Interviews

Interview: Michela Carattini on her new film Carmen & Bolude and the importance of multicultural representation on screen

A movie for international, mixed and third culture kids, Carmen & Bolude is a multicultural comedy based on the real-life friendship of Michela Carattini and Bolude Watson. Written by the duo and co-directed by Carattini, Carmen & Bolude tells of two friends who must travel from New York City to Sydney, Australia, where they have…

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Interview: MWFF director Sian Mitchell on this year’s festival program and amplifying female voices in film

The Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) (March 20th – 24th, 2025) is an exciting, volunteer-run festival that aims to inspire and empower established and emerging women and gender diverse screen practitioners from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the wider Moana region through the celebration of their work and artistry. MWFF exhibits work from collaborative teams…

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Interview: Director Geremy Jasper on his 20-years in the making rock opera O’Dessa; “I always build characters through music and sounds and lyrics.”

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa is an original rock opera about a farm girl (Sadie Sink) on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom.  Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love – but in order to save his soul, she must put…

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Interview: Barry Levinson on directing Robert De Niro in The Alto Knights and balancing historical accuracy with creative interpretation

Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy) is no stranger to both the crime genre and collaborating with Robert De Niro, and their collective experience are fusing with The Alto Knights, which follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese (both portrayed by De Niro), as they vie for…

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Interview: Bob Trevino Likes It writer/director Tracie Laymon on telling her unique story on film; “It was very important to me to speak to that truth and how I healed from the evolution of that.”

Inspired by the true friendship that writer/director Tracie Laymon found with a stranger when looking for her father online, Bob Trevino Likes It is a heartwarming tale about how even the smallest act of kindness can have the largest ripple effect on someone’s life. Often playing the role of caretaker to people like her father…

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Interview: Emma Higgins on her directorial debut Sweetness, blending genres and passionate fandoms

Screening as part of this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival in the Narrative Spotlight section, which showcases features having their World, North American or U.S. premiere, Sweetness tells of the chance encounter between 16-year-old Rylee and her rockstar crush, which leads to the discovery of his drug addiction and the subsequent spiral of her…

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Interview: Michael Fassbender and the cast of Black Bag on character motives, script specificity, and trusting Australians

A top British intelligence officer faces the ultimate test of loyalty when he investigates a critical security breach in Black Bag, a riveting spy drama from Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh.  An insightful and stylish take on a classic genre (you can read our review here), Black Bag amps up suspense and tension in a…

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Interview: Mike Leigh on Hard Truths, his collaborative process, and the enduring power of independent film

A titan of British cinema, Mike Leigh brings his signature blend of realism and emotional depth to Hard Truths, further solidifying his reputation as a chronicler of contemporary life. Delving into the complexities of everyday existence, Hard Truths stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a woman tormented by anger and depression, hypersensitive to the slightest possible offence…

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Interview: Sally Aitken on her documentary Every Little Thing, the interconnectedness of nature, and its importance in the wake of the Los Angeles fires

Every Little Thing follows retired writer and teacher Terry Masear over a summer as she takes in and rehabilitates injured hummingbirds. Shot with stunning close-ups of the birds against the backdrop of Masear’s storied life, this film is a mediation on human-animal relationships and our capacity for care. Bringing this stunning story to the screen…

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Interview: Spit director Jonathan Teplitzky and star David Wenham on their Gettin’ Square sequel; “I love having the permission to be an idiot.”

22 years on from its predecessor premiering at the Brisbane International Film Festival, Spit, the long awaited sequel to Aussie crime comedy Gettin’ Square, kicked off its proceedings last month at the AACTA Festival, where director Jonathan Teplitzky and Johnny “Spit” Spitieri himself, David Wenham, introduced the film before it toured across the country on…

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Interview: Daniel Henshall on working with “genius” Bong Joon Ho on Mickey 17 and silently channeling Mick Jagger

Australian actor Daniel Henshall is no stranger to working with the genius that is Bong Joon Ho, having collaborated on 2017’s science fiction comedy Okja. Now, the two are reuniting on the director’s eagerly anticipated Mickey 17, the first since his historic Oscar win in 2020.  Mickey 17 tells of an unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes…

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Interview: Keke Palmer on her new film One of Them Days, breaking generational curses, and “vibing” with SZA

Across television, film, music, literature and live theatre, Keke Palmer has rarely left a stone unturned.  And she’s certainly not looking to give up the exploration any time soon. With the release of One of Them Days, not only is Palmer headlining alongside the Grammy-winning SZA, she’s flexing her big boss energy as one of…

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Interview: Alliance Française French Film Festival CEO Frédéric Alliod on curating this year’s program; “I have to understand the audience and the cultural differences we might be playing with.”

The Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF) has arrived as its 2025 programme of groundbreaking French cinema sets to dazzle audiences across Australia. Now in its 36th year, the largest celebration of French film outside France will play until the 27th April this year. Festival-goers are invited to embark on a unique cultural journey, featuring…

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Interview: Joe Williams on the unexplored aspects of parenting in new documentary Seen; “It’s not being critical of parents.  It’s just having the opportunity to be able to make it different.”

Seen is a groundbreaking feature-length documentary that not only explores the transformative power of personal healing for parents, but also delves into the scientifically supported effects of such healing on parenting and its impact on child brain development. By focusing on the unexplored aspect of parents confronting their own childhood coping mechanisms, Seen is poised…

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Interview: Inside writer/director Charles Williams on subverting the expectation of a “prison” movie

Transferred from juvenile to adult prison, Mel is taken under the wing of both Shepard, Australia’s most despised criminal, and Warren, a soon-to-be-a-paroled inmate.  The paternal triangle that forms between them becomes their undoing. From Cannes Film Festival-winning director Charles Williams, Inside is a tale of emotional dynamics within the prison system, spearheaded by a…

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Interview: Robbie Amell, Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz on exploring their unique sport in Racewalkers; “We knew for the movie to work, it’s funnier if we don’t make fun on it.”

Will could never compete in the sport he’s always loved: racewalking. While struggling to find respect as a coach, Will’s fortunes change when he spots a burnout baseball pitcher, Matt, with the most impeccable racewalking stride he’s ever seen.  Together, Will and Matt team up, face the challenges of a sport that doesn’t want them,…

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Interview: Claes Bang on playing the legendary folk hero William Tell; “We definitely felt a responsibility to say something that we thought was meaningful.”

Regardless of what stories you’ve heard about William Tell, there’s one consistent note to his tale surrounding his son, a crossbow and an apple. A legendary folk hero of Switzerland, his tale has been told many times across many mediums, and Danish actor Claes Bang is the latest to embody the legend.  Under the direction…

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Interview: Andrea Arnold on the painful experience of making Bird; “All my films start with some kind of image that bothers me.”

Academy Award winning director Andrea Arnold has always honed a unique voice in the landscape of cinema.  From her short films Milk and the Oscar celebrated Wasp, to her distinctive take on the classic Wuthering Heights and the experimental American Honey, no project is like another, and she’s continuing such a filmic outlook with her…

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Interview: Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson on their life-affirming documentary The Last Journey; “All that matters is our family.”

Known in their local Sweden as Filip och Fredrik, popular TV hosts and journalists Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson have moved into the documentary film space with The Last Journey, which sees the duo take Hammar’s father, Lars, on a road trip to France. Lars has recently retired after 40 years as a French teacher…

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Interview: Stranger Things star Anna Jacoby-Heron on headlining new religious horror film Inhabitants

Following its premiere at the 2023 Austin Film Festival, where it was a Jury Winner for a Dark Matters Feature, the new horror film Inhabitants is preparing to haunt households this Valentine’s season as it arrives on VOD. Releasing February 14th, the film follows a young woman who moves in with her lapsed Catholic boyfriend,…

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Interview: Dean DeBlois on writing and directing the live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon; “It was made without a cynical bone in the mix.”

As the writer and director of the original animated How To Train Your Dragon, and both sequels, Dean DeBlois is all too aware how closely audiences hold those films to their chest and that a live action adaptation is, perhaps, not that necessary; heck, he even admits himself that he’s never been one to think…

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Interview: Michael Morris on bringing back Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget’s back.  Just as she is. 24 years ago Renée Zellweger slipped into those pants, and the world has been in love with Bridget Jones ever since. Returning to her Academy Award nominated role, Zellweger is navigating a new life for one Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, where she is alone…

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Interview: Nicole Pastor and director John Balazs on their psychological thriller Freelance

When a down-on-her luck video editor takes a mysterious, well-paying job cutting snuff films, she finds herself seemingly haunted by the people in her videos. Such is the logline for Freelance, an atmospheric psychological thriller from director John Balazs, headlined by Nicole Pastor, and described by our Peter Gray as “a shining example of homegrown…

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Interview: Michaela Watkins on her new dramedy Suze and personally resonating with her character; “I just think I wanted it to feel real.”

When her only daughter leaves for college, Suze (Michaela Watkins), a single mom who has lost her purpose, gets stuck taking care of her daughter’s heartbroken ex-boyfriend, who she can’t stand. On her journey of self-discovery, Suze discovers what living purposefully really looks like, while making an unlikely bond along the way. A success out of the 2023…

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Interview: Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan on ghost story Presence and working with director Steven Soderbergh; “This is a feat of cinematic execution on his part.”

Throughout his directorial career, Steven Soderbergh has so often gone against the grain.  From his avant-garde arthouse approach in films like Sex, Lies and Videotape, shooting the entirety of the psychological thriller Unsane on an iPhone 7, to acclaimed studio franchises like the Ocean’s and Magic Mike trilogies, he indulges in the unexpected.  And his…

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Interview: Mythic Quest stars Naomi Ekperigin and Jessie Ennis talk chaos, comedy and character growth in Season 4

Now in its fourth glorious season on Apple TV+, Mythic Quest, our favorite workplace comedy set in the gaming industry, continues to raise the stakes – bringing fresh challenges, bigger ambitions, and ever-wilder twists for our beloved characters. Created by Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney, Mythic Quest Season 4 sees the return of…

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Interview: Danny Pudi and Imani Hakim on exploring mentorship and mayhem in Mythic Quest Season 4 on Apple TV+

Mythic Quest returns for its fourth glorious season on Apple TV+, once again raising the stakes for our favorite game-industry misfits. With sharp wit and ever-escalating workplace antics, the beloved comedy continues to explore the highs and lows of game development, corporate chaos, and the ever-blurring lines between personal and professional life. Created by Charlie…

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Interview: Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon and director Nicholas Stoller on You’re Cordially Invited; “For a movie to be funny, it needs to be honest.”

For the first time in their careers (bar a Saturday Night Live appearance), Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon have joined forces for some wedding hijinks in the new comedy You’re Cordially Invited. When two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same venue, chaos ensues as the father of the bride (Ferrell)…

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Interview: Companion writer/director Drew Hancock on subverting expectations and navigating twists

New Line Cinema, the studio that brought you The Notebook, the unhinged creators of Barbarian, and writer/director Drew Hancock cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story… Companion. Companion, which makes for “biting viewing, gleefully playing at once with the dynamics of power and sex as it toys with our own expectations”…

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Interview: Amy Adams on the important conversations surrounding her film Nightbitch; “I think if we validated the idea of parenthood as a very important job, that’s going to elevate humanity.”

Based on Rachel Yoder’s acclaimed novel, Nightbitch tells of an artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mother.  Seeking a new chapter in her life, she encounters just that when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Brought to life to screen by…

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