Interview

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: 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: Luke Cook on new series Good Cop/Bad Cop, the power of social media, and finding inspiration through The Terminator

Good Cop/Bad Cop follows Lou and Henry, a sister and brother detective team in a small Pacific Northwest police force who must contend with colourful residents, a serious lack of resources, and their very complicated dynamic with each other and their police chief, Big Hank – who happens to be their father. A social media…

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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: 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: 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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Interview: Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones on the power thematic and complicated nature of their characters in The Brutalist

Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent…

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Interview: Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro on respecting the history of their real-life counterparts in Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Interview: Edward Norton and director James Mangold on uncovering Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown; “We wanted to show how particular his own voice was.”

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Interview: Timothée Chalamet on embodying the enigmatic Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown; “It’s an honour to be the humble bridge to this period and this incredible artist.”

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Interview: Director Dougal Wilson on crafting the magic of Paddington in Peru; “Technically and culturally it was a challenge.”

Full of Paddington’s signature blend of wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud humor, Paddington in Peru finds the beloved, marmalade-loving bear lost in the jungle on an exciting, high-stakes adventure. When Paddington discovers his beloved Aunt Lucy has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears, he and the Brown family head to the wilds of Peru…

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Interview: Director Robert Connolly and author Alison Lester on bringing the beloved Magic Beach from prose to screen; “I love the feeling of any kind of terror in a creative endeavour.”

Take a trip with the ones you love through a unique mix of live action, entwined with extraordinary animated adventures that bring you to a dreamy seaside where anything is possible. Featuring timeless characters, Magic Beach is a captivating blend of reality and fantasy that inspires people of all ages to feel the sand beneath…

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Interview: Stephen Curry on acting as an ambassador for the 2025 AACTA Festival and how he’s seen the industry shift throughout his career

From February 5–9, the AACTA Festival promises five unforgettable days packed with experiences celebrating the best of film, television, and digital media. This weeklong celebration features a diverse lineup of events designed to inspire, entertain, and connect, with activities for everyone from industry professionals to pop culture enthusiasts. Set against the stunning backdrop of the…

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Interview: John Crowley on directing We Live In Time; “What we’re trying to make is something reflective of an experience of life.”

Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together – falling for each other, building a home, becoming a family – a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits…

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Interview: Jennifer Lopez and the cast of Unstoppable on embodying their real-life counterparts for inspiring true-story drama

Inspired by the true story of athlete Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg but whose unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams, Unstoppable is an inspiring drama that speaks to the strength of one’s indomitable spirit. As the film arrives to motivate audiences across the world with its…

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Interview: Wolf Man stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner on shaping their unique performances an genre navigation

What if someone you loved became something else? From Blumhouse and visionary writer-director Leigh Whannell, the creators of the chilling modern monster tale The Invisible Man, comes a terrifying new lupine nightmare: Wolf Man. Christopher Abbott stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after…

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