Cinemafile

Mike Kaspar

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FILM INTERVIEWS

Cinemafile showcases the very best in independent, documentary and foreign films through our conversations with the more than 2,000 filmmakers who made them. Through Cinemafile we will do our best to bring the most interesting and accomplished filmmakers from around the world to your attention.

1 DAY AGO

*Oscar Shortlisted- All That’s Left of You - Director Cherien Dabis

A deeply moving, multigenerational drama, ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU follows a Palestinian teenager who gets swept into a protest in the Occupied West Bank and experiences a moment of violence that rocks his family. The film unfolds as his mother recounts the political and emotional threads that led to that fateful moment. Spanning seven decades, the film traces the hopes and heartaches of one uprooted family, bearing witness to the scars of dispossession and the enduring legacy of survival. Recently submitted as Jordan’s entry for Academy Award consideration in the Best International Feature category ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU was “shortlisted”. Our conversation with director / screenwriter and co-lead actor Cherien Dabis joins us to talk about the multi-generational approach in telling the story, cast three actors from the celebrated Palestinian acting family of Saleh, Adam and Mohammad Bakri and casting herself into a pivotal role. About the filmmaker - Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian American filmmaker and actress who has established herself as a creative force across a variety of mediums. Dabis got her start with her trailblazing debut feature “Amreeka,” which she wrote and directed. Exploring the immigrant journey of a Palestinian single mom, the film had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival before going on to win the coveted FIPRESCI International Critics Prize in the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes. It won a dozen more international awards and was nominated for a Best Picture Gotham Award, three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Picture, Best First Screenplay and Best Actress, and was named one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the Year by the National Board of Review. The film landed Dabis on Variety’s “Ten Directors to Watch” list that same year.

17 min
5 DAYS AGO

Homegrown - Director Michael Premo

HOMEGROWN follows three conservative activists—a newly politicized father-to-be in New Jersey, an Air Force veteran organizing conservatives in New York City, and an activist from Texas—crisscrossing the country in the summer of 2020 campaigning for Donald Trump. When they become convinced that the election is stolen, they take their fight to the streets. The result is a chilling portrait of the growing unrest pushing American democracy to the brink. Shot across battleground communities and key flashpoints of national tension, the documentary reveals the lived experiences of people whose determination to turn their beliefs into action places them on the front lines of America’s political divide. HOMEGROWN has since garnered top honors on the global festival circuit, and was nominated for the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award, recognizing exceptional independent nonfiction filmmaking.HOMEGROWN brings raw intimacy and unprecedented access to a political moment still unfolding. About the filmmaker - Director / Producer / Cinematographer Michael Premo is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and artist. His work spans film, radio, theater, installation and photography. He directed and produced the short film and photo exhibition Water Warriors (POV). With his frequent collaborator Rachel Falcone, he co-directed the participatory documentary Sandy Storyline (Jury Award winner at the Tribeca Film Festival), co-wrote the site-specific performance Sanctuary (The Working Theater), and co-created the multi-platform exhibit 28th Amendment.

12 min
6 DAYS AGO

American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) Theatrical Sales Director Bret Berg

American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit organization devoted to the collection, preservation, and distribution of genre movies — most of them works made on the margins of the mainstream film industry — that is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The archive’s collection currently holds over 6,000 films, many of which it distributes theatrically to repertory cinemas, and AGFA makes many of its titles available to home viewers via its physical media label. More importantly, the archive applies its resources and technical expertise to vital restorations of films that might otherwise be lost; among many others, the movies of important directors like Doris Wishman and Jon Moritsugu have been restored to their original glory. AGFA also provides film scanning and restoration services. AGFA Theatrical Sales Director Bret Berg joins us to talk about his passion for overlooked and forgotten film as well as the rise of microcinemas and its potential to revitalize and energize the local film going experience by virtue smaller, neighborhood based theatrical exhibition.

27 min
6 DAYS AGO

The Forge - CEO & President Mark Sayre

Established by independent film veteran Mark Mathias Sayre, THE FORGE is a distributor and international sales agency of compelling independent films and documentaries. As CEO and founder, Sayre’s vision for The Forge extends beyond distribution. It’s about creating a conduit for films that embody authentic voices and narratives that might otherwise be overshadowed in the conventional studio system. In addition to the release of the South By Southwest Special Jury prize winning film, We Are Dangerous, The Forge has also distributed a string of other award winning films that include Sujo, The Resynator and Back Dog. Coming out in January of 2026 is Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut feature film, The Chronology of Water, starring Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp and Jim Belushi. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section of the prestigious festival. Mark Sayre joins us for a wide ranging conversation on the current state of film distribution and the importance of The Forge’s vision that goes beyond limited screenings to a more engaging release strategy, starting with premieres in major U.S. cities and followed by wider distribution. His approach is indicative of a deeper commitment to not only promoting films but also nurturing a symbiotic relationship with filmmakers.

47 min
31/12/2025

*Oscar Winner - FLOW - Director & Co-writer Gints Zilbalodis

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart. About the filmmaker - Director, Co-Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor and Art Director Gints Zilbalodis is a Latvian filmmaker and animator. His debut feature film Away which he made entirely by himself won the Best Feature Film Contrechamp Award in Annecy. It has been selected in more than 90 festivals and sold in 18 territories. His fascination for filmmaking began at an early age watching classic films and making shorts. Prior to Away he made 7 short films invarious mediums including hand-drawn animation, 3D animation and live-action and often mixing their characteristic aesthetics. Flow is his second animated feature film, having its World premiere at the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes.

19 min
31/12/2025

*Best of 2025 - Sky Peals - Director / Writer Moin Hussain

This haunting and beautifully calibrated first feature, Sky Peals, from director / writer Moin Hussain is set in an eerie petrol station. It follows Adam, a night-shift worker who is plagued with strange visions and blackouts as he becomes increasingly convinced he is descended from someone from outer space. In his mid-thirties, Adam works at a burger restaurant in a motorway service station, living a small and lonely life of isolation. When his estranged father, who had recently been trying to contact him, suddenly dies, Adam attempts to piece together a picture of a man he never knew. His uncle reveals that his father believed he was 'sent here from somewhere else'. As Adam experiences strange blackout episodes and struggles with communication and connection, he begins to question if his father was indeed from another place, and if so, what that means for him. About the filmmaker - Moin Hussain studied cinema and photography at Leeds University and has since made short films, including Real Gods Require Blood and Naphtha, both of which were screened in Critics’ Week at the Cannes film festival. In 2018, he was named one of Screen International magazine’s Stars of Tomorrow.

18 min
30/12/2025

The Hemingway - Co-directors Patrick Sean O’Brien & Evan Mathis

Patrick lives with ALS, and faces extraordinary challenges with simple, everyday tasks. But inside his head, a running internal monologue offers wry observations on life's absurdities during his most intimate moments. Through Patrick's uncensored thoughts, the film navigates the complexities of relationships in a world where his body no longer does what his brain says it should do. Balancing dark humor with raw honesty, it reveals an unfiltered perspective on living with ALS—one that's both heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny. Director Evan Mathis joins us for a conversation on working with his friend and colleague, Patrick Sean O’Brien, and the collaboration with a cadre of artist and friends to make this compelling and creative film. About the filmmaker - Patrick Sean O'Brien is a fearless and relentlessly inspiring filmmaker who has transformed his battle with ALS into a quarter century long, raw, and unexpectedly life-affirming creative exploration, culminating in his acclaimed documentary TransFatty Lives. A film school graduate whose early work already showcased his boundary-pushing vision, Patrick refused to let complete paralysis silence him. Instead, he is still directing his deeply personal story capturing the humor, pain, and surprising beauty of his experience. About the filmmaker - Evan Mathis is a three-time Emmy-winning director and creative whose work has been recognized by One Show,Clios, Promax BDA, and the Television Academy. He has served on judging panels for Promax BDA, The Television Academy, and SXSW Interactive, and his work has been featured in Adweek, Ad Age, Variety, and Sports Illustrated. Evan has spoken at design conferences worldwide and collaborates with leading companies across the globe.

14 min
30/12/2025

Armand - Director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel & Lead Actor Renate Reinsve

When defamed actress Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve) is abruptly called into a parent-teacher meeting after hours, she is presented with scathing allegations that trigger a tangled web of accusations between parents and faculty. As Elisabeth struggles to uncover the truth amid the empty school rooms and dark corridors, a chaotic fight for redemption arises where desire, madness and obsession prevail. About the filmmaker - Lead actor / Executive Producer Renate Reinsve made her huge breakout with the role of Julie in the critically acclaimed film THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD. The film premiered in the main competition at Cannes in 2021, and Renate won the award for Best Actress. The film was later nominated for two Oscars, and two BAFTAs, one of which was for Best Female Lead. The Norwegian actress’s performances has received universal acclaim, as critics commend her natural charisma, emotional depth, and captivating presence on screen. Some of her recent projects releasing this year includes; A DIFFERENT MAN (2024) and HANDLING THE UNDEAD (2024), as well as the upcoming Apple+ series PRESUMED INNOCENT (2024) and the highly anticipated ARMAND (2024), which debuted at the 2024 UnCertain Regard at Cannes. About the filmmaker - Director / Writer Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel studied directing at Westerdals School of Arts. He made his debut with the short film BIRD HEARTS (2015), which premiered in Karlovy Vary and won the ‘Golden Chair’ award at the Grimstad Short Film Festival in 2016. It was nominated for an Amanda award, and was selected on Cineuropa's list of the best European short films that year. In 2017, he made the short film FANNY , which premiered in Aspen and was also nominated for an Amanda award, as well as making the same list of Europe's best short films. Both films have been screened at festivals around the world. In 2024 his debut feature ARMAND, starring Renate Reinsve and Ellen Dorrit Petersen, premiered in Un Certain Regard in Cannes.

18 min

Cinemafile showcases the very best in independent, documentary and foreign films through our conversations with the more than 2,000 filmmakers who made them. Through Cinemafile we will do our best to bring the most interesting and accomplished filmmakers from around the world to your attention.

Creator

Mike Kaspar
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

131
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 Mike Kaspar
Show Website

Cinemafile