In this episode, Marisa interviews professional LA dancer, choreographer and teacher Malia Baker. Malia grew up doing competition dance in Colorado, and moved to Los Angeles at age 18. After 10 years of living in LA, Malia reflects on her dance journey from training and performing to choreographing and teaching. They also talk about her most recent collaboration with Bob’s Dance Shop, where she toured internationally with Purple Disco Machine and Sofi Tukker. Whether she’s dancing in front of large crowds, on screen, or in the studio, Malia slays any performance and brings the fun! 

Check out Malia’s jazz class at TMilly on Tuesdays from 1-2:30pm

Follow @maliabaker


Malia Baker: Confidence at the Disco

In this episode, Marisa interviews award-winning illustrator, author and designer Dave Szalay. While growing up in Ohio, Dave was always doodling in school. After studying graphic design, owning his own ad agency and teaching, he returned to school to receive his MFA in Illustration. With five published, picture books, Dave gives a behind the scenes look into the world of creating children’s literature. From drawing monsters and animals to nature and Abraham Lincoln, Dave hopes that his whimsical images bring joy and make reading fun for all children. 

Follow Dave on Instagram @daveszalayillo 

Check out his website at https://www.daveszalay.com

Buy his books here or at a bookstore near you 
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dave-Szalay/author/B081KBHYHM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1754589292&sr=8-2&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true


Dave Szalay: Dreaming Up Doodles

Ben Shahn

At this year’s Locarno Film Festival, Film Comment Editor Devika Girish moderated a conversation between the filmmakers Miguel Gomes and Alexandre Koberidze. The talk took place as part of the Future of Reality conference at the festival, organized by Locarno Factory and Università della Svizzera italiana, and the subject of the conversation was “the reality of the film set.” What is the daily experience behind making transcendent cinema? What are the tactical and interpersonal challenges of orchestrating resources and labor, all in pursuit of a singular artistic vision? Devika explored these questions with the two directors, who reflected on the making of their most recent films—last year’s Grand Tour for Gomes, and Dry Leaf, which premiered at this year's festival, for Koberidze. 

Please note that the audio quality isn’t up to our usual standards due to technical problems during the recording. 

Alexandre Koberidze and Miguel Gomes at Locarno 2025

Summer clips: Tidawhitney Lek

William Blake, Sea Monsters, and the Ecstasy of Art, with Philip Hoare

The Locarno Film Festival takes place every August in the Swiss town of Locarno, at the base of the Alps, with a robust mix of new discoveries, repertory selections, and premieres of films by major auteurs. Film Comment was on the ground this year, combing through the lineup for highlights, and this episode—featuring critics and programmers Inney Prakash and Cici Peng in conversation with FC Editor Devika Girish—covers some of the notable titles: Radu Jude's Dracula (3:09), Alexandre Koberidze's Dry Leaf (16:10), Kamal Aljafari's With Hasan in Gaza (23:45), Sophy Romvari's Blue Heron (30:38), and more

Locarno 2025, with Inney Prakash and Cici Peng

Holiday clips: Saif Azzuz

This week and next, Film Comment is reporting from the picturesque shores of the Lido, where the Venice Film Festival takes place each year, and this year's edition features new films by many major auteurs, including Noah Baumbach, Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Laura Poitras, and more.

For our first episode from the city of canals, Film Comment Editor Devika Girish invited FC contributors and Venice veterans Jonathan Romney and Jordan Cronk to talk about what sets this festival apart from other major international film showcases. Next, the group turned to some of the most highly anticipated premieres of the first few days, including Paolo Sorrentino's La grazia (8:28), Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly (16:21), Yorgos Lanthimos's Bugonia (26:50), Claire Simon's Writing Life: Annie Ernaux Through The Eyes Of High School Students (36:40), and Mike Figgis's Megadoc (47:03).

Stay tuned for more Venice coverage, providing everything you need to know about the 2025 edition.

Venice 2025 #1, with Jonathan Romney and Jordan Cronk

This week and next, Film Comment is reporting from the picturesque shores of the Lido, where the Venice Film Festival takes place each year. This year's edition features new films by many major auteurs, including Noah Baumbach, Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Laura Poitras, and more.

For our second episode from the city of canals, Film Comment Editor Devika Girish invited critics Tim Grierson and Katie McCabe to talk about recent festival premieres, including Guadagnino’s After the Hunt, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, László Nemes’s Orphan, and Poitras and  Mark Obenhaus’s Cover-Up.

Stay tuned for more Venice coverage, providing everything you need to know about the 2025 edition.

Venice 2025 #2, with Tim Grierson and Katie McCabe

This week and next, Film Comment is reporting from the picturesque shores of the Lido, where the Venice Film Festival takes place each year. This year's edition features new films by many major auteurs, including Noah Baumbach, Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Laura Poitras, and more.

For our second episode from the city of canals, Film Comment Editor Devika Girish invited critics Joseph Fahim and Öykü Sofuoğlu to talk about some recent premieres, including Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, Jihan K’s My Father and Qaddafi, and Shahad Ameen’s Hijra; the group also discussed the rise of the Saudi film industry and its role in contemporary Arab cinema. 

Stay tuned for more Venice coverage, providing everything you need to know about the 2025 edition.

Venice #3, with Joseph Fahim and Öykü Sofuoğlu

Art is everywhere and with it comes the often unseen and unheard voices who make it happen. Join host, Marisa Dickens, as she interviews all types of artists who share their works, processes, and passions. Every artist leaves a little part of themselves in their work…it’s their ARTifact!

Malia Baker: Confidence at the Disco

ARTifacts Podcast

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