In this episode, Daniel and Mason dive into the recently released Train Dreams, a film that offers a deep character study of Robert Granger, portrayed by Joel Edgerton. They discuss the film's artistic nuances, its setting during a time of immense change in America, and its potential Oscar buzz.

Films discussed during this episode:

• Train Dreams
• Predator Badlands
• The Christmas Chronicles

Train Dreams is available on Netflix now. You can watch it here.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next, please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram.

Next Episode: The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo with Michael Walker & Susan Gomes

In this episode, Daniel Chadwick-Shubat is joined by Jack El-Hai, the author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, to discuss the film adaptation Nuremberg. They explore the journey from book to screen, the historical accuracy of the film, and the challenges of portraying complex historical figures like Herman Göring and Douglas Kelley. Jack shares his experiences at the Toronto International Film Festival and insights into the filmmaking process, including casting choices and screenplay development. The conversation also touches on the broader themes of authoritarianism and the importance of recognizing historical patterns in today's world.

Films discussed during this episode:

• Nuremberg
• The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
• The Third Man
• Judgement at Nuremberg
• Inglorious Basterds

Nuremberg is out in theaters this Friday across North America. To find tickets in Canada click here. To find tickets in the USA click here. To follow Jack's work or to read his Damn History newsletter check out his website here.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next, please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram.

Next Episode: Train Dreams

In this episode, Daniel and Mason dive into the recently released Blue Moon, a film that offers a deep character study of Lorenz Hart, portrayed by Ethan Hawke. They discuss the film's artistic nuances, its setting on the opening night of Oklahoma and its potential Oscar buzz.

Films discussed during this episode:

• Blue Moon
• Weapons
• One Battle After Another

Blue Moon is out in theaters now, providing a rich, introspective experience for film enthusiasts. To buy tickets in Canada click here. To buy tickets in the USA click here.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next, please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram.

Next Episode: Nuremberg with Jack El-Hai

Independent Film Focus highlights conversations with filmmakers and showcases projects that may not have a wide release or are independently backed.

In today's episode, Daniel chats with Robert Budreau, the director of Queen of Bones. After directing Ethan Hawke in Born to be Blue and Stockholm, this film takes him to the realms of gothic horror. Robert discusses this genre shift, the difference in working with child actors and how having kids has changed his outlook on directing.

Films discussed during this episode:

• Queen of Bones
• Born to be Blue
• Stockholm
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
• The Witch
• Room
• The Grapes of Wrath

Queen of Bones is distributed by Vortex Media and out on VOD on September 30th. To buy or rent it click here.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Next Episode: Blue Moon

Daniel wraps up the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival with a final dive into three premieres that defined the festival's bold spirit. From intimate character studies to gripping thrillers, these films close out TIFF's showcase of cinematic voices that linger long after the credits roll.

Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley, adapts Denis Johnson's novella about a laborer's solitary life in the early 20th-century American West, weaving themes of grief and resilience through a stark, poetic lens. The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas, explores the shadowy world of a political strategist in modern Russia, blending thriller elements with sharp commentary on power. The Last One for the Road, directed by Francesco Sossai, follows a young man's journey through rural Italy, confronting personal loss and unexpected bonds; includes an interview with director Francesco Sossai on crafting the film's intimate tone.

This concludes our coverage of the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. Many thanks to TIFF for inviting us and we're already counting down the days until next year!

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Fresh off the electric vibes of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel dives into the cinematic whirlwind of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting three premieres that captured the festival's diverse energy. From bold character studies to gripping true stories, these films showcase TIFF's knack for launching unforgettable narratives.

We're talking Saipan, the fiery sports drama unpacking the infamous 2002 World Cup showdown between Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan). Eleanor the Great, directed by Scarlett Johansson, centers on a 94-year-old woman who, after a loss, shares a fabricated story that spirals into unexpected consequences, touching on grief and connection. Then, Sydney Sweeney steps into the ring as boxing trailblazer Christy Martin in David Michôd's Christy, a biographical gut-punch exploring her rise from small-town dreamer to women's boxing icon, shadowed by abuse and resilience. Rounding out the trio is Paul Greengrass's pulse-pounding The Lost Bus, starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera as a rogue driver and devoted teacher racing against the 2018 Camp Fire's deadly blaze to save 22 kids on a school bus.

The rest of our TIFF coverage will follow over the coming days, highlighting the good and the bad of the biggest film festival in North America.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Fresh off the electric vibes of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel dives into the cinematic whirlwind of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting three premieres that captured the festival's diverse energy. From bold character studies to gripping true stories, these films showcase TIFF's knack for launching unforgettable narratives.

Nuremberg, directed by James Vanderbilt, chronicles the historic trials of the Nazi high command following World War II, delving into the pursuit of justice amid global reckoning. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story, directed by Rian Johnson, follows detective Benoit Blanc as he unravels another intricate web of suspects and secrets in this third Knives Out mystery. California Schemin', directed by James McAvoy, tracks two Scottish men who pose as an American hip-hop duo to chase stardom, based on a real-life con that exposed dreams and deception. It Would Be Night in Caracas, directed by Mariana Rondón and Marité Ugás, centers on a woman burying her mother amid escalating clashes between anti-government protesters and police in 2017 Venezuela.

The rest of our TIFF coverage will follow over the coming days, highlighting the good and the bad of the biggest film festival in North America.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Fresh off the electric vibes of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel dives into the cinematic whirlwind of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting three premieres that captured the festival's diverse energy. From bold character studies to gripping true stories, these films showcase TIFF's knack for launching unforgettable narratives.

Fuze, directed by David Mackenzie, explores a tense thriller set in London, where an unearthed WWII bomb sparks chaos and high-stakes decisions in a gritty urban landscape. Normal, directed by Ben Wheatley, follows a substitute sheriff navigating a quiet Minnesota town's underbelly of hidden crime, blending dark humor and suspense. Ballad of a Small Player, directed by Edward Berger, adapts Lawrence Osborne's novel about a gambler's high-stakes life in Macau's casino world, weaving drama and obsession. Tuner, directed by Daniel Roher, centers on a piano tuner with a unique ear, drawn into a heist blending romance and danger; includes an interview with composer Will Bates.

The rest of our TIFF coverage will follow over the coming days, highlighting the good and the bad of the biggest film festival in North America.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Daniel dives into the cinematic whirlwind of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting three premieres that captured the festival's diverse energy. From bold character studies to gripping true stories, these films showcase TIFF's knack for launching unforgettable narratives.

Roofman, directed by Derek Cianfrance, stars Channing Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life criminal hiding on a toy store roof, assuming a new identity, and forming a relationship with an employee, alongside Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage. The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, features Dwayne Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, chronicling his career highs and personal struggles with addiction, co-starring Emily Blunt as his wife Dawn Staples. Steve, directed by Tim Mielants, follows a headteacher at a reform school for troubled boys navigating a chaotic day amid institutional pressures and personal strains, adapted from Max Porter's novella Shy. I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones, stars Robert Aramayo as John Davidson, following his life with Tourette's syndrome, from diagnosis challenges to advocacy work, with Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan.

The rest of our TIFF coverage will follow over the coming days, highlighting the good and the bad of the biggest film festival in North America.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

Fresh off the electric vibes of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel dives into the cinematic whirlwind of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting three premieres that captured the festival's diverse energy. From bold character studies to gripping true stories, these films showcase TIFF's knack for launching unforgettable narratives.

No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook, stars Lee Byung-hun as a laid-off executive targeting job rivals in a satirical take on corporate desperation, with Son Ye-jin and Cha Seung-won. The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, features Wagner Moura as a researcher fleeing Brazil's 1977 dictatorship, blending neo-noir and historical intrigue with Maria Fernanda Cândido. Orphan, directed by László Nemes, follows a Jewish boy in post-1956 Budapest navigating orphanage life and family secrets in stark black-and-white realism.

Daniel also had the chance to sit down with Oscar winner (Son of Saul), László Nemes and chat about his sophmore film, Orphan.

The rest of our TIFF coverage will follow over the coming days, highlighting the good and the bad of the biggest film festival in North America.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to recommend a movie we cover next please reach out to us on social media. We're on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.