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Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Latest episodes

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Jan 9, 2025 • 52min

218: Shortlisters, part 2

Four interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: supervising editor David Teague and animator Renata Galindo on FRIDA; co-director Angela Patton on DAUGHTERS; producer Rafael Marmor on WILL & HARPER; director Shiori Ito on BLACK BOX DIARIES. Recorded live in New York City on January 5, 2025 at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler, and moderated by Thom Powers.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Jan 8, 2025 • 47min

217: Shortlisters, part 1

Three interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: Stephen Maing and Brett Story on UNION; Laurie Anderson and Gary Hustwit on ENO; Slava Leontyev, Paula Dupre' Pesman, and Joe Berlinger on PORCELAIN WAR. Recorded live in New York City on January 5, 2025 at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler, and moderated by Thom Powers.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Jan 7, 2025 • 39min

216: "Queendom" with Agniia Galdanova & Igor Myakotin

"Queendom" profiles the non-binary Russian performance artist Jenna Marvin. We watch her challenge Russia's repressive laws against the LGBTQ+ community and protest the country's war on Ukraine, putting herself at great risk. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Agniia Galdanova and producer Igor Myakotin about what motivated them on this project despite the inherent dangers. "Queendom" is on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature and available on video on demand.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Jan 6, 2025 • 32min

215: Ibrahim Nash'at on "Hollywoodgate"

After Afghanistan experienced a change of power in 2021, Egyptian filmmaker Ibrahim Nash'at embedded himself in the country and documented how the Taliban took control of over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Ibrahim about the making of "Hollywoodgate," how he coped with risk, the role of his mentors Talal Derki and Jess Search, and why he embraced therapy in the process."Hollywoodgate" is on the Oscars Shortlist for documentary feature. Watch it on Jolt Film.Hear Talal Derki discuss "Of Fathers and Sons" on episode 96.Hear more about Jess Search on episodes 168 and 200.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Jan 2, 2025 • 31min

214: Adam Kinzinger & Steve Pink on "The Last Republican"

Adam Kinzinger was the first Republican Congressman to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump after the Jan 6 insurrection. That caught the attention of the Hollywood comedy writer and director Steve Pink ("Hot Tub Time Machine"). Although Pink is liberal and Kinzinger is conservative they shared a sense of humor and an opposition to Trump. "The Last Republican" follows Kinzinger over a year as he served on the Congressional committee to investigate Jan 6. The film is opening at New York's Film Forum. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Kinzinger and Pink about releasing the film at a time when Trump is vowing to seek retribution against his enemies.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Dec 31, 2024 • 46min

213: Alex Gibney & Alexis Bloom on "The Bibi Files"

"The Bibi Files" looks at the corruption case against Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing upon a vast trove of leaked interrogation footage. Netanyahu went to court trying to block the film from being shown, but that motion failed. Producer Alex Gibney and director Alexis Bloom discuss the challenges they faced in getting the film made and seen.Watch the film on Jolt.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Dec 10, 2024 • 34min

212: William Kentridge on "Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot"

William Kentridge is well-known in the world of museums and galleries. Now he brings together all of his artistic disciplines - drawing, animation, sculpture and performance - to create the 9-part film essay "Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot" streaming on Mubi. If you're a stranger to his work, see 10 Works to Know by William Kentridge from the Royal Academy of Art. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Kentridge about creativity, therapy, optimism and his collaboration with the esteemed editor Walter Murch.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Dec 5, 2024 • 1h 14min

211: Live from London

Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the directors of four films in the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler.Follow the links below to see the film trailers:Director Daniela Volker on The Commandant's ShadowDirector Hasan Oswald on MedihaDirector Vanessa Hope on Invisible NationDirector Jeff Zimbalist and producer Tamir Ardon on Skywalkers: A Love StorySubscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Dec 4, 2024 • 39min

210: Brian Eno & Ibelin

Brian Eno and filmmaker Gary Hustwit discuss their film "Eno"; and director Benjamin Ree talks about "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers. Both interviews were recorded in front of a live audience at the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler.Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1
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Nov 27, 2024 • 39min

209: Raoul Peck on Ernest Cole, George Orwell & Haiti

"Ernest Cole: Lost and Found" explores the legacy of the photographer who covered apartheid in the 1960s from the perspective of a Black South African. Cole was driven into exile in the U.S. and Europe. He died in obscurity in 1990, but he left behind a secret archive of over 60,000 negatives shot in exile that were recently discovered. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Raoul Peck ("I Am Not Your Negro") about this new film. He also previews two more works coming next year on George Orwell and Haiti.Listen to past interview with Raoul on episodes 170 (on "Silver Dollar Road") and 21 (on James Baldwin).Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices.On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1

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