the Locarno Film Festival.

Michelle Serieux is an inspiring storyteller from St Lucia, working in fiction, documentary and interactive media, on projects that highlight unique stories and social issues. Michelle tackles social justice issues specific to the socio-cultural tapestry of the Caribbean and the global south. In her conversation with Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson, Michelle talks about the resurgence of Caribbean cinema, being at the forefront of the wave, and her relentless fighting spirit as a woman working in film.

Costa-Gavras is a Greek-French film director, screenwriter and

producer who is renowned for creating films with political and social themes, turning his lens on some of the darkest chapters in history. The legendary filmmaker discusses with Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson why he believes he has never had 'a career', the reasons why he is drawn to continuing to work with actor David Clennon, and why he will never stop working or fighting to create change.

Responsible for several of the most profitable films in Hollywood's history, Emmy-winning producer Jason Blum helped to revolutionise the horror genre with his low-budget, money-spinning formula. In this episode Jason peels back the curtain on his fruitful methods and offers unique advice to anyone considering embarking on a career as a producer.

Jason also shares with Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson why he loves the uncomfortable, shies away from working with difficult actors, and likes to keep the audience on their toes.

In recent years, the landscape of cinema has made some dramatic changes and Kevin B. Lee believes in one or two years from now it will evolve again to look distinctly different to how it does now.

Kevin is a filmmaker, media artist, critic and Locarno’s professor for the Future of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts. His pioneering work in the video essay format has seen Kevin produce over 360 video essays exploring film and media, and his masterclass 'Cinema In The Age of Netflix' held in Locarno immediately sold out.

In this episode Kevin sits down with Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson to talk about the future of cinema, culture and society and how the emergence of a new type of cinephile is influencing the way movies are being produced and consumed.

Also discussed is the urgency filmmakers have to make message films, how the rise of streaming services is affecting the social dynamic of cinema and how the power of escapism is just as important for the filmmaker as it is for their audience.

Acclaimed Palestinian artist, film director and producer Kamal Aljafari talks with Futurespectives host Gabby Sanderson about interweaving fiction, non-fiction, and contemporary art in his work. In this conversation Kamal talks about the psychological strangeness of being an immigrant in the country you were born, his research into reinventing archival images for film and why art is all about sharing what’s inside you in a way that is felt by the audience.