Film Forum

Ep 517: Frederick Wiseman Part 3 • Antonio Méndez Esparza & Regina Williams

Documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman returns to the podcast for his third visit with his latest film Monrovia, Indiana; filmmaker Antonio Méndez Esparza and first-time actor Regina Williams with their film Life And Nothing More. Both films premiere at Film Forum in NYC this week as well as other theaters.

Ep 502: Jeremiah Zagar, Raúl Castillo & Zak Mulligan • Trine Dyrholm

[8 mins. 45 secs.] The team behind the new indie film We The Animals is in the first segment. In Part 1 I chat with director Jeremiah Zagar (Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart) and actor Raúl Castillo (Looking). [37 mins. 45 secs.] In Part 2 I speak with the film’s director of photography Zak Mulligan. Manny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood. Their mother and father have a volatile relationship that makes and unmakes the family many times over, often leaving the boys fending for themselves. As their parents rip at one another, Manny and Joel harden and grow into versions of their father. With the triumvirate fractured, Jonah, who is the youngest, becomes increasingly aware of his desperate need to escape. Driven to the edge, Jonah embraces an imagined world all his own. The film is being distributed by The Orchard and was produced in partnership with Cinereach.

[1 hr. 6 mins. 52 secs.] The Danish actor Trine Dyrholm is the next up. Trine stars in the fiction film Nico, 1988 which is currently screening at Film Forum. Approaching age 50, singer/songwriter Nico leads a solitary existence — far from her days as a Warhol superstar and celebrated vocalist for the Velvet Underground in the 1960s. Her life and career on the fringes, Nico’s new manager convinces her to hit the road again and tour in Europe to promote her latest album. Struggling with demons and the consequences of a muddled life, she longs to rebuild a relationship with her son, whose custody she lost long ago. The conversation was recorded at the offices of Magnolia Pictures which is releasing the film.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of the great Aretha Franklin, who just passed away at the age of 76. She and her voice was a true gift to the world.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

Ep 501: Bing Liu • Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader & Pierce Rafferty

The director of an exceptionally moving documentary called Minding the Gap, Bing Liu, is up first on Episode 501. The film is opening in NYC on Friday, August 17th at the Metrograph Theater. Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship. Minding The Gap was made in conjunction with Kartemquin Films. It is being distributed by Hulu and will have its TV broadcast premiere later this year on POV.

The filmmakers behind the seminal and groundbreaking 1982 documentary The Atomic Cafe —Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader & Pierce Rafferty— are in the second segment. The film is currently screening at Film Forum in a new 4k restored digital print. This darkly humorous documentary consists of archival footage about nuclear warfare. Drawing largely on government propaganda and training films for American soldiers, the movie, presented in collage form, features clips from early in the Cold War era that are filled with alarming misinformation. Some segments address the alleged safety of nuclear radiation, “duck and cover” drills and other related topics, including instructions for living in a fallout shelter. The film, which is currently being distributed by Kino Lorber, will be opening wide over the coming days. This segment will be included on the forthcoming DVD as bonus content.

Music on this episode is from upcoming Filmwax guest singer-songwriter Mike Viola from his recent album The American Egypt.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

Ep 498: Mike Maggiore • Dan Mirvish • Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui & Pamela Keogh

[3 mins. 55 secs.] A brief call from Film Forum programmer Mike Maggiore regarding the current renovations and addition of a 4th screening room at the esteemed NYC arthouse cinema, Film Forum. The cinema will re-open on Wednesday, August 1st, after being closed for three months. Mike fills us in on upcoming programming which includes a Jacques Becker retrospective, a theatrical of a new 4k restored print of the classic documentary Atomic Cafe, and Nico, 1988.

[18 mins. 40 secs.] This segments celebrates a terrific new documentary, McQueen, about the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who started his career in his teens before gaining notice as designer for Givenchy and launching his own label, which continues to this day. He took his own life in 2010. We’re joined by the film’s director Ian Bonhôte, co-director & writer Peter Ettedgui, and my friend author, fashion writer & contributor to Vanity Fair, Pamela Keogh. McQueen which is being distributed by Bleecker Street Media, is currently screening at the Landmark at West 57th and at the Angelika Film Center NYC, at the Arclight in Hollywood and at the Landmark in LA. The film opens in San Francisco this Friday, July 27th, and in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Minneapolis on August 3rd.

[45 mins. 38 secs.] Slamdance co-founder & filmmaker Dan Mirvish is in this segment. We discuss the upcoming 25th Slamdance Film Festival as well as new comedy Dan recently directed, from a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning author & cartoonist Jules Feiffer called Bernard and Huey. The story about two old friends (David Koechner & Jim Rash) who reconnect after 30 years apart, and the women who complicate their lives. The film also stars Richard Kind, Sasha Alexander & Mae Whitman, and is available on various VOD platforms including iTunes and Amazon.

The music on this episode is presented by The Jayhawks off their new album Back Roads and Abandoned Motels, available now for download and physical media.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

Ep 412: Tom DiCillo Returns • Film Forum’s Karen Cooper

Filmmaker Tom DiCillo (Living in Oblivion, Box of Moonlight) returns to the podcast for a second visit. Tom’s latest project is a work of non-fiction called Down in Shadowland and was shot underground in the NYC subway system. The film is going to have a screening at the IFC Center on Monday, June 19th at 7:30 and the Q&A afterward will be moderated by Tom’s dear friend, Steve Buscemi.

After that is the 2nd of a 2-part tribute to the programming at Film Forum. Karen Cooper has served at director of the theater since 1972. Along side Bruce Goldstein (Ep 399) who programs the repertory calendar, Karen programs contemporary cinema along with her team.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Magic Drop. Magic Drop is a music licensing business based in Brooklyn, NY which represenst an eclectic roster of bands and composers, licensing their music for use in films, TV and beyond.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

Ep 352: Filmwax Radio Live with Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker

Ep 352: Filmwax Radio Live with Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker

Filmwax Radio Live presented by DCTV. Special guests are the documentary filmmaking team of Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker (The War Room, Kings of Pastries). Their latest film, Unlocking the Cage, follows the story of animal rights lawyer Stephen Wise and his quest to obtain persons’ rights for particular species of animals including chimps, whales and elephants. This film follows Wise through a period of legal battles. The conversation at DCTV was recorded live in front of an audience and included the film’s trailer and a clip from the film. We did not screen the film as it is about to enjoy a theatrical premiere at Film Forum on Wednesday, May 25th.

Ep 324: Kent Jones • Charles Poekel

Ep 324: Kent Jones • Charles Poekel

Kent Jones, the director of a new documentary based on the best selling book Hitchcock by Truffaut: A Definitive Study of Alfred Hitchcock, is the first guest. Kent’s film which is being distributed by the Cohen Media Group, is opening at Film Forum and Lincoln Plaza Cinema in NYC on Wednesday, December 2nd. After that, director Charles Poekel who discusses his first feature called Christmas, Again. Poekel’s film is having its theatrical engagement at MoMA beginning Thursday, December 3rd then goes on digital platforms on Friday, December 4th.

Ep 316: Guy Maddin • Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern

Ep 316: Guy Maddin • Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern

Guests on this episode include the documentary co-directors Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern who have a new film, In My Father’s House opening Friday 10/9, and Canadian experimental filmmaker Guy Maddin whose new film The Forbidden Room opens at Film Forum today.

Ep 308: Colin Geddes • Sam de Jong • Gina Leibrecht

Ep 308: Colin Geddes • Sam de Jong • Gina Leibrecht

Guests on this episode include programmer Colin Geddes who curates the Midnight Madness & Vanguard sections of TIFF; Dutch filmmaker Sam de Jong discussing his first feature Prince; and documentary filmmaker/editor Gina Leibrecht.

Ep 275: John Boorman

Ep 275: John Boorman

Legendary film director John Boorman is the guest. His latest feature film, Queen and Country —a sequel to 1987’s Hope & Glory— is currently entering its second week at Film Forum in NYC.

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