film essay

Matthew Shear’s path to directing his first feature, Fantasy Life, through the lens of his favorite TV show, Battlestar Galactica.

Petra Volpe, whose new feature Late Shift opens tomorrow, on how her Italian grandmother set her on the path to becoming a filmmaker.

Writer-director Cinqué Lee reveals the deeply personal story that inspired his new film, the coming-of-age survival drama Last Ride.

Amandine Thomas, writer-director of the Sundance 2026 short Albatross, on how her superpower of learning has got her to where she is now.

Director Marcie Hume on how she responded to her subject's attacks on her new documentary, Corey Feldman Vs. the World.

Filmmaker Beth Harrington on almost 50 years of friendship with David Greenberger, the subject of her SXSW doc Beyond the Duplex Planet.

Alex Thompson on Steven Soderbergh’s twin masterpieces, his joint top choices in Talkhouse’s recent best-of-the-century poll.

Dolly director Rod Blackhurst on the deeply meaningful process of building an ever-growing team of collaborators around him.

Alison McAlpine, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary short perfectly a strangeness, on pushing the boundaries of narrative.

Comedian Mary Houlihan, whose The Mary Houlihan Show is now streaming, on her experiences rewriting Thoreau.

David Moscow traces his journey from child actor to producer to the host of the new Peacock food show From Scratch.

Documentary filmmaker Rachel Elizabeth Seed shares post-Sundance reflections after the festival’s last ever edition in Park City.