Julia Max, director of “The Surrender”, which premiered at SXSW and is now streaming on AMC+, discusses her journey as a filmmaker, with past inspiration coming from Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”.

Julia shares insights into the horror genre, the importance of character development, and the challenges of navigating the filmmaking process. She emphasizes the significance of a supportive team, the role of women in film, and the impact of audience reception on future projects. 

Julia touches on her editing and casting process, and the importance of rehearsals, providing many valuable lessons for aspiring filmmakers.

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Co-Directors David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano share their take on the unique blend of horror and comedy in their latest film, “I Don’t Understand You”, now in theaters following SXSW. Past films discussed include Eugene Levy’s 1992 crime-comedy “Once Upon a Crime”.

They share their personal experiences working with producing partners Joel and Nash Edgerton, what it’s like to film in Rome, Italy, and the importance of collaboration with an Italian crew. The conversation also touches on nostalgia for 90s films and the evolving landscape of cinema, emphasizing the need for originality and risk-taking in storytelling. 

David and Brian also discuss the dynamics of co-directing, the importance of collaboration in editing, and the need for authenticity and joy when creating films.

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Indian filmmaker Natesh Hegde discusses his journey in filmmaking, from his early inspirations to the challenges and triumphs of creating his latest film, “Tiger’s Pond,” which just world-premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. Past inspo includes Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami's 1990 film “Close Up”.

Natesh shares insights on collaborating with family, including casting his father in the lead, the importance of sound design, and the unique experience of shooting on 16mm film. 

He emphasizes the courage to create without fear of failure and offers advice to aspiring filmmakers to simply keep making films.

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This episode explores the journey of filmmaker Vibeke Løkkeberg, who spent 52 years creating her film, “The Long Road to the Director’s Chair,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. Past cinema discussed includes Italian Neorealism and Andrei Tarkovsky.

Vibeke’s film highlights the struggles and achievements of women in the film industry, delving into the ongoing fight for equality in filmmaking, the challenges faced by female directors, and the impact of commercialism on artistic expression. 

The discussion also explores personal resilience, the significance of authenticity in storytelling, and the lessons learned throughout a lifetime of filmmaking.

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In this conversation, Yiwen Cao discusses her groundbreaking AI-generated film 'What's Next?’, which premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival. Although past films about AI are discussed, including “Her”, “A.I.”, “Ex Machina”, and “The Matrix”, Yiwen’s favorite movie is Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy/musical “Some Like It Hot”.

She shares insights into the creative process, including making the film over six and a half days on no sleep, the themes of the film, and the role of AI in filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of social commentary in her work.

Yiwen reflects on the audience's reception of AI films, addresses the future of AI in the film industry, and offers advice for aspiring filmmakers.

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Phil Cox discusses the importance and challenges of navigating the film ecosystem and festival landscape, and the innovative storytelling techniques used in his documentary “Khartoum”, which just screened at the Berlin Film Festival following its Sundance premiere. Past filmmakers discussed include the films of Frederick Wiseman and Joshua Oppenheimer.

Phil shares insights on collaboration and community among filmmakers, the challenges of activist filmmaking, which aims to resist traditional narratives, and the significance of self-care in the industry. 

He also addresses cultural sensitivity in storytelling and the intricacies of structuring non-linear narratives, all while reflecting on his journey as a filmmaker and the future of independent filmmaking.

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Nayibe Tavares-Abel shares her journey from a political science background to becoming a documentary filmmaker. She discusses her film “Colossal”, which just premiered at Berlinale. Past films discussed include “Beyond Utopia” by Madeleine Gavin.

Nayibe’s film intertwines her family history with the political landscape of the Dominican Republic, exploring themes of political violence, activism, and the importance of storytelling. She emphasizes the challenges of documentary filmmaking, the significance of family archives, and the universal themes that can emerge from specific stories. 

Nayibe also reflects on the evolution of her film, the importance of building relationships in the filmmaking process, and how her filmmaking journey began with her Grandmother’s camcorder.

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Dylan Southern talks about his film “The Thing with Feathers,” based on Max Porter's book and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which delves into themes of loss and family relationships after a mother’s passing. The film made its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, followed by Berlinale. He also references previous films that inspired him, including Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.”

Dylan shares his experience of transforming the book into a film, highlighting the need to grasp the emotional heart of the narrative. He discusses the complexities of portraying grief, noting that it is often non-linear and can be both cyclical and unpredictable.

He elaborates on the fusion of horror and dark humor to illustrate grief and reflects on how personal experiences shape storytelling, stressing the importance of emotional authenticity in film.

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Sarah Miro Fischer is the director of “The Good Sister”, which just enjoyed its World premiere in the Panorama section at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Past films discussed include Thomas Vinterburg’s “The Hunt”.

Sarah discusses her emotional journey of premiering at Berlin, sharing insights into her filmmaking process which includes a fruitful collaboration with co-writer Agnes Maagaard Petersen, and the challenges of addressing sensitive themes, which require trust and open communication. 

She emphasizes the importance of preparation and adaptability when making a film, how audience engagement is crucial to spark discussion and reflection, and that Filmmaking is a journey that often requires a leap of faith.

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Ben Hethcoat opens up about his decade-long journey creating the documentary "Coroner To The Stars," which focuses on Dr. Thomas Noguchi, a well-known coroner famous for his work on high-profile celebrity deaths, including those of Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood. Ben draws inspiration from documentary legend Errol Morris.

He tackles the difficulties of addressing sensitive subjects like death, the personal ties that shaped his filmmaking, and the need to handle public perception and media hype carefully. He also discusses how celebrity death investigations have changed over time and the crucial role of archival research in crafting compelling narratives.

The film just took home the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Slamdance, and Ben reflects on the emotional significance of unveiling such a deeply personal project to the audience.

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