Sean Kelly on Movies Podcast

Sean Kelly on Movies

The ultimate destination for film fans. The Sean Kelly on Movies master feed combines every episode from across our network into one stream. From in-depth filmmaker interviews and critical reviews to Oscar recaps and convention floor coverage, this is the complete archive of everything we produce.

  1. Inside Hot Docs 2026: Lead Programmer Gabor Pertic on This Year's Lineup

    Apr 22

    Inside Hot Docs 2026: Lead Programmer Gabor Pertic on This Year's Lineup

    Gabor Pertic talks about becoming the lead programmer of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and what films he is most excited about from the 2026 line-up. ✨ KEY MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO: 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Gabor Pertic on Becoming Lead Programmer 00:50 Is There Any Film Gabor Pertic is Particularly Proud Of? 01:01 What Gabor Pertic is Really Excited About 01:14 End Screen

    2 min
  2. 20 Years of Canadian Film Fest! Red Carpet Interviews with Bern Euler & Ashleigh Rains

    Mar 28

    20 Years of Canadian Film Fest! Red Carpet Interviews with Bern Euler & Ashleigh Rains

    "Eyeballs Up!" 👁️👆 We are celebrating a massive milestone: the 20th Anniversary of the Canadian Film Fest! I caught up with Founder & Executive Director Bern Euler and Festival Director Ashleigh Rains right on the Opening Night red carpet. Amidst the premiere buzz at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, we discussed this year's incredible lineup and the meaning behind the "Eyeballs Up" slogan.The Highlight: I surprised them both on the carpet by revealing that my pull-quote from last year’s coverage made it onto the official physical release of Vampire Zombies from Space! 🛸🧛‍♂️Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Bern Euler on 20 Years of the Canadian Film Fest1:03 Ashleigh Rains on This Year's Line-Up1:30 Bern Euler on the Challenges of Choosing Films2:16 Ashleigh Rains on "Eyeballs Up"2:56 Thanking CFF for my Vampire Zombies from Space! Blu-ray Quote4:16 Eyeballs Up End Screen

    5 min
  3. Director Adam MacDonald Discusses "This Is Not A Test"

    Feb 27

    Director Adam MacDonald Discusses "This Is Not A Test"

    We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27. We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression. Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel 01:27 Why a Zombie Film? 02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma 03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health) 03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric 05:51 Why the High School Setting Works 06:56 Where are the Adults? 08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers) 09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project 09:50 Is a Sequel Possible? 10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up 11:26 End Screen

    12 min
  4. Caleb Landry Jones on the Humanity of Luc Besson's Dracula

    Feb 6

    Caleb Landry Jones on the Humanity of Luc Besson's Dracula

    Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and eternal love. We explore the technical "madness" of the role and what it’s like to serve as a muse for one of cinema's most visionary directors. Key Takeaways: The Man vs. The Monster: How Jones balanced the predatory nature of a vampire with a deeply human emotional core. Inspiration vs. Originality: Whether previous screen depictions of the Count influenced this 2026 version. Directorial Vision: Behind-the-scenes insights into working with Luc Besson on this operatic reimagining. Resources Mentioned: Read Sean’s Full Review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/dracula-2026 Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osu05kOG9mw Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction and Context 0:41 – Caleb Landry Jones: Balancing the Man vs. the Vampire 2:12 – How this adaptation differs from previous screen versions 3:04 – The singular "moment" that defined the character for Caleb 4:19 – Wrap-Up Note to Listeners: This episode is a professional analysis of the film's artistry and performances. Sean Kelly on Movies does not condone the allegations against the film's director but remains committed to covering the significant work of the cast and crew.

    5 min
  5. Honey Bunch: Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli, Grace Glowicki & Ben Petrie

    Jan 23

    Honey Bunch: Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli, Grace Glowicki & Ben Petrie

    EPISODE SUMMARY: Honey Bunch is finally here! To celebrate the nationwide theatrical release, Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews brings you a deep-dive conversation recorded just before the film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (#TIFF50). WHERE TO WATCH: In Canada: Honey Bunch opens in cinemas nationwide via Elevation Pics starting Friday, January 23, 2026. International: The film will begin streaming on Shudder starting February 13, 2026. THE INTERVIEW: In this episode, we go inside the making of this cinematic journey with the creative team that brought it to life. First, Sean sits down with the visionary writer-director duo Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli to discuss their unique filmmaking process. Then, we are joined by the film’s stars—and real-life couple—Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie for a look at their collaboration on and off screen and how they navigated the complex psychology of their characters. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Subscribe: Never miss an episode by following Sean Kelly on Movies Interviews on your favourite podcast app. Social Media: Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter @skonmovies for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes clips.

    14 min
  6. On the Red Carpet at BITS 2025: Filmmakers, Directors, and Nash the Slash Rises Again!

    11/27/2025

    On the Red Carpet at BITS 2025: Filmmakers, Directors, and Nash the Slash Rises Again!

    We hit the red carpet at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival, catching up with filmmakers from the festival’s short film programs, festival director Kelly Michael Stewart, and the team behind the documentary Nash the Slash Rises Again! BITS 2025 Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Andrew G. Cooper on Strangers 02:23 Prasanna Paul & Gavin Downes on Sanctorum 04:23 Shelly Findlay on Donations 06:47 Juan Francisco Calero on Petit Demons 08:49 Lulu Liu & D'Arcy Quan-McGimpsey on Cherry on Top 12:24 Zach Green on cancer szn 14:30 Blood in the Snow Festival Director Kelly Michael Stewart 17:02 Tim Kowalski & Kevan Byrne on Nash The Slash Rises Again! 21:42 Closing Bumper Music Attribution Opening Bumper: Hero In Peril by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

    22 min
  7. Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm & Alex Lee Williams on the LOVECRAFTIAN found footage DREAM EATER

    10/25/2025

    Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm & Alex Lee Williams on the LOVECRAFTIAN found footage DREAM EATER

    While in Toronto to promote the release of Dream Eater, writer/director/stars Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams joined us to talk about their Lovecraftian found footage horror film. In this interview, they discuss the film’s influences — from The Blair Witch Project to Unsolved Mysteries — and share how the project was picked up for distribution by Eli Roth’s The Horror Section. Dream Eater Interview Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Where did the idea for Dream Eater come from? 01:46 Was Dream Eater Always Intended as a Found Footage Film? 03:46 How Dream Eater Was Influenced by Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project 05:11 Alex Lee Williams on Why He and Mallory Drumm Acted in the Film 05:49 The Lovecraftian Inspiration for Dream Eater 06:57 Unresolved Mysteries and the Sleepwalker Killing 07:44 How Eli Roth Picked up the Distribution for Dream Eater 09:23 The Growing Influence of Social Media on Film Promotion 10:38 Conclusions

    11 min
  8. Getting SCARED SHITLESS with Vivieno Caldinelli, Brandon Cohen, and Mark McKinney

    09/02/2025

    Getting SCARED SHITLESS with Vivieno Caldinelli, Brandon Cohen, and Mark McKinney

    The horror-comedy Scared Shitless arrives on VOD September 2, 2025, ahead of its U.S. release on October 3. During a special Fan Expo Canada screening, we spoke with writer/producer Brandon Cohen, director Vivieno Caldinelli, and Kids in the Hall’s Mark McKinney about bringing this outrageous film to life. 00:00 Titles 00:13 Introduction 00:54 Brandon Cohen on Writing the Original Short for Scared Shitless 01:37 Vivieno Caldinelli on Getting Hired to Direct Scared Shitless 03:10 Vivieno Caldinelli on Collaborating with Steven Kostanski 03:59 The Casting of Scared Shitless 04:42 Mark McKinney Invited to Join the Interview 04:56 Mark McKinney on the Character He Plays in Scared Shitless 05:31 The Influences on Scared Shitless 06:50 The Practical Effects of Scared Shitless 07:23 Will There Be a Sequel to Scared Shitless? 08:11 Concluding Notes Scared Shitless Interview Timecodes

    9 min
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The ultimate destination for film fans. The Sean Kelly on Movies master feed combines every episode from across our network into one stream. From in-depth filmmaker interviews and critical reviews to Oscar recaps and convention floor coverage, this is the complete archive of everything we produce.

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