Reel Mental with Dr. Marcia Sirota

Dr Marcia Sirota
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Reel Mental is a podcast hosted by Dr. Marcia Sirota, a psychiatrist and cinephile. Each episode features lively discussions with directors, actors, writers, and film critics. Together, they delve into how contemporary films portray psychological issues and mental health in society, offering insightful analysis and diverse perspectives.

  1. 5d ago

    43 - Sai Karan Talwar Discusses I Am the Prize

    WRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER SAI KARAN TALWAR Sai Karan Talwar is an award-winning writer and director. Sai is currently a BAFTA Connect Member, a 2025 alumnus of the BBC Writers room - Writers’ Access Group, and 2023 Disability Belongs Entertainment Lab. His upcoming short film ‘I AM THE PRIZE’ stars Russell Tovey, it is based on the spec script he wrote with the BBC during the BBC Writers Room Programme and is set to play festivals in 2026. His Short Film debut ‘GHANIMAH’ is a BAFTA & BIFA Qualified Short Film that has been selected at just over 60 film festivals, including OSCAR-accredited festivals, with over a dozen wins and nominations; the film is about Islamic enrolment into the British Military. His second short film ‘WHAT MEN DO FOR LOVE’ is a 15-minute single-take film; the film is currently BIFA Qualified and has been selected by BAFTA and OSCAR accredited festivals, and more recently to be OSCAR Longlisted for 2026. https://saikarantalwar.com/films/iamtheprize

    43 - Sai Karan Talwar Discusses I Am the Prize

  2. 6d ago

    42 - Shane Conto Discusses The Invite

    Shane Conto (he/him) is an educator by day and a full blown cinephile who dabbles in all types of film circles the rest of the time. YouTuber, writer, and podcaster, Shane highlights his love for film amongst other hobbies (from TV, books, music, sports, and video games) through reviews, podcasts, and a variety of written projects. Running a tutoring center and teaching statistics does not stop Shane from exploring his deep passion for the arts in all the avenues that he can. thewastelandreviewer.blog  The Wasteland Reviewer (YouTube)  The Wasteland Reviewer (Instagram)

    42 - Shane Conto Discusses The Invite

  3. Aug 28

    41 - Rowan Haber Discusses We Are Pat

    Director Rowan Haber is an aesthetically-driven writer and director of narrative, documentary and commercial content. An MFA graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Rowan's work has earned recognition as a Sundance Momentum Fellow, as well as a Sundance New Frontier Lab and Art of Practice Fellow. They've also been selected for the Universal Pictures Directing Lab, AFI's Directing Workshop, Film Independent's Episodic Lab, and Outfest's Screenwriting Lab, with a shadowing stint on FX's Pose. Rowan was named to The Alice Initiative's 2018 list of directors poised to helm studio films and is featured in Indiewire's list of 8 Best Trans Directors Working Today. They have been a fellow at McDowell, Yaddo, UCross, Millay, and Marblehouse artist residencies. Their award-winning series New Deep South garnered a GLAAD nomination, while Braddock, PA (Topic) received critical praise from The New York Times and The New Yorker. Rowan's diverse body of work includes directing Stonewall Forever for Stink Studios, Celestial for Tribeca Studios x Bulgari. Rowan's documentary We Are Pat, about trans comedy and the cult SNL figure It's Pat, is (executive produced by Alan Cumming and Lilly Wachowski) premiered at Tribeca in June 2025, earning them Best New Documentary Director Special Jury Mention. The film was written up in Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, is being distributed by Tribeca Films and will be streaming this summer. They directed the finale for the Gotham and GLAAD-nominated series Pride for FX and Killer Films. Rowan is also directing the modern feminist horror Shell.ai and is attached to adapt Brontez Purnell's Whiting Award winning book Since I Laid My Burden Down into a feature film. They are part of the artist collective Talk to Me About Water, and are currently working on a 16 mm installation based project called Two Bodies with artist and friend Amelia Winger-Bearskin. They co-created and co-run the literary reading series Word Spa LA.

    41 - Rowan Haber Discusses We Are Pat

  4. Aug 19

    40 - Brian Eggert Discusses Project Hail Mary

    Brian Eggert is a Tomatometer-Approved critic who celebrates the movies you love and the hidden gems you have yet to discover. Brian writes about classic, independent, and mainstream cinema. If you're looking for new release recommendations or an appreciation of a longtime favorite, check out his in-depth essays, histories, and critical analyses on his website, Deep Focus Review. https://letterboxd.com/deepfocusreview/  https://bsky.app/profile/deepfocusreview.bsky.social Support independent critic Brian Eggert (Deep Focus Review) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/deepfocusreview

    40 - Brian Eggert Discusses Project Hail Mary

  5. Aug 13

    39 - Brian Eggert Discusses Disclosure Day

    Brian Eggert is a Tomatometer-Approved critic who celebrates the movies you love and the hidden gems you have yet to discover. Brian writes about classic, independent, and mainstream cinema. If you're looking for new release recommendations or an appreciation of a longtime favorite, check out his in-depth essays, histories, and critical analyses on his website, Deep Focus Review. https://letterboxd.com/deepfocusreview/  https://bsky.app/profile/deepfocusreview.bsky.social Support independent critic Brian Eggert (Deep Focus Review) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/deepfocusreview

    39 - Brian Eggert Discusses Disclosure Day

  6. May 21

    38 - Alex Burunova Discusses Satisfaction

    Alex Burunova grew up painting before finding her voice in filmmaking. A Los Angeles-based USC Film School alum with a background in directing theater, she's also directed award-winning shorts, episodics, and a Netflix special. Her debut feature, "Satisfaction" -shot across Greece and London-was nearly a decade in the making and premiered at SXSW. Alex's work blends bold visuals with emotionally intimate storytelling, often exploring themes of gender, identity, and female empowerment. Links:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3493734/  https://alexburunova.com/

    38 - Alex Burunova Discusses Satisfaction

  7. Mar 4

    37 - Daniel Persitz Discusses Key of Genius

    WRITER/DIRECTOR – DANIEL PERSITZ  Daniel has sold numerous scripts to studios and production companies including Lionsgate, eOne, Hasbro Studios, Dark Horse and Dimension. Three of his screenplays have been voted onto the prestigious Hollywood Black List, including the feature version of Key of Genius, co-written with David Seidler, the Oscar-winning writer of The King’s Speech.  Daniel is also an experienced producer and film executive, with credits at Robert Zemeckis’ production company and Hasbro Studios. He produced Universal’s thriller hit Ouija and worked on the Transformers and Dungeons & Dragons franchises for Paramount. Outside of film, Daniel is a violinist, regularly performing with the Santa Monica Symphony and Westside Chamber Orchestra. Key of Genius combines his two passions of film and music.

    37 - Daniel Persitz Discusses Key of Genius

  8. Jan 15

    36 - Cai Shangjun & Han Nianjin Discuss The Sun Rises On Us All

    In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I discuss the film "The Sun Rises On Us All" with writer-director Cai Shangjun and screenwriter Han Nianjin at The Toronto International Film Festival®. With special thanks to our interpreter Erika Li. CAI SHANGJUN | DIRECTOR Director, screenwriter and producer, Cai Shangjun graduated from China Central Academy of Drama in 1992. Cai’s screenplays include Spicy Love Soup (1997), Shower (1999) and Sunflower (2005). He wrote and directed The Red Awn (2007), People Mountain People Sea (2011) and The Conformist (2017). The Red Awn won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 12th Busan International Film Festival, the Golden Alexander Award for Best Film at the 48th Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the Jury Grand Prize at the 2nd Asia Pacific Screen Award. People Mountain People Sea won the Silver Lion Award for Best Director at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, the Silver Montgolfiere D’Argent Award at the Nantes Three Continents Festival, the Critics Prize at the Black Movie Film Festival, and the Grand Prix Award at the 10th Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries. The Conformist won Best Actor Award at the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival and was screened in competition at TOKYO FILMex and as a Special Screening at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival. HAN NIANJIN | SCREENWRITER  Han Nianjin graduated from the University of Munich and is a freelance writer and cinematographer. The Sun Rises on Us All is her first screenplay.

    36 - Cai Shangjun & Han Nianjin Discuss The Sun Rises On Us All
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Reel Mental is a podcast hosted by Dr. Marcia Sirota, a psychiatrist and cinephile. Each episode features lively discussions with directors, actors, writers, and film critics. Together, they delve into how contemporary films portray psychological issues and mental health in society, offering insightful analysis and diverse perspectives.

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