TIFF 2020 is upon us, and writer-director Charles Officer — whose gangland drama Akilla’s Escape makes its world premiere at the festival on Saturday, September 12th, and who also narrates The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel — is here to talk about Carlito’s Way, the 1993 thriller that reunited the Scarface team of producer Martin Bregman, director Brian De Palma and star Al Pacino for a rather more thoughtful take on gangster pictures. Your genial host Norm Wilner has some thoughts on Sean Penn’s hair.

Writer-director Christian Sparkes (Cast No Shadow, Hammer) explores the chilly, creepy questions of Jonathan Glazer’s Birth — you know, the one where Nicole Kidman meets a child who claims to be her dead husband. Your genial host Norm Wilner keeps holy water around for this very eventuality.

Writer, producer and righteous dude Ed Solomon — of It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, Men in Black, Now You See Me and of course the Bill & Ted movies, the newest of which lands in theatres and on demand this Friday, August 28th — steps up for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and discusses the profound impact of its revolutionary comedy on his own career. Your genial host Norm Wilner cannot believe there was a time when he got to do this podcast sitting right across from the guests.

You’ve seen actor Julian Richings in everything from Hard Core Logo and Cube to Supernatural and Man of Steel, and you’re about to see him opposite Sheila McCarthy in the Fantasia world premiere Anything For Jackson; now listen to him discuss the Gothic delights of Charles Laughton’s 1955 masterpiece The Night of the Hunter. Your genial host Norm Wilner has been thinking about getting some knuckle tattoos.

Actor and filmmaker Jemaine Clement — who co-stars with Gillian Jacobs in the new comedy I Used to Go Here — zooms in from New Zealand to talk about his love of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 breakout action satire-slash-cultural prophecy RoboCop. Your genial host Norm Wilner guarantees this episode serves the public trust.

With his new film The Cuban making the rounds of theatres and drive-ins, director Sergio Navarretta joins us to share his love for Federico Fellini’s enduring 1960 drama La Dolce Vita — you know, the one that coined the term “paparazzi” while giving audiences a glimpse of a future defined and dominated by vapid celebrity culture. Your genial host Norm Wilner has a story about that.

With his second feature Random Acts of Violence now available on digital in Canada — and coming to the US and UK later this month — actor, writer, producer and director Jay Baruchel brings Paddy Considine’s knotty, ugly, deeply personal Tyrannosaur to the podcast. It’s not an easy movie to watch, and this isn’t an easy conversation. But your genial host Norm Wilner thinks you’ll be better for the experience.

It’s another Friday bonus episode! Beloved actor and gleeful raconteur John Rhys-Davies joins us to discuss Dome Karukoski’s literary origin story Tolkien, which stars Nicholas Hoult as the young J.R.R. and Lily Collins as his lifelong love Edith. Your genial host Norm Wilner apologizes for the lack of Elvish ballads.

Brace yourself for the mega madness, because writer, producer and podcaster Ben Blacker (Supernatural, The Thrilling Adventure Hour, The Writers Panel, Dead Pilots Society) is here for a super-sized episode on Gremlins, Steven Spielberg and Joe Dante’s unclassifiable, relentlessly weird creature-feature Christmas movie. Your genial host Norm Wilner has his blender at the ready.

With her new movie White Lie arriving on digital and on demand today, actor Kacey Rohl (Hannibal, Arrow, The Magicians) is here to discuss Bob Fosse’s autobiographical 1979 dazzler All That Jazz. Your genial host Norm Wilner did the whole “Showtime, folks!” thing before the podcast.