Today, co-host Conrad Johnson takes us through his thoughts on Sirāt (2025) in his last solo episode of the UMassterclass podcast. Conrad is graduating in a few weeks, and he was very passionate that the listeners of UMassterclass hear about this film; take a listen and enjoy!

Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Chloe Mills, Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba

Theme by Conrad Johnson (obviously)

UMass Amherst is hosting the 33rd rendition of the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival this month, and the UMassterclass podcast dove into the inner workings of this year's programming.

Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills and Conrad Johnson // Edited by Chloe Mills // Team: Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba

Interviewees: Barbara Zecchi, Ayanna Dozier, Dex Veitch

Theme by Conrad Johnson

It's Oscars day!! Today, the UMassterclass team along with special guest Paola Delmaschio give you their thoughts on some of this year's nominations for Best Picture. Take a listen and enjoy!

Segments:

Chloe Mills - Sentimental Value

Elle Decatur - Hamnet

Joanne Nzikoba - One Battle After Another (dictated by Chloe Mills)

Paola Delmaschio - Sinners

Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited by Chloe Mills // Team: Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba

Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring the second episode in a two-part series by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs. In this episode, Bella dives into South Korean history to give historical and cultural context to what informs Lee Chang Dong's choices to do with representation. She talks about women’s place in South Korean society, and historical events contemporary with Lee Chang Dong’s life and ones relevant to his films. Take a listen and enjoy!

Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson and Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba

Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs last fall. This first episode of two begins to highlight emotional representation of trauma in film by Lee Chang-dong. Take a listen and enjoy!

Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson and Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Maggie Belanger, Ev Fuss

Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by former UMass students, Ceeb Kennedy and Brian Licata! Both students graduated in the spring of 2025, having participated in the Film Studies program. In this episode, Ceeb and Brian take a closer look into the works of Luca Guadagnino, specifically "I Am Love (2009)," "A Bigger Splash (2015)," and "Call Me by Your Name (2017)." Take a listen!

Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills and Conrad Johnson // Edited by Chloe Mills // Team: Maggie Belanger, Ev Fuss

Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by the team's new co-host, Conrad Johnson! This episode looks at interviews with the cast and production team of the Monty Python series, reviewing techniques and unique stylistic choices in order to maintain a certain comedic style while keeping a low budget. Take a listen!

Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson

Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring a special episode with the team's own Gabby Mosher!

The Romantic Comedy: a movie that appeals mostly to women. Exploring love and romance by utilizing humor, this genre is often overlooked by the film industry. Gabby talks about this overlooked genre from a feminist perspective, exploring how the romantic comedy can both adhere to gender norms as well as empower women.

Hosted by Gabrielle Mosher / Written and Researched by Gabrielle Mosher & Kaliska Wiley | Edited by Ryan Gies | Theme music by Ryan Gies

Originally produced Spring 2023.

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MMFF with UMassterclass! In this episode, host Rianna Jakson talks to Co-Director Daniel Pope on the meaning of this year's theme, "Before After" and each transformative film of the program! Listen to Rianna speak with director Ishtar Yasin Gutiérrez (My Lost Country / Baladi Aldaia, 2022) and award-winning director/cinematographer David Siev (dir. Bad Axe, 2022).

Featuring the voices of Nefeli Forni Zervoudaki, Kathy Roberts Forde, Daniel Pope, Emma Pildes & Tia Lessin (The Janes, 2022), David Siev & Rosie Walunas (Bad Axe, 2022), Danielle Deadwyler (Till, 2022) (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon).

All events are free and open to the public! To participate in the festival, go to: ⁠https://blogs.umass.edu/mmff/

The 30th annual Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival is curated by Daniel Pope and Nefeli Forni Zervoudaki and presented by the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Barbara Zecchi, Director.

This year’s theme also explores experiences in the wake of pivotal moments when the “after” has not yet arrived.  Films this season address the global pandemic, reproductive rights, racial justice, migration, and war, as well as personal relationships, transformations, and victories.  From intimate stories to historical upheavals, from heroic struggles to unforeseen joys, this season features documentary films, narrative features, and series spanning stories from Hungary, South Korea, Uganda, United States, Ukraine, Italy, Israel, Denmark, Chile, Iraq, and Cambodia. The festival hosts six filmmakers present for post-screening discussions. Screenings are accompanied by critical introductions by scholars and filmmakers.

With gratitude to the interns of the MMFF30.

Hosted by Rianna Jakson | Edited by Rianna Jakson | Podcast theme by Ryan Gies | Podcast art by Jacky Celestino

Welcome to UMassterclass, the official, award-winning podcast of the Film Studies program at UMass Amherst!

Get a taste of what the show is like, meet every member of the team, and learn more about the origins of UMassterclass!

Hosted by Rianna Jakson & Kiefer Callewaert | Edited by Ryan Gies | Theme Music by Ryan Gies | Podcast art by Jacky Celestino