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Benjamin Duchek
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A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

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  1. 1 day ago

    Will Niava of JAZZ INFERNAL (2025)

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Director Will Niava's film, JAZZ INFERNAL (2025), is showing on July 23rd at the Future of Film Showcase in Toronto. If you're reading this before the date and can go, what are you waiting for? Buy tickets! It's that incredible, one of the best films I've seen all year. It won a Short Film Jury Award at Sundance last year and very deservedly so. Will is an Ivorian-Ghanaian film director and screenwriter based in Montreal, Quebec. And think about that sentence for a moment: there's few like it in the English language that conjures up that many cultural influences in 13 words. And the best way to describe Will's films is that he brings all of those together into pure artistry. If the interview feels short, blame me. The Future of Film press person asked, will 20 minutes be fine, and I stupidly said yes and regretted the decision fifteen seconds into the interview. On your next film, Will, I won't make that mistake again, trust me. In this episode, Will and I talk about: how he describes his award-winning Sundance film;its evolution from a lighthearted comedy to a love letter for his father;if the prestigious awards it earned changes his mind about making a short;how he got started in filmmaking;the concept of taste versus talent;what's next for him. Will's Indie Film/Filmmaker Highlight: PARADISE (2025) dir. by Jérémy Comte; MY FATHER'S SHADOW (2025) dir. by Akinola Davies Jr; Harley Francis; Zion Saffer; Samuel Caron Memorable Quotes: "[My wife told me] you have to talk about your grief. And my grief felt personal." " This is what a short film has done for me, so I can never recommend against it." Links: Follow Will On Instagram Buy Tickets For JAZZ INFERNAL at The Future Of Film Showcase

    Will Niava of JAZZ INFERNAL (2025)

  2. 2 days ago

    Hazel McKibbin Of LAST MAN UP (2026)

    My guest, Hazel McKibbin, directs films that make top festivals. She edits films that make top festivals. And she makes commercials for brands at the Met Gala. And yet: Here's Hazel taking on a project about masculinity called LAST MAN UP (2026). Last episode, I praised writer and actor Robert R. Palmer for offering Hazel the opportunity to direct his project, so she deserves equal credit for taking it on. I could see a lesser director -- a lesser person -- saying no, but as she talks about in the episode, she saw it as an opportunity to expand her skillset. To say I wish there were more directors like Hazel is a bit of a non-descriptive statement: of course. What I mean by that is let's celebrate risk takers who leave their comfort zone of the material they are used to and take on somebody's project, or do something different. And if you're as talented as Hazel is, it'll work out beautifully. Hazel and I talk about: how she describes the film;why she decided to take on a story like this with a background in films "with a feminist lens";the reaction of other people when she took on this project;her entry into filmmaking and if starting out as an editor helps;the conversations she has with a director as an editor and vice versa now that she's directed several films;the increase in projects she's directed that were written by actors;what her wishes are for short films;why film school and why Columbia?her amazing Sundance experience;what's next for her. Hazel's Indie Film/Filmmaker Highlight: AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (1966) dir. by Robert Bresson; Joanna Hogg Memorable Quotes: "It's a story about what it means to be the man of the house." " If you just leave it to an editor, and they fix it before they give it to you, I feel like you're missing an opportunity to to learn as a director." "I think actors as writers, they are so good at dialogue." " One of the things that especially I tell my students, [short films are] unity of time, place, and action." " Between commercials and narrative, there's not a lot of crossover." " I submitted it because you submit your first film to Sundance, you just do." Links: Follow Hazel On Instagram Watch DOUBLESPEAK (2021)

    Hazel McKibbin Of LAST MAN UP (2026)

  3. 3 days ago

    Indie Film Highlight: LEFT-HANDED GIRL (2025)

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: LEFT-HANDED GIRL (2025) Director: Shih-Ching Tsou Writers: Shih-Ching Tsou; Sean Baker Stars: Janel Tsai; Shih-Yuan Ma; Nina Ye SYNOPSIS After a single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei to start anew, their fragile family dynamic is tested by debt and a dying patriarch. But when the traditional grandfather strictly forbids the youngest, left-handed granddaughter from using her 'devil hand,' generations of deep-seated family secrets begin to unravel. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Instagram Follow us on X Follow us on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on LinkedIn

    Indie Film Highlight: LEFT-HANDED GIRL (2025)

  4. 5 days ago

    Actor/Writer Robert R. Palmer Of LAST MAN UP (2026)

    This is a director's podcast, but the truth is I don't talk with enough actors on here about the struggle they face in indie film. It offers a different lens on how difficult it is to get things made. That's why I'm so happy to be joined by Robert R. Palmer, actor/writer in the film LAST MAN UP (2026), which premiered at the Palm Springs International ShortFest. When we talked about the plight of actors, and I went through the ways especially an LA-based person had to get ahead -- influencing; writing your own script for a great role; other social media activities -- the difficult challenge for actors right now is getting ahead....by actually acting! So Robert did something creative: he wrote a project that he could star in and then reached out to an ultra-talented director named Hazel McKibbin. (I'll talk to Hazel next episode.) It's both a show of humility and genius, and I cannot wait for you to hear his story. Robert and I talk about: how he describes the film;what it's like writing a role that you know -- as an actor -- you'll play;taking a story about masculinity and pitching it to a director who sees things through a feminist lens;how he got involved in filmmaking and how he wrote this project to get to the level of work he wanted to be at;what life is like as a young actor in LA;working with the director for the film and what he wishes directors knew about the acting life;what's next for him and why you should hire him for your next project. Memorable Quotes: "It's a tragedy, but a fun tragedy." On masculinity and feminism: " they're two sides of the same coin"; "I'm an actor, first and foremost." " Being a young actor in LA, it's a grind. It's a hustle." "Actors want to be left alone." Links: Follow Robert On Instagram

    Actor/Writer Robert R. Palmer Of LAST MAN UP (2026)

  5. 14 Jul

    Daniel Bogran Of THE KILLING MOON (2025)

    Director Daniel Bogran made a film that could be spoiled with just a few words and it would change the entire dynamic of how you watch it. So I'm not going to do that. But the "how" behind him filming THE KILLING MOON ("A wealthy couple's lake vacation takes a sinister, seductive turn when an attractive stranger shows up wounded at their door") is definitely worth a conversation. It had its international premiere at Raindance in London this year. So is his short film LOW (2019), now streaming on YouTube. You'll see a few familiar actors on LOW, and how he was able to keep his crew together for over 6 years is certainly something we talk about. New Orleans, tropes in films like this, we talk about it all with Daniel for the pod. In this episode, Daniel and I discuss: how to prevent spoilers for a film with a big twist and the process of writing it;how he got into filmmaking through editing -- and New Orleans;what was the best way to stay in touch with a team as he moved from different projects seven years apart;how he stuck with this film even when producers wanted to put in other directors;are producers that blunt about taking a writer off their project?why Raindance and the social media plan for the film;thoughts on release strategy after a viral YouTube hit;the stereotypes of New Orleans;turning tropes on their head in a film and using misdirection;what the reaction to his film has been. Daniel's Indie Film Highlight: FALCON LAKE (2022) dir. by Charlotte Le Bon Memorable Quotes: "[Editing] is something that's ... completely unique to filmmaking. Every other part of filmmaking comes from something else." " I think a lot of it is just developing almost like a secondhand language." " I personally like cliches and tropes because they are very potent. They have a lot of power in them and a lot of expectation that's built into them." Links: Follow THE KILLING MOON On Instagram

    Daniel Bogran Of THE KILLING MOON (2025)

  6. 10 Jul

    Benny Chen Of HAND (2026)

    How many Gen Z filmmakers say, nah, the story I'm feeling is a middle aged undocumented Chinese immigrant cook worried about survival in America. And it's 23 minutes long. You'll hear in almost every professional film course or, ahem, podcast, short films are hard to make or make your film shorter for festivals. And that advice is right, of course. It's great advice. But it doesn't even begin to speak to what makes art and a singular vision special, and for my guest today, Taiwanese-American filmmaker Benny Chen, his vision is HAND (2026), which premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival this year, and I'm here for it. Here for what's great about filmmakers like Benny. Understand the advice, and then if your vision calls for it, break it. It's the only way we got somewhere closer to the Holy Grail of independent filmmaking: authenticity. And that alone is the advice that can never be sacrificed. In this episode, Benny and I discuss: what it was like seeing HAND in a theater -- props to the Cleveland International Film Festival;his journey from Taiwan to filmmaking;what he means by finding the balance between Eastern and Western cinema;if he feels HAND connects the two and how he describes the film;the run time of 23 minutes;casting middle aged people as a young filmmaker;the benefits of making a short film for his team;what's next for him and what does being a Taiwanese-American filmmaker mean to him. Benny's Indie Film Highlight: WE WERE HERE (2026) dir. by Pranav Bhasin Links: Follow Benny On Instagram

    Benny Chen Of HAND (2026)

  7. 7 Jul

    Third Anniversary Pod: Gar O'Rourke Of THE SIEGE OF PARADISE (2026)

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Happy third anniversary to the pod and I'm so happy to be spending it with Irish filmmaker -- and award-winning ad maker -- Gar O'Rourke. When people ask about the podcast, the usual first question is, what are your favorite episodes? And I respond with, well, they are all my favorites. It's true. I wouldn't publish something if I wasn't proud of it, and mainly because of audio or other host-related failures, there's been a handful you'll never get to hear. But it's also a bit of a dodge because I know what they are asking and of course I have favorite episodes. I can tell it as soon as we stop recording, and I'm guessing you can tell it, too. The anniversary episode always gets one of those. Gar's latest film, THE SIEGE OF PARADISE (2026) had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, and knowingly reaches for a higher form of filmmaking. A lesser director would have taken the subject of Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera and made it into something mocking influencers and tourists in favor of the aphoristic locals. Gar is one of the best directors in independent film, so we don't have that problem here. What he gives you is a measured, gorgeously shot take on what it means to live in a place like Cinque Terre, either as a tourist or a local; it's a deeply moving film. It's screening in Galway soon for its Irish debut -- check it out if you can there -- or just look for Gar at a festival near you. Whether it's him or another Irish filmmaker, I promise it's the best way to spend your time. In this episode, Gar and I talk about: do Irish people want to hang around other Irish people at film festivals?!;his start in filmmaking;how his brand work (after we recorded this, his ad won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2026) influences his filmmaking;THE SIEGE OF PARADISE;if he knew going in he would take such a balanced approach to the relationship between tourism and locals;if he screened the film for its subjects;what a documentary filmmaker owes his subjects;the absolute stunning shots in this film and where they came from (no drone footage!);what does Screen Ireland do right that other countries could follow (other than more funding);how he knows it's going to be a good festival experience -- or not;what's next for him. Memorable Quotes: " Irish people are the best people to hang out with at film festivals, or most dangerous people to hang out with at film festivals." "THE SIEGE OF PARADISE is like a holiday fever dream." " My life is probably the worst example to follow if you want to be a filmmaker." " I always had this helicopter intro that I wanted to do with the mayor." " In Ireland, it begins with the attitude around film. It begins with the attitude around this is something valuable." " Success in a European mind is...prestige or it's getting a great festival life. It doesn't need to have as much commercial and profit incentive." Links: Follow Gar On Instagram Watch THE PUB THAT REFUSED TO DIE Second Anniversary Pod: Nathaniel Lezra

    Third Anniversary Pod: Gar O'Rourke Of THE SIEGE OF PARADISE (2026)

  8. 28 Jun

    Indie Film Highlight: PAYING FOR IT (2024)

    Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: PAYING FOR IT (2024) Director: Sook-Yin Lee Story by: Chester Brown Stars: Emily Lê; Andrea Werhun; Dan Beirne SYNOPSIS When an introverted cartoonist's girlfriend wants to redefine their relationship, he begins sleeping with sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy in the process. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Instagram Follow us on X Follow us on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on LinkedIn

    Indie Film Highlight: PAYING FOR IT (2024)
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About

A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

Information

  • Creator
    Benjamin Duchek
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    176
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Benjamin Duchek 2023
  • Show Website
    First Time Go
  • Provider