Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film
Pure Nonfiction
If you love documentary films, hear from the top storytellers on Pure Nonfiction. Host Thom Powers is well-connected in this world as a documentary curator for the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, and SundanceNow Doc Club. He leads conversations that are frank, funny and revealing. Listen to interviews with Oscar-winning filmmakers Barbara Kopple, Alex Gibney, and Roger Ross Williams; as well as the directors of “Making a Murderer,” “Weiner” and “OJ: Made in America.” Often the stories behind the scenes are as dramatic as what’s on the screen. On Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @purenonfiction. Subscribe now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 16, 2018 • 53min
PN 63: Tabitha Jackson + 2018 Sundance Preview
Films discussed in this episode (in order of mention):Three Identical StrangersThe ImposterAmerican AnimalsThe SentenceOn Her ShouldersMinding the GapOur New PresidentClinica de MigrantesShirkersBelieverRBGWon’t You Be My Neighbor306 HollywoodA Thousand ThoughtsCamerapersonI Am Not Your NegroFaces PlacesOn Twitter: @sundancefest @thompowers @purenonfictionPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Jan 11, 2018 • 41min
PN 62: Errol Morris, Brett Morgen & Ceyda Torun on Documentary Style
On Twitter: @errolmorris @brettmorgen @catsinistanbul @thompowers @purenonfiction @docnycfestPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.For more, listen to:PN 51 with Errol Morris and Elsa Dorfman on “The B-Side”PN 58 with Brett Morgen on his careerTry our other podcast:Documentary of the Week, produced by WNYC.If you’re in New York City, join us for Stranger Than Fiction’s winter season (Feb-March) on Tuesday nights at the IFC Center.
Dec 21, 2017 • 28min
PN 61: Jennifer Brea on “Unrest”
On Twitter: @jenbrea @unrestfilm @thompowers @PureNonfictionUnrest website: www.unrest.filmPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Dec 15, 2017 • 43min
PN 60: Alex Gibney & Blair Foster on "Rolling Stone”
On Twitter: @alexgibneyfilms @JigsawProds @thompowers @PureNonfictionPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Nov 30, 2017 • 34min
PN 59: Yance Ford on "Strong Island"
On Twitter: @yford @thompowers @PureNonfictionThis interview was recorded at SVA MFA Social Documentary program in New York City. Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Nov 6, 2017 • 46min
PN 58: Brett Morgen on Jane Goodall
On Twitter: @BrettMorgen @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Oct 26, 2017 • 40min
PN 57: DOC NYC Preview
FILMS DISCUSSED IN THE INTRO HIGHLIGHTING SPECIAL GUESTS AT DOC NYCStreetlight Harmonies (with Doo Wop singers from The Crystals, The Drifters, The Chantels)Soufra (with Susan Sarandon)Fail State (with Dan Rather)Maddman: The Steve Madden Story (with Steve Madden)Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fashion & Disco (with Pat Cleveland)Metropolis Competition (on New York stories)Itzhak (with Itzhak Perlman)Hello Hello Hello : Lee Ranaldo : Electric Trim (with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo)Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (with Eric Clapton)Short List sectionRisk (with Laura Poitras)Faces Places (with Agnès Varda)The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography (with Errol Morris)Wormwood (with Errol Morris) FILMS & FESTIVAL SECTIONS DISCUSSEDThe Final Year (opening night)New World Order sectionEurotrump (US premiere)Sky & Ground (world premiere)Fight the Power sectionBaltimore RisingSonic Cinema sectionDavid Bowie: The Last Five Years (US premiere)The Beatles, Hippies & Hell’s Angels (US premiere)Father’s Kingdom (world premiere)Repeat Attenders (world premiere)Centerstage sectionA Murder in Mansfield (world premiere)True Crime sectionZero Weeks VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION FILMSViewfinders PassMole Man (world premiere)The Stranger (US premiere)Naila and the Uprising (world premiere)The Judge (also discussed on PN 54)Silas (also discussed on PN 54)Love Means Zero (also discussed on PN 53)Love, CecilThis is Congo Coming up on Pure Nonfiction ep 58: a discussion of DOC NYC PRO 8-day conference.On Twitter: @Raphaellochka @1basil1 @DOCNYCfest @thompowers @PureNonfiction.Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.This episode was recorded at SVA’s MFA SocDoc department.
Oct 19, 2017 • 42min
PN 56: Agnès Varda & JR on “Faces Places”
You can find Varda’s past work on Sundance Now and Filmstruck.On Twitter: @facesplacesfilm @jrart @thompowers @purenonfictionPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Sep 6, 2017 • 49min
PN 55: Frederick Wiseman - From "Titicut Follies" to "Ex Libris”
On Twitter: @ZipporahFilms @thompowers @PureNonfictionZipporah Films website: http://www.zipporah.com.Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
Sep 1, 2017 • 32min
PN 54: TIFF 2017 Documentary Preview Part 2 of 2
The films discussed in order of mention are:Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (d. Matt Tyrnauer)Silas (d. Anjali Nayar & Hawa Essuman)The Legend of the Ugly King (d. Hüseyin Tabak)The Other Side of Everything (d. Mila Turajlic)Cocaine Prison (d. Violeta Ayala)The Judge (d. Erika Cohn)Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent (d. Sabiha Sumar)Of Sheep & Men (d. Karim Sayad)Long Time Running (d. Jennifer Baichwal & Nick de Pencier)Our People Will Be Healed (d. Alanis Obomsawin)There is a House (d. Alan Zweig)A Skin So Soft (d. Denis Côté)The Carter Effect (d. Sean Menard)Mrs. Fang (d. Wang Bing)Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle (d. Gustavo Salmerón)Makala (d. Emmanuel Gras)Faces Places (d. Agnes Varda & JR)Hear Part 1 of the TIFF Preview on episode 53.On Twitter: @thompowers @DorotaMischka @PureNonfiction @TIFF_netPure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
