After Afghanistan experienced a change of power in 2021, Egyptian filmmaker Ibrahim Nash'at embedded himself in the country and documented how the Taliban took control of over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Ibrahim about the making of "Hollywoodgate," how he coped with risk, the role of his mentors Talal Derki and Jess Search, and why he embraced therapy in the process.

"Hollywoodgate" is on the Oscars Shortlist for documentary feature. Watch it on Jolt Film.

Hear Talal Derki discuss "Of Fathers and Sons" on episode 96.

Hear more about Jess Search on episodes 168 and 200.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

Adam Kinzinger was the first Republican Congressman to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump after the Jan 6 insurrection. That caught the attention of the Hollywood comedy writer and director Steve Pink ("Hot Tub Time Machine"). Although Pink is liberal and Kinzinger is conservative they shared a sense of humor and an opposition to Trump. "The Last Republican" follows Kinzinger over a year as he served on the Congressional committee to investigate Jan 6. The film is opening at New York's Film Forum. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Kinzinger and Pink about releasing the film at a time when Trump is vowing to seek retribution against his enemies.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

"The Bibi Files" looks at the corruption case against Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing upon a vast trove of leaked interrogation footage. Netanyahu went to court trying to block the film from being shown, but that motion failed. Producer Alex Gibney and director Alexis Bloom discuss the challenges they faced in getting the film made and seen.

Watch the film on Jolt.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

William Kentridge is well-known in the world of museums and galleries. Now he brings together all of his artistic disciplines - drawing, animation, sculpture and performance - to create the 9-part film essay "Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot" streaming on Mubi. If you're a stranger to his work, see 10 Works to Know by William Kentridge from the Royal Academy of Art. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Kentridge about creativity, therapy, optimism and his collaboration with the esteemed editor Walter Murch.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the directors of four films in the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler.

Follow the links below to see the film trailers:

Director Daniela Volker on
The Commandant's Shadow

Director Hasan Oswald on 
Mediha

Director Vanessa Hope on
Invisible Nation

Director Jeff Zimbalist and producer Tamir Ardon on
Skywalkers: A Love Story

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

Brian Eno and filmmaker Gary Hustwit discuss their film "Eno"; and director Benjamin Ree talks about "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers. Both interviews were recorded in front of a live audience at the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

"Ernest Cole: Lost and Found" explores the legacy of the photographer who covered apartheid in the 1960s from the perspective of a Black South African. Cole was driven into exile in the U.S. and Europe. He died in obscurity in 1990, but he left behind a secret archive of over 60,000 negatives shot in exile that were recently discovered. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Raoul Peck ("I Am Not Your Negro") about this new film. He also previews two more works coming next year on George Orwell and Haiti.

Listen to past interview with Raoul on episodes 170 (on "Silver Dollar Road") and 21 (on James Baldwin).

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

Jazz musicians, CIA operatives, and African revolutionaries are among the many figures who populate "Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat" that win a Sundance jury award for Cinematic Innovation. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Johan Grimonprez in front of a live audience at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen.

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Our third episode recorded live in Los Angeles for Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler, features:

- "Frida" director Carla Gutierrez and composer Victor Hernandez Stumpfhauser (Amazon)

- "I Am: Celine Dion" director Irene Taylor with rare disease specialist Dr. Paula Barreras (Amazon)

- "Daughters" co-director Natalie Rae (Netflix)

Interviewed by Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers.

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We look at two new documentaries from directors who also work in comedy. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Steve Pink ("Hot Tub Time Machine") whose documentary debut "The Last Republican" profiles Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the January 6th insurrection.

The second interview is with Josh Greenbaum ("Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar") whose new film "Will & Harper" profiles Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as they take a cross country road trip after Harper has come out as a transgender woman.

"Will & Harper" is now streaming on Netflix. Both interviews were recorded in October at the Documentary Spotlight event in Los Angeles, co-presented with The Ankler.

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On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1