Our Emmy contender conversations conclude with a look at three stand out biographies. Host Thom Powers interviews these directors: R.J. Cutler on "Martha" (Netflix) David Gelb with cinematographer Adam Bricker on "Chef's Table: Legends" (Netflix) Laurent Bouzereau on "Music By John Williams" (Disney+) Recorded live in Los Angeles at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Jun 13, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 226
Thom Powers hosts conversations on three Emmy contenders: "Will & Harper" (Netflix) with participant Harper Steele "Social Studies" (FX) with director Lauren Greenfield and participants Sydney Shear, Dominic Brown, Jonathan Gelfond "Chimp Crazy" (HBO) with director Eric Goode and executive producer Jeremy McBride Recorded live in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025 at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @t...
Jun 12, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 225
Recorded live in New York City, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the filmmakers behind four Emmy contenders: Michelle Khare of "Challenge Accepted" (YouTube) Lance Oppenheim of "Ren Faire" (Max) Liz Garbus of "Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer" (Netflix) "The Fall of Diddy" (ID) team of Mary Robertson, Emma Schwartz, Yoruba Richen Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 10Ep. 224
Live from New York City, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the directors behind several projects contending for Emmy nominations: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson on "Ladies and Gentlemen...50 Years of SNL Music" from Peacock; and "Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" from Hulu Reginald Hudlin on "Number One on the Call Sheet" from Apple TV+ David Tedeschi on "Beatles ‘64" from Disney+ Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 10Ep. 223
Kenya's Sam Soko is a prominent figure in the rising wave of African documentary. He won international attention for his films Softie and Free Money at Sundance, TIFF and elsewhere. In this interview recorded at CPH:DOX, he explains there's a new crisis for African documentary. Cutbacks at USAID have hurt filmmakers who relied on NGOs for work. Whether or not you've seen Sam's films, this conversation evokes a critical moment for global storytelling. Titles mentioned in his conversation include:...
May 08, 2025•42 min•Season 10Ep. 222
"Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story" profiles the Irish novelist who broke taboos both in her writing and her personal life. Her early novels were denounced by the Catholic Church and banned by the Irish Censor Board. This stunning film puts her legacy into a new perspective. "Blue Road" premiered at TIFF and is now playing in theaters in Ireland and the UK, but hasn't yet found U.S. distribution. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Sinead O'Shea whose previous films include "Pra...
Apr 17, 2025•44 min•Season 10Ep. 221
“Secret Mall Apartment” tells the story of a group of artists who found a hidden space a Rhode Island mega mall that they occupied for four years while evading security. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Jeremy Workman about how he convinced the artists to tell their story after they had turned down other documentary makers for over 15 years. He also discusses his day job editing movie trailers; and what he learned from his father, the filmmaker Chuck Workman. Subscribe to our Substack...
Mar 27, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 220
Frederick Wiseman: An American Institution is the title of a career retrospective currently running at New York's Film at Lincoln Center through March 5. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Wiseman at age 95 about how he maintained his independence for over five decades. They discuss a range of topics including what's happening with his 2005 documentary "The Garden" that was never released. Hear our previous interview with Wiseman on episode 55 . You can also find his films on Kanopy . S...
Feb 14, 2025•39 min•Season 10Ep. 219
Four interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: supervising editor David Teague and animator Renata Galindo on FRIDA; co-director Angela Patton on DAUGHTERS; producer Rafael Marmor on WILL & HARPER; director Shiori Ito on BLACK BOX DIARIES. Recorded live in New York City on January 5, 2025 at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler, and moderated by Thom Powers. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenon...
Jan 09, 2025•52 min•Season 10Ep. 218
Three interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: Stephen Maing and Brett Story on UNION; Laurie Anderson and Gary Hustwit on ENO; Slava Leontyev, Paula Dupre' Pesman, and Joe Berlinger on PORCELAIN WAR. Recorded live in New York City on January 5, 2025 at Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler, and moderated by Thom Powers. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Jan 08, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 217
"Queendom" profiles the non-binary Russian performance artist Jenna Marvin. We watch her challenge Russia's repressive laws against the LGBTQ+ community and protest the country's war on Ukraine, putting herself at great risk. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Agniia Galdanova and producer Igor Myakotin about what motivated them on this project despite the inherent dangers. "Queendom" is on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature and available on video on demand. Subscribe...
Jan 07, 2025•39 min•Season 10Ep. 216
After Afghanistan experienced a change of power in 2021, Egyptian filmmaker Ibrahim Nash'at embedded himself in the country and documented how the Taliban took control of over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Ibrahim about the making of "Hollywoodgate," how he coped with risk, the role of his mentors Talal Derki and Jess Search, and why he embraced therapy in the process. "Hollywoodgate" is on the Oscars Shortlist for documentary feature. W...
Jan 06, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 215
Adam Kinzinger was the first Republican Congressman to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump after the Jan 6 insurrection. That caught the attention of the Hollywood comedy writer and director Steve Pink ("Hot Tub Time Machine"). Although Pink is liberal and Kinzinger is conservative they shared a sense of humor and an opposition to Trump. "The Last Republican" follows Kinzinger over a year as he served on the Congressional committee to investigate Jan 6. The film is opening at New York's Fil...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Season 10Ep. 214
"The Bibi Files" looks at the corruption case against Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing upon a vast trove of leaked interrogation footage. Netanyahu went to court trying to block the film from being shown, but that motion failed. Producer Alex Gibney and director Alexis Bloom discuss the challenges they faced in getting the film made and seen. Watch the film on Jolt . Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Dec 31, 2024•46 min•Season 9Ep. 213
William Kentridge is well-known in the world of museums and galleries. Now he brings together all of his artistic disciplines - drawing, animation, sculpture and performance - to create the 9-part film essay "Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot" streaming on Mubi . If you're a stranger to his work, see 10 Works to Know by William Kentridge from the Royal Academy of Art. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Kentridge about creativity, therapy, optimism and his collaboration with the esteemed edi...
Dec 10, 2024•34 min•Season 9Ep. 212
Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the directors of four films in the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler. Follow the links below to see the film trailers: Director Daniela Volker on The Commandant's Shadow Director Hasan Oswald on Mediha Director Vanessa Hope on Invisible Nation Director Jeff Zimbalist and producer Tamir Ardon on Skywalkers: A Love Story Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 9Ep. 211
Brian Eno and filmmaker Gary Hustwit discuss their film "Eno"; and director Benjamin Ree talks about "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers. Both interviews were recorded in front of a live audience at the inaugural London edition of Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Dec 04, 2024•39 min•Season 9Ep. 210
"Ernest Cole: Lost and Found" explores the legacy of the photographer who covered apartheid in the 1960s from the perspective of a Black South African. Cole was driven into exile in the U.S. and Europe. He died in obscurity in 1990, but he left behind a secret archive of over 60,000 negatives shot in exile that were recently discovered. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Raoul Peck ("I Am Not Your Negro") about this new film. He also previews two more works coming next year on ...
Nov 27, 2024•39 min•Season 9Ep. 209
Jazz musicians, CIA operatives, and African revolutionaries are among the many figures who populate "Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat" that win a Sundance jury award for Cinematic Innovation. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Johan Grimonprez in front of a live audience at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Nov 21, 2024•54 min•Season 9Ep. 208
Our third episode recorded live in Los Angeles for Documentary Spotlight, co-presented by The Ankler, features: - "Frida" director Carla Gutierrez and composer Victor Hernandez Stumpfhauser (Amazon) - "I Am: Celine Dion" director Irene Taylor with rare disease specialist Dr. Paula Barreras (Amazon) - "Daughters" co-director Natalie Rae (Netflix) Interviewed by Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Nov 14, 2024•44 min•Season 9Ep. 207
We look at two new documentaries from directors who also work in comedy. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Steve Pink ("Hot Tub Time Machine") whose documentary debut "The Last Republican" profiles Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the January 6th insurrection. The second interview is with Josh Greenbaum ("Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar") whose new film "Will & Harper" profiles Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as they take a cross country ...
Nov 08, 2024•28 min•Season 9Ep. 206
Our latest Documentary Spotlight event took place in October, co-presented by The Ankler in Los Angeles. On this episode, we hear selections from the following conversations hosted by Thom Powers: - "Sugarcane" directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie explore how indigenous communities in Canada investigate the legacy of abuse in Catholic residential schools. The film won the Sundance Documentary Directing Prize. - "Porcelain War" co-director Brendan Bellomo describes profiling three Ukr...
Oct 31, 2024•48 min•Season 9Ep. 205
Shiori Ito shocked Japan in 2017 when she publicly accused a prominent journalist with close ties to the Prime Minister of raping her. Both the police and her family tried to dissuade her from pursuing the case. She felt like there was a "black box" of cover up. She broke the silence and stigma, first by writing a memoir and now directing the film "Black Box Diaries" about her experiences trying to speak her truth, despite enormous backlash and death threats. The film premiered at the Sundance F...
Oct 24, 2024•39 min•Season 9Ep. 204
"Nocturnes" won a Sundance special jury prize for cinematic craft. In the film, set in the mountainous forest on the border of India and Bhutan, we follow the scientist Mansi who works at night projecting light onto a sheet where countless species of colorful moths gather. The film offers an escape into nature away from the industrialized world. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the two directors Anupama Srinivasan and Anirban Dutta about their unique approach. They also describe the h...
Oct 17, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 203
"Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" profiles the actor who was paralyzed from a horse riding accident and found a new purpose in life. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the documentary directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui. They discuss how they made their way to this project after previously collaborating on films about fashion designer Alexander McQueen in "McQueen" and the paralympics in "Rising Phoenix." Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @puren...
Oct 10, 2024•41 min•Season 9Ep. 202
"Daughters," now streaming on Netflix, follows a Daddy Daughter Dance held in a prison. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the film's director Angela Patton and Natalie Rae Robison, who collaborated on the feature documentary debut. They also discuss the contributions of cinematographer Michael "Cambio" Fernandez and executive producer Kerry Washington. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter Doc Voices . On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1...
Oct 03, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 201
Episode 200 is dedicated to the legacy of Jess Search, the visionary producer and co-founder of Doc Society. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Beadie Finzi of Doc Society and Judy Kibinge of Docubox in Kenya. They are two members of DISCO (Decentralised Independent Story and Culture Organizers), a network of documentary organizations around the world. They discuss the mission of DISCO and the Independence Project. Learn more at: Doc Society Docubox The DISCO Network Independence Projec...
Sep 26, 2024•46 min•Season 9Ep. 200
"No Other Land" is directed by a collective of two Palestinians and two Israelis. They capture lives of Palestinians in the West Bank village of Masafer Yatta that's been routinely targeted by Israeli settlers and the military with violence and home demolitions. Taking place from 2019 to 2023, the film shows an alliance form between two of the directors – Basel Adra, who lives in Masafer Yatta, and Yuval Abraham from Israel – in their efforts to expose an injustice. "No Other Land" won the Berli...
Sep 05, 2024•40 min•Season 9Ep. 199
"Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa" profiles the woman who holds a world record for climbing Mount Everest. But her story is much bigger than that, overcoming innumerable hardships. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Lucy Walker about following Lhakpa on her quest to summit Everest for her tenth time and her hope to inspire other women, especially her daughters. Lucy describes how her earlier film "Blindsight" (2006) about a group of blind Tibetan youths trying to cl...
Aug 07, 2024•49 min•Season 9Ep. 198
Two years ago, Sonya Childress and Sarah Driver founded Color Congress to support documentary organizations led by people of color in the United States. They serve over 100 organizations that have long been overlooked and underfunded. Color Congress has given out grants, convened a conference, and is preparing to launch a new distribution initiative. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Sonya and Sahar about how Color Congress is filling a void and what they've learned about building alli...
Aug 01, 2024•48 min•Season 9Ep. 197
