In the latest episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci shares a conversation with Simone Baumann, managing director of German Films, Germany's national information and advisory centre for the promotion of German films worldwide. This year marks its 70th anniversary, so this conversation will cover the past, present and future of German Films, including some of the celebratory events that German Films will be hosting around the world. We'll also be talking about some of German cinema's most noteworthy film productions and discuss whether this is a golden period of filmmaking in the country. Baumann also shares her thoughts on the perception of German cinema around the world and whether Germany itself is a cinephile country. (Photo: Slawomir Grenda)

This week, TFV's Matt Micucci speaks with Guillaume Esmiol, director of the Marché du Film, the major film market held annually in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival. Esmiol takes time off his busy schedule to reflect on his second year in charge of the event, which will take place from May 14-22 in Cannes, France. Together, we discuss some of the highlights, key offerings and attractions that will be available to the many global professionals attending, discuss Switzerland's role as this year's country of honor at the Marché du Film and much more. (Featured photo: Loïc Thébaud/MarcheDuFilm)

In our latest episode of the Showcast, recorded live from the 2024 edition of Meeting Point Vilnius in Lithuania, TFV's Matt Micucci shares a conversation with German screenwriter, creative producer, media scholar and educator Joachim Friedmann. At this year's edition of Meeting Point Vilnius, Friedmann held a workshop for Lithuanian screenwriters on serial storytelling. In our conversation, Friedmann talks about his extensive experience of writing for various media, spanning comic books, television, cinema and beyond. We also reflect on the role of writing in the contemporary landscape, including the potential impact of AI technologies. (Featured photo courtesy of Meeting Point Vilnius.)

Listen to our Showcast conversation with showrunners Gabija Siurbytė and Wiktor Piątkowski from the 2024 Meeting Poing Vilnius. In the latest instalment of the Showcast, recorded live from the 2024 edition of Meeting Point Vilnius in Lithuania, TFV's Matt Micucci engages in a dynamic discussion with Gabija Siurbytė from Lithuania and Wiktor Piątkowski from Poland. The focal point of their conversation is showrunning, delving into the intricacies of overseeing the writing and production of television series episodes. They also delve into the unique aspects of series storytelling and what draws them to this craft. Throughout the podcast episode, Siurbyte and Piatkowski share insights of the projects that they are currently developing and pivotal moments from their journeys in the industry. They reflect on whether the current period signifies a golden age of series filmmaking in the region and candidly discuss their triumphs and challenges along the way. (Featured photo: Bartosz Frątczak/Monika Szałek)

In the latest episode of Showcast, recorded live at the 2024 Meeting Point Vilnius in Lithuania, TFV's Matt Micucci engages in a compelling conversation with Greta Grinevičiūtė, the lead actress of the acclaimed and award-winning Lithuanian film "Slow," directed by Marija Kavtaradze. This cinematic gem defies stereotypes by beautifully portraying intimacy and closeness in a relationship, while also offering a rare and sincere depiction of asexuality on screen. Greta delves into the film's themes and her profound connection to the story and character, intertwining her insights with her passion and expertise in contemporary dance. Beyond discussing the movie, the conversation broadens to encompass various topics, including Greta's journey, her unique approach to acting, and some of the sources of her inspiration. (Featured photo: Totem Films)

In the latest episode of the showcast, we shine a light on the upcoming edition of the Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, as we sit down for a remote conversation with its Artistic Director Hrönn Kristinsdóttir. This year will mark the landmark 10th edition of this fast-growing film festival, which will be taking place in Reykjavík, Iceland, on April 4-14, 2024. Kristinsdóttir joins us to talk about the history and mission statement of this annual event, as well as how it has evolved over the years. In addition, we discuss some of the highlight films of its program, industry events and notable guests attending Stockfish this year. (Featured image: Stockfish Film & Industry Festival.)

In the latest episode of the Showcast, recorded live from the 2024 Meeting Point Vilnius, part of the Vilnius International Film Festival in Lithuania, TFV's Matt Micucci sits down for a conversation with Amanda Blumenthal, a trailblazer of intimacy coordination within the audiovisual industry. Blumenthal, founder of the Intimacy Professionals Association, leads the charge in creating safer environments on set for performers involved in scenes of nudity, simulated sex or other intimate content. She assists directors in realizing their creative vision, while also addressing legal considerations and other crucial aspects. This role is relatively new in the audiovisual industry and Blumenthal shares her expertise, as she discusses its defining characteristics and the factors driving its emergence. Furthermore, she delves into her journey, from her background as a sext and relationship coach for private clients to her advocacy work on sexuality, highlighting the growing significance of intimacy coordination in today's evolving media landscape. (Featured photo: Amanda Blumenthal)

TFV's Matt Micucci returns with the second Showcast episode from the 2024 edition of Meeting Point Vilnius, the audiovisual industry event taking place within the context of the Vilnius International Film Festival in Lithuania. This episode features an insightful conversation with renowned Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Zwiefka, who attended a special presentation of Wika!, her documentary portrait of an 85-year-old star DJ from Warsaw. Matt also takes this opportunity to ask her about her latest documentary, Silent Trees, which unveils the story of a Kurdish refugee girl stranded in a no-man's land between Belarus and Poland, and that recently premiered in CPH:DOX. Throughout this conversation, we delve into Zwiefka's journey, from her transition from investigative journalism to documentary filmmaking, and she shares insights into the essence of her craft, emphasizing the necessity of a touch of madness and an abundance of courage. (Photo credit: Agnieszka Zwiefka)

TFV's Matt Micucci kicks off his Showcast coverage of the 2024 edition of Meeting Point Vilnius, the annual audiovisual industry event taking place within the context of the Vilnius International Film Festival in Lithuania. In the first episode from this event, we shine a light on the current state of the Lithuanian animation industry and its growing status at an international level by exploring some of its diversity, represented by Agnė Adomėne, Founder of Art Shot, and Dovydas Vilkelis, CEO of Animatrix. Art Shot is an animation production company focused on the development and international co-production of artistic animated films, including DK and Hugh Welchman's latest feature, The Peasants. Animatrix is a studio dedicated to creating high-quality animation and visual effects for the advertising, entertainment and game industries. Inevitably, the sit-down conversation also touches on a hot topic of recent times: the disruption caused by AI technologies and how they could be helpful or harmful to the animation industry. (Featured photo: New Europe Film Sales.) LzkKENGqWSaX3PZxIY83

In this latest episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci delves into the program of this year's edition of Visions du Réel, one of the world's most important festivals of nonfiction films. This year, the festival is set to take place in Nyon, Switzerland, on April 12-21. In this episode, Matt is joined by the festival's Artistic Director Emilie Bujés, who shares with us some of the highlights from its program's offerings and details about its industry section. She also takes time to share with us some details about the history of Visions du Réel and its mission statement. (Featured image: Hélas/Visions du Réel)

In this episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci spotlights another gem from the Panorama Dokumente section of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. The focus turns to a vibrant documentary on the trailblazing Peaches, known for her daring blend of electronic music, pop and hip-hop, and her fearless exploration of sexuality and societal norms that have captivated audiences worldwide. Teaches of Peaches not only chronicles her recent anniversary tour celebrating her seminal album of the same name, originally released in 2000, but also weaves together recent footage with a wealth of archive material for a truly immersive experience, fit for anyone ranging from diehard Peaches aficionados to anyone who has not yet been introduced to her. Joining Matt for a discussion of Teaches of Peaches are its directors, Philipp Fussenegger and Judy Landkammer, whose documentary received a Teddy Award and came third in the Audience Awards standings for this year's Panorama section of the Berlinale. (Featured photo: Avanti Media Fiction)

Today's episode of the Showcast features TFV's Matt Micucci sharing a conversation about one of the highlights from the Panorama Dokumente section of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. The film is titled "I'm Not Everything I Want to Be" and focuses on the life and work of little-known Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková. From the aftermath of the Prague Spring of 1968 through the 1970s and 1980s, Jarcovjáková prolifically documented her own life through endless series of still photographs, which are woven into a narrative throughline, aided by her own diary entries, which she narrates throughout the film. We talk about this powerful fusion of autobiography and cinematic expression with the film's director, Klára Tasovská, and its producer, Lukáš Kokeš, shortly after premiering their work at the Berlinale. (Featured photo: ©Libuše Jarcovjáková)

In our latest Showcast conversation, TFV's Matt Micucci speaks with Loïc Tanson, director of what has been defined as Luxemburg's first western movie, "The Last Ashes." The film is a modern Western set in Luxembourg from the early to mid-1800s and tells the story of a woman who returns to her native village under a new identity, looking for revenge against those who harmed her and her family. In our conversation, we discuss this visionary feature directorial debut but also find out about Tanson's journey, from his early cinephile memories to his formative experiences, working as a film critic and film editor. In speaking about "The Last Ashes," Tanson also talks about balancing genre conventions and universally resonant themes while drawing on the history and folklore of Luxembourg. We discuss the movie's visual prowess, including the cinematography and sound design, and Sophie Mousel's lead performance. Additionally, he shares his thoughts on the current state of Luxembourg's film industry and whether he believes Luxembourg is a cinephile country. (Featured photo: Samsa Film)

TFV's Matt Micucci wraps up his showcast coverage of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain by highlighting "A Journey in Spring" from the festival's official selection. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Taiwanese filmmakers Tzu-Hui Peng and Ping-Wen Wang, who talk about weaving a tale that explores a man's profound grief for his late wife. In this conversation, the directors talk about wanting to explore the theme of mortality and their film's deliberate choices of style and pacing, and discuss the genesis of their creative partnership. (We'd also like to extend our gratitude to Luis Roucero Mayor for his translation.) (Featured photo: Being Film and Art Co.)

Our Showcast coverage of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival continues by highlighting a remarkable work from its New Directors section, "The Gamma Rays." TFV's Matt Micucci is joined by its director Henry Bernardet, whose social realist drama delves into the lives of a group of young Canadians from immigrant communities, navigating through their everyday existence and experiencing a wide range of formative events. In our discussion, the director talks with us about being inspired by Montreal's multicultural landscape and his fascination with crafting a coming-of-age drama of young individuals and their contemporary experiences. He also shares insights into collaborating with a youthful ensemble of non-professional actors, highlighting their instrumental role in moulding the storyline of "The Gamma Rays" through their imaginative contributions to their fictional counterparts' daily trials and tribulations. (Featured photo: H264)

TFV's Matt Micucci's podcast coverage of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival continues with a conversation with Japanese filmmaker Kei Chika-Ura. His second feature film, "Great Absence," celebrated its European Premiere in the festival's official selection. The film chronicles the forced reunion between a son and his long-estranged father after 20 years. In this podcast, we talk with the director about the personal experiences that shaped the narrative and the intricate representations of dementia in cinema. Other topics explored include the origins of his own interest in filmmaking and his experience of working on this project with a legend of Japanese film, actor Tatsuya Fuji, who was awarded the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance for his role in the movie.

The latest episode of the SHOWCAST is a candid conversation about "The Successor" one of the most talked-about films from the official selection of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival. Joining TFV's Matt Micucci are its director Xavier Legrand (already an award-winner at the 2017 Venice Film Festival with "Custody") and its lead actor, Marc-André Grondin. Briefly, the film explores a fashion designer's life unravelling after his estranged father's death. In this podcast, we speak with our guests about its critique of patriarchy and the theme of masculinity at large, and we also ask Legrand about his interest in flirting with genre techniques, most notably horror film conventions, to make a powerful statement.

This latest episode of the Showcast from the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival finds TFV's Matt Micucci joined by an animation luminary, Isabel Herguera, making her feature debut with "Sultana's Dream," featured in the festival's official selection. The film is inspired by the feminist utopian sci-fi short story of the same name, penned by Begum Rokeya at the dawn of the 20th century and exploring the mythical Ladyland. The narrative of the movie follows the journey of a fictional young artist, Inés, and draws from Herguera's personal experiences and passions. During our discussions, Herguera provides insights into her multi-year undertaking on "Sultana's Dream," the influential moments and stories that shaped it and the profound impact of animation as an artistic medium. We also delve into her artistic influences, the portrayal of women in media and what continues to make Rokeya's original short story an enduring and resonant masterpiece. (Featured photo: Square Eyes)

Producer Kateryna Shevchenko and music composer Luke Corradine join TFV's Matt Micucci for a Showcast conversation about Ukrainians for the Arts, Culture and Education, also known as UFACE, at the 2023 San Seastián International Film Festival. This relatively new association is dedicated to nurturing and celebrating the rich tapestry of Ukrainian artistic values and heritage through a range of Spanish and international projects. Among them, a captivating series of live shows for silent Ukrainian films, including Alexander Dovzhenko's 1930 masterpiece "Earth," with brand-new scores by Corradine, which made their debut at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles and July. In this conversation, we delve into the heart of UFACE, its mission, vision and exciting upcoming projects, and discover the importance of preserving national heritage and nurturing artistic excellence through this passionate endeavour.

TFV's Matt Micucci explores one of the highlights of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival's Horizontes Latinos section in the latest Showcast episode, featuring a conversation with Guto Parente, the talented Brazilian director of "A Strange Path." The film tells the story of a filmmaker who returns to Brazil to screen a movie at his hometown's film festival but when the pandemic derails his plans, he's left with no other choice but to reconnect with his estranged and eccentric father. Unusual events unfold in this work, which marks the fusion of Parente's background in experimental filmmaking with genre conventions. We talk about this fusion in our conversation, as well as the autobiographical elements that inspired the story of "A Strange Path," the origins of the director's cinephilia and much more. (Featured photo: Lights On)