Directors UK Podcast

Daisy-May Hudson joins fellow director Alex Kalymnios for an in-depth conversation about the making of her fiction feature debut, Lollipop. Daisy-May shares her unconventional route into filmmaking, the moment she realised that directing was for her, why film is such a powerful medium to tell stories that matter. The conversation delves into the creative and practical challenges of crafting Lollipop, and how Daisy’s unique perspective shaped both her storytelling and her process of working with non-professional actors.

Recorded live at our exclusive Directors UK member event, Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro sits down with friend and fellow Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón for a fascinating deep dive into his creative process, and the making of his haunting new film, Frankenstein.

In a riveting discussion, Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, known for her intense explorations of conflict, chats with director Peter Straughan. They dive into the genesis of her new film, A House of Dynamite, inspired by a hypothetical ICBM launch. Kathryn shares insights on her rapid drafting process during the pandemic and Netflix's swift support for the project. She emphasizes her collaborative writing approach and the importance of authenticity through military advisors, while also highlighting how her past work paved the way for real-life access.

Olaide Sadiq’s directorial debut Grenfell: Uncovered examines the disturbing chain of events that led to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, giving survivors, bereaved families and firefighters a platform to share their story. In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive member event last month, Olaide sits down with fellow documentary director Toby Trackman, to discuss how she became involved with the project, her approach to working with collaborators and the responsibility she felt towards them as director, and what it was like working with Netflix on this project.

Recorded live at a Directors UK members event, in partnership with Illuminatrix and FOMO House, director Shannon Murphy and DoP Annika Summerson explore their recent collaboration on BBC drama Dope Girls, in a live discussion moderated by DoP Susanne Salavati. Shannon and Annika share how their creative partnership evolved during filming. Image Credit: BBC/Bad Wolf/Grant Royce

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the casting process behind Channel 4 series, Queenie, in the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast. Recorded live at our career development masterclass last Autumn, Director (episodes 1-4) Joelle Mae David, Casting Director Aisha Bywaters, and lead actor Dionne Brown, explore the show’s approach to casting. Director James Kent hosts their conversation. Listen to the discussion wherever you get your podcasts.

Sean Baker is In Conversation with Ian Haydn Smith on directing Anora. Sean shares his experience casting and working with Mikey Madison, what it was like shooting on a tight budget, and how the story grew from the film's locations. Image credit: Christopher Andreou

John Crowley is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Anna Bogutskaya on what went into directing We Live In Time. John shares his experience in the edit, his approach to rehearsals, as well as what challenges come from working on a non-linear story.

Brady Corbet is on the Directors UK Podcast, In Conversation with Sam Mendes on what went into directing The Brutalist. Brady reflects on the importance of a director’s creative vision, and his journey bringing this epic story to screen.

Greg Kwedar shares the work that went into directing his latest film Sing Sing. A stirring true story featuring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors, Greg talks about how he worked with the cast to translate real experiences into powerful scenes, and how he practised filmmaking “in community” on the set.