film essay
Unearthing Cinema’s Lost Treasures
Mark Rappaport, whose work is currently the subject of an Anthology Film Archives series, on the joys of making video essays about classic movies.
Hamlet 2 Could Be a Cult Classic
Jesse Locke (Motorists) makes a case for the "surprisingly moving" Steve Coogan comedy.
Whiria Te Tangata – Weave Together the People
Māori producer and co-director Ainsley Gardiner on the lineage and history of her new film with Briar Grace-Smith, Cousins, now on Netflix.
Why I Stopped Making Films in the Art World
Mariam Ghani, whose striking new documentary What We Left Unfinished is out now, on what pushed her to change the kind of work she made.
Living Life for the Story
To mark the release of her fourth film, the road movie Pooling to Paradise, writer Caytha Jentis reflects on her own journey.
The Cosmic Dance
Night Drive writer and co-director Meghan Leon on her love affair with TV and movie characters who have no idea what the fuck they’re doing.
“Why Are You Making a Film About Dick Gregory?”
Andre Gaines grapples with what drove him to direct his documentary about the iconic comedian and activist, which is now airing on Showtime.
“A Universe in a Grain of Sand”: Reflections on Making Echoes of the Invisible
Steve Elkins on some of the remarkable people who didn’t make the final cut of his expansive new documentary, and the themes that underpin the film.
Buddies, Break-Ups and the Pitfalls of Autobiographical Screenwriting
Writer-director Linas Phillips, who’s currently crowdfunding his next film, Take Two, on drawing for real life for his movies.
Designing Steve
Wyatt Rockefeller on how creature builders, puppeteers and VFX artists brought Steve the robot to life in his debut feature, Settlers.
Fall and Rise
River writer-director Emily Skye on what happened when her dream film project suddenly fell apart in pre-production five years ago.
The Time in Between
Documentary filmmaker Derek Doneen, whose new series Heist hits Netflix today, on the off-camera moments that linger long in the memory.











