film essay

Director Tony Palmer discusses the dramatic history behind the making, unmaking and restoring of his film Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire.

Dana Michelle Cook explains how an incident at a girls beauty pageant sparked the decision to transform her life and the work she was making.

Allison Anders counts the ways in which she's head over heels about Anna Biller's sumptuous supernatural melodrama.

On the first anniversary of Bowie's death, Steve Lippman opens up his 2003 diaries to recall an indelible creative collaboration with the singer.

Matthew Wilder explains why his favorite cinematic genre — difficult movies — are both so gratifying and so hugely misunderstood.

Blair Witch Project director Daniel Myrick, currently crowdfunding his next movie, on harnessing technology to win your creative freedom.

Eric Juhola, director of Growing Up Coy, on the need to focus on the human story behind the headlines in social issue documentaries.

This piece of history, courtesy of producer Mark Saunders, was trapped on an old iPod — until now. Bowie spoofs Tom Waits, Lou Reed and other icons.

Alex Ross Perry on Nicolas Winding Refn's masterpiece, and what it bombing at the box office says about the state of independent film.

Screenwriter Eric Heisserer shares notes and extracts from early drafts as he breaks down how he adapted Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life."

Screenwriter Luke Davies on how his past as a novelist and poet informed the way he approached telling the heartwarming true story of Saroo Brierley.

Nicolas Boukhrief, director of Made in France, shares the advice given to him by the late auteur when he worked with him in the '80s.