Woodstock Film Festival LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast

In Episode 34, filmmaker Kyle Thrash and producer Adam Neuhaus speak about the process of creating a documentary independently, without support from the film industry. They share insights into the inspiring journey of filmmakers coming together to support one another through Adam’s The Non-Fiction Hotlist, and how that experience contrasts with working under the influence of industry executives. Kyle also discusses the subject of his forthcoming documentary STATE OF GAMBLING, shedding light on the surprisingly pervasive influence of the world of sports betting.Listen to more WFF podcast episodes.

In Episode 33, host and WFF shorts programmer Amanda Naseem speaks with director Rashad Frett about the making of his award-winning short film RICKY and how he is currently working on a feature-length version. Rashad also discusses his journey in finding himself as an artist and filmmaker and the process of casting non-actors and family members. Rashad Frett is an award-winning Caribbean-American filmmaker. He is an NYU Tisch Graduate Film alumni, a Spike Lee Film Production fellow, a Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative fellow, a Sundance Feature Film Lab fellow, and a Cary Fukunaga Production fellow. In 2023 he was named one of Filmmaker magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” His feature film RICKY won the Best Directing Award in 2025 Sundance Film festival's U.S. Dramatic Competition category and Best Short Doc at the 2023 Woodstock Film Festival. To learn more about Rashad, check out his website.Listen to more WFF podcast episodes

In Episode 32, we talk with Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp, the Director and Producer of the Oscar-nominated short documentary, I AM READY, WARDEN. Mundhra and Gnyp share the importance of establishing trust with the subjects of their documentary in creating an authentic representation of a death row prisoner seeking redemption. Smriti Mundhra is a DGA Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated and three-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker. She created and directed Netflix’s “The Romantics,” a four-part documentary series about Bollywood’s history. Her 2019 Oscar-nominated documentary short “St. Louis Superman,” was acquired by MTV Documentary Films in a multi-studio bidding war. Her most recent short, “I Am Ready, Warden,” was nominated in the 97th Academy Awards. Maya Gnyp is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated Producer of documentary film and television. This year, she is the Executive Producer of “Muslim Matchmaker” for HULU/ABC and was nominated for her short documentary film, “I Am Ready, Warden”. Her film, “Shelter,” was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy, NAACP Image Award, and the Humanitas Prize. Listen to more WFF podcast episodes: https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

WFF Panel Sponsored by Amazon MGM StudiosCarla Gutiérrez is an Emmy-nominated documentary director/editor. Her directorial debut, FRIDA, premiered at Sundance 2024 and she edited the Oscar-nominated films RBG and La Corona. Carla is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and the American Cinema Editors.Roger Ross Williams is an Oscar, Emmy, Peabody, and NAACP Image award-winning director, producer, and writer – and the first African American director to win an Academy Award, with his film Music By Prudence.More Episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

AI has been making its way into many areas of society over the last two years including the creative arts and filmmaking. As a versatile tool, AI is being embraced by many artists, filmmakers, and studios to explore new ideas and bring their visions to life. These tools are already streamlining production processes and lowering budgets, while simultaneously sparking discussions about their impact on the creative industry at large. This panel of filmmakers, artists, and AI tool builders will discuss these new tools and their impact on creativity. With Runway AI Creative Team member Nicolas Neubert, Philip Shane, Kris Lefcoe, and Eunice Lau Moderated by Filmmaker Magazine Co-Founder / Editor in Chief Scott MacauleyMore Episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

Amidst the softest distribution market in decades, at the peak of its popularity, documentary filmmaking has reached an inflection point. In this wide-ranging conversation with some of the most prolific filmmakers in the industry, we take a “bird's-eye” view of the challenges and opportunities. Addressing audience engagement and career sustainability while contextualizing our current climate in broader documentary history, the panel addresses how docs will survive and thrive into the future.With Sandi DuBowski, Yance Ford, and Benjamin Ree. Moderated by Jessica Edwards.Sandi DuBowski is the director/producer of Sabbath Queen and Trembling Before G-D, producer of A Jihad For Love, and co-producer of Budrus. His award-winning work screened at Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Toronto, and he is a doc branch member of the Academy.Director Yance Ford's documentary Power premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His film Strong Island was nominated for an Oscar in 2018 and won the 2019 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Film.Benjamin Ree’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin received the Audience Award and Directing Award in World Documentary at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His previous film The Painter and the Thief received a 2020 Sundance World Documentary Special Jury Award. Jessica Edwards is a Peabody award-winning director, producer, and publicist. In 2010, she launched Film First to produce short and feature-length documentaries. Since then, she’s created and released dozens of projects across all platforms.More Episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

Today’s women filmmakers are calling the shots, whether with a movie camera on their shoulder, a pen in their hand, an idea in their head, or a computer and a desk at their feet. In this conversation co-presented by New York Women in Film & Television, meet some of today’s most inspiring filmmakers, all current participating filmmakers or alumni of the Woodstock Film Festival, as they discuss the trajectory of their careers.With Yvonne Russo, Heidi Ewing, Ondi Timoner, Rebecca Miller, Christine La Monte and Nancy Abraham Moderated by NYWIFT’s Executive Director Cynthia LopezMore Episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

Academy Award-nominated director and screenwriter Paul Schrader’s acclaimed films include AMERICAN GIGOLO, MISHIMA: A LIFE IN FOUR CHAPTERS, AFFLICTION, FIRST REFORMED, THE CARD COUNTER and MASTER GARDENER. He also collaborated with Martin Scorsese, writing TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL, and THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.Academy Award, BAFTA, WGA, and Emmy nominee Ramin Bahrani is the writer, director and producer of such films as MAN PUSH CART, CHOP SHOP, 99 HOMES, and THE WHITE TIGER. More Episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast

With Amanda Seyfried and Aya Cash. Moderated by Martha Frankel.A frank and in-depth conversation with actors Amanda Seyfried and Aya Cash, focusing on their storied careers and their acting craftsmanship. As successful actors, the two discuss teamwork (actors with actors, actors with directors), and share anecdotes from some of their more well known films. A not-to-be-missed glimpse into the behind the scenes of the career trajectory of award-winning actors.Amanda Seyfried is an award-winning actress known for her roles in MANK and THE DROPOUT, as well as the beloved MAMMA MIA! Her career spans film, television, and stage, with diverse upcoming projects highlighting her versatility.Aya Cash can currently be seen starring in Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes’ HBO comedy series, THE FRANCHISE and next year, she will star in, and executive produce the much-anticipated THE BOYS prequel series, VOUGHT RISING for Amazon Prime.Cash most recently appeared opposite Elle Fanning in the Hulu limited series THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in the Showtime limited series THE FIRST LADY, and in the Fox comedy WELCOME TO FLATCH. Aya’s major television credits include Amazon’s Emmy-nominated, hit series THE BOYS, for which she won a Critics Choice Super Award; FX’s Emmy-nominated mini-series FOSSE/VERDON alongside Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams, and FXX’s critical hit comedy, YOU’RE THE WORST created by Stephen Falk, which earned her 2016 TCA and Critics Choice Award nominations.More episodes:www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/podcast

In Episode 27, Adam Schartoff talks with WFF features programmer, Amir Bogen, to highlight feature films in this year’s lineup. The two speak on the process of finding and securing these films, including scouting other festival,  to find the most unique and diverse voices they can find.  Amir Bogen is an American-Israeli film journalist. For over 20 years, he has worked as a journalist for Ynet (Israel's biggest news website) as a writer, editor, researcher and film critic. Even after so many years of working as a journalist, he still has this passion and hunger for storytelling, and as a Features Programmer at the Woodstock Film Festival, he is able to continue following his passion.  Check out this years2024 Feature Narratives2024 Feature DocumentariesListen to more WFF podcast episodes!