In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a conversation between filmmaker Wayne Wang and New Yorker writer Hua Hsu from the opening night of the new restoration of Wang’s groundbreaking independent film CHAN IS MISSING, on August 20th. When it premiered in 1982 at MoMA’s New Directors/New Films festival, CHAN IS MISSING, a Neo-Noir comedy-drama set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, announced Wang as an exciting new voice in American cinema. Wang went on to make the acclaimed films DIM SUM: A LITTLE BIT OF HEART and the Academy Award-nominated adaptation of Amy Tan’s novel THE JOY LUCK CLUB, both of which also screened during our run of CHAN IS MISSING. He continues to make vibrant work that centers on the Asian-American experience. Special thanks to Marcus Hu at Strand Releasing, Hua Hsu, and Wayne Wang for making this event possible. Photo by Stephen Olweck.

CHAN IS MISSING - Wayne Wang & Hua Hsu

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a Q&A from opening weekend of the new documentary, IN BALANCHINE’S CLASSROOM, about the brilliant artistry of ballet legend George Balanchine as both a choreographer and teacher, recorded on Sunday, September 19th.  Filmmaker Connie Hochman was joined by renowned Balanchine ballerina Merrill Ashley for the Q&A, which was moderated by writer Amanda Vaill. In The New York Times, dance critic Gia Kourlas wrote of the film: “To love Balanchine is to love this film; to love this film is to love ballet, specifically Balanchine’s kind and his kind of dancer: daring, fast, strong, free, at one with the music.” IN BALANCHINE’S CLASSROOM is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets. Photo by Nivia Hernandez.

IN BALANCHINE'S CLASSROOM – Connie Hochman & Merrill Ashley

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a Q&A from the opening night of SPEER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, on October 29th. The new documentary explores the post-war life of Albert Speer, the highest ranking Nazi to be spared the death penalty at Nuremburg, who was widely known as Hitler’s architect. After emerging from 20 years at Spandau prison with a best-selling memoir, rebranded as a “good Nazi,” Speer tried – and got shockingly close – to attaining legitimate movie stardom. The film is based on hours of audio recordings between Speer and screenwriter Andrew Birkin, who was hired by Paramount to script the film version of Speer’s life story. We were joined for the Q&A by filmmaker Vanessa Lapa and producer Tomer Eliav, moderated by Roger Berkowitz, the founder and director of Bard College’s Hannah Arendt Center. SPEER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org  for showtimes and tickets.  Photo by Stephen Olweck.

SPEER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Vanessa Lapa & Tomer Eliav

In today’s episode, we bring you special events around two of our recent hit films – CHESS OF THE WIND and HIVE. First up, we were honored to have the renowned Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat join us to introduce a screening of Mohammad Reza Aslani’s sumptuous, long-lost 1976 melodrama CHESS OF THE WIND on Sunday, November 7.  Here she’s introduced by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum’s Director of Repertory Programming. In the second segment: the opening night Q&A for Blerta Basholli’s HIVE from November 5. HIVE is an engrossing drama about a young widow overcoming tragic and oppressive circumstances in post-war Kosova, based on a true story. Popular Kosovan actress Yllka Gashi gives a fabulous, steely lead performance in the film, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Directing Award in World Cinema Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. We were fortunate to have both Basholli and Gashi join us for the Q&A, which was moderated by Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson. The event was co-presented by the Albanian Institute New York. Special thanks to Shirin Neshat, Janus Films, Blerta Basholli, Yllka Gashi, Alissa Wilkinson, Dino Korca and Jordin Rubio at the Albanian Institute New York, Sara Sampson, Josh Haroutunian, and Zeitgeist Films for making these events possible. Our runs of both CHESS OF THE WIND and HIVE have been held over. Check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets. Shirin Neshat photo (left) by Michael Dalton. Blerta Basholli & Yllka Gashi photo by Tian Feng.

CHESS OF THE WIND & HIVE - Shirin Neshat, Blerta Basholli & Yllka Gashi

In today’s episode, we bring you audio from the recent world premiere screening of a new 35mm restoration of HALLELUJAH!, director King Vidor’s landmark all-Black feature, the opening event of our series Nina Mae McKinney, Hollywood’s First Black Star, on November 10. The evening began with a conversation between author and film historian Donald Bogle and Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum’s  Repertory Program Director, talking about Nina Mae McKinney, King Vidor, HALLELUJAH!, and the Nicholas Brothers. Following the screening, Margaret Bodde of the Film Foundation and David Pierce of the Library of Congress talked about the new 35mm photochemical restoration of the film. You can follow along with the slides referenced in the episode here: https://bit.ly/3oNfhWg. Photo by Nivia Hernandez.
 
Our Nina Mae McKinney series continues on November 23 with the 1935 British film SANDERS OF THE RIVER, starring Paul Robeson and Nina Mae McKinney, introduced by Robeson’s biographer — and granddaughter – Susan Robeson, plus the final reel of a rare British film featuring McKinney. On November 24, an added screening of the 35mm restoration of HALLELUJAH! discussed in this episode.  And on November 30, Elia Kazan’s 1949 film PINKY, with Ethel Waters and the last Hollywood appearance of McKinney.  It will be introduced by Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive, plus an excerpt from the rare 1935 British short BBC: The Voice of Britain, featuring McKinney, introduced by Bruce Goldstein.  For full details and tickets, please go to www.filmforum.org.

HALLELUJAH! - Donald Bogle, Margaret Bodde & David Pierce

In today’s episode, we bring you a conversation with Ryûsuke Hamaguchi from November 30, following a screening of his newest film, the critically acclaimed drama, DRIVE MY CAR. The film just won Best International Feature at the 2021 Gotham Awards, and is Japan’s official submission in the same category for the 2022 Academy Awards. The discussion was moderated by Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson. DRIVE MY CAR is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets. Special thanks to Janus Films, Sideshow, Variance Films, and Cinetic Media for making this event possible.

DRIVE MY CAR - Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Today’s From the Archives episode features an audience Q&A at Film Forum with the Iranian master filmmaker Asghar Farhadi from January 10, 2012. He appeared during our premiere run of his drama A SEPARATION, which won that year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and also garnered Farhadi a Best Screenplay nomination. The Q&A was translated by Sheida Deyani. Today’s episode is presented in anticipation of our opening of Mr. Farhadi’s latest feature, A HERO, on January 7.  It will be the sixth of his films to have its US theatrical premiere at Film Forum. Check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets. Special thanks to Sony Pictures Classics for making the event featured in today’s episode possible.

From The Archive: A SEPARATION - Asghar Farhadi

In today’s episode, we bring you a conversation from the opening night, February 18, of Lisa Hurwitz’s hit new film THE AUTOMAT. The documentary explores the history and legacy of the beloved 20th-century culinary institution, Horn & Hardart, aka The Automat, with a charming mix of nostalgic archival footage, and interviews with devotees including Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Colin Powell, along with former Automat employees and their families. We were joined for this event by filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz and two of the film’s subjects – longtime Horn & Hardart art director Ron Barett; and Paul Hardart, great grandson of the company’s founder, who also served as moderator.  THE AUTOMAT is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets and enjoy the discussion. Special thanks to Lisa Hurwitz, Paul Hardart, and Ron Barrett for making this event possible.  Pictured: Paul Hardart & Lisa Hurwitz. Photo by Dora Nano.

THE AUTOMAT – Lisa Hurwitz, Ron Barrett & Paul Hardart

In today’s episode, we bring you a conversation from the opening night, March 4, of Sebastian Meise’s new drama GREAT FREEDOM. The film centers on an incredible performance by world cinema superstar, Franz Rogowski, as a defiant gay man imprisoned in post-World War II Germany under the draconian Paragraph 175, which outlawed homosexuality. We were joined for this event by filmmaker Sebastian Meise, star Franz Rogowski, and the acclaimed American filmmaker Ira Sachs, who served as moderator. GREAT FREEDOM is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets and enjoy the discussion. Special thanks to Sebastian Meise, Franz Rogowski, Ira Sachs, and MUBI for making this event possible. Pictured: Sebastien Meise, Franz Rogowski & Ira Sachs. Photo by Stephen Olweck.

GREAT FREEDOM - Sebastian Meise, Franz Rogowski & Ira Sachs

In today’s episode, we bring you the fascinating discussion around our recent screening of the bold 1972 Afrofuturist science fiction film SPACE IS THE PLACE. The film, directed by John Coney, stars the iconic jazz and experimental musician Sun Ra, who also composed the film’s soundtrack and co-wrote the screenplay. The screening was co-presented by the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research (BISR), in association with Carnegie Hall’s city-wide Afrofuturism festival. We were joined for the event by two of BISR’s faculty – Ajay Singh Chaudhary and Rebecca Ariel Porte – along with the conceptual artist Paul D. Miller, also known as DJ Spooky. Special thanks to the panelists as well as Mark DeLucas at BISR, Emily Woodburne and Brian Belovarac at Janus Films, Jim Newman and Haden Guest at Harvard Film Archive, and Stephen Holl at Rapid Eye Movies for making this event possible. Photo by Stephen Olweck.

SPACE IS THE PLACE – Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky)

In today’s episode, we bring you a dynamic, thought-provoking Q&A from opening night of THE TERRITORY, the new double Sundance prize-winning documentary, on August 19, 2022. THE TERRITORY is an urgent, and immersive look inside the struggle by the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people to protect their territory in the Northern Brazilian Amazon Rainforest from invasion and deforestation. Filmmaker and cinematographer Alex Pritz spent three years embedded in the Indigenous community before ultimately turning the cameras over to the Uru-eu-wau-wau leaders to capture their own efforts, resulting in a thrilling and inspiring chronicle of agency and resistance. We were joined for the Q&A by Alex Pritz and Neidinha Bandeira, one of the fearless activists followed in the film. Bandeira has spent the last four decades advocating for Indigenous people in the region and is the founder of the nonprofit group Kandidé Ethno-Environmental Defense Association. The Q&A was co-presented by the Rainforest Alliance and moderated by their Creative Design & Editorial Lead, Michael Gibbons. Special thanks to our guests Neidinha Bandeira and Alex Pritz, translator Clicia Antunes, Michael Gibbons and Rodrigo Brandão as well as the Rainforest Alliance, Picturehouse, Fusion Entertainment, and National Geographic for making this event possible. Photo by Mike Maggiore.

THE TERRITORY - Neidinha Bandeira & Alex Pritz

In this episode, Film Forum Repertory Artistic Director Bruce Goldstein has an informal chat with Beatrice Welles, daughter of Orson Welles, who appeared at Film Forum in 2015 for the re-release of her father’s Chimes at Midnight.  Beatrice talks about growing up with her famous father and her Italian mother, Paola Mori and shares her memories of being a 5-year-old on the set of Welles’ THE TRIAL. A stunning new 4K restoration of THE TRIAL, starring Anthony Perkins, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider and Welles himself,  is now playing at Film Forum through Thursday, December 22. Special thanks to Beatrice Welles and Rialto Pictures for making this episode possible.

THE TRIAL - Beatrice Welles

In today’s episode, we bring you a Q&A with filmmaker Amanda Kim following a screening of her debut feature NAM JUN PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV on March 27, 2023. Kim’s acclaimed documentary weaves together rare archival material, interviews with art world luminaries, and mesmerizing footage of Nam June Paik’s work to create an engrossing portrait of the artist known as the “Father of Video Art.” The event was co-presented by the Korea Society and the Asian American Artists’ Workshop, with author Mary H.K. Choi serving as moderator. NAM JUNE PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV is now playing at Film Forum. Thanks for listening to today’s episode of Film Forum Presents. Special thanks to Amanda Kim, Mary H.K. Choi, Greenwich Entertainment, Cinetic Marketing, the Korea Society, and Asian American Writers’ Workshop for making this event possible.  Photo by Dora Nano.

NAM JUNE PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV - Amanda Kim & Mary H. K. Choi

In today’s episode, we bring you a Q&A with the filmmaker Lizzie Gottlieb and her father, the legendary New York writer and editor Robert Gottlieb, following the U.S. theatrical premiere screening of Lizzie’s documentary TURN EVERY PAGE: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT CARO AND ROBERT GOTTLIEB on December 30, 2022. TURN EVERY PAGE is a portrait of the literary partnership between Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb, the former editor in chief at Knopf and The New Yorker. Robert Gottlieb recently passed away at the age of 92. Gottlieb was a good friend of Film Forum, introducing and presenting many classic films here over the years, and in tribute to his memory, we’re presenting four encore screenings of TURN EVERY PAGE at the theater on June 28 and 29, and posting this previously unreleased Q&A. Special thanks to Lizzie Gottlieb, Jennifer Small, Joanne Nerenberg, Sony Pictures Classics and Falco Ink for making this event possible.

TURN EVERY PAGE - Robert Gottlieb and Lizzie Gottlieb

In today’s episode, we bring you a Q&A with filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov following the opening night screening of his film 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL on July 14, 2023. Chernov is a Ukrainian video journalist for the Associated Press who captured unspeakable atrocities committed against Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops during their siege of the port town of Mariupol in Sprint 2022. This reporting, for which Chernov and his team were awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, is the basis for the film, which was produced by the AP and FRONTLINE PBS.  The Q&A included the film’s editor and producer Michelle Mizner of FRONTLINE and was moderated by CNN anchor John Berman. The screening was co-presented by the Ukrainian Institute of America, with an introduction by its executive director, Lydia Zaininger. Special thanks to Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, John Berman, Lydia Zaininger, PBS Distribution, FRONTLINE PBS, Associated Press, and the Ukrainian Institute of America for making this event possible.  Photo by Elinor Kry.

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL - Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and John Berman

For today’s episode, we take a turn from our usual format to bring you a sneak peek at the October-November calendar, guided by our programmers Sonya Chung, Bruce Goldstein, and Mike Maggiore. They discuss films and filmmakers, a little FF history, the programming process, and what they each find particularly exciting about the October and November offerings. With these conversations, we hope to introduce the people behind the programming here at Film Forum – and to provide some fun inside intel and trivia along the way. Please enjoy. Chung & Maggiore photos by Robin Holland; Goldstein photo by Grant Delin.

UNFOLDING THE CALENDAR – October & November 2023

In this, our second Unfolding the Calendar episode, Film Forum programmers Sonya Chung, Bruce Goldstein, and Mike Maggiore provide a behind-the screens look at our December 2023/January 2024 calendar. They discuss films and filmmakers, a little FF history, the programming process, and what they each find particularly exciting about upcoming programming. With these conversations, we hope to introduce the people behind the programming here at Film Forum – and to provide some fun inside intel and trivia along the way. Please enjoy. Chung & Maggiore photos by Robin Holland; Goldstein photo by Grant Delin.

UNFOLDING THE CALENDAR – December 2023 & January 2024

In this, our third Unfolding the Calendar episode, Film Forum programmers Sonya Chung, Bruce Goldstein, and Mike Maggiore provide a behind-the screens look at our February-March 2024 calendar. They discuss films and filmmakers, a little FF history, the programming process, and what they each find particularly exciting about upcoming programming. With these conversations, we hope to introduce the people behind the programming here at Film Forum – and to provide some fun inside intel and trivia along the way. Please enjoy. Chung photo by Patrick Quarterman; Maggiore photo by Robin Holland; Goldstein photo by Grant Delin.

UNFOLDING THE CALENDAR - February & March 2024

In this, our fourth Unfolding the Calendar episode, Film Forum programmers Sonya Chung and Mike Maggiore discuss upcoming premieres on our (now three-month!) calendar for April – June 2024. With these conversations, we hope to introduce the people behind the programming here at Film Forum – and to provide some fun inside intel and trivia along the way. Since we expanded the calendar, we have also expanded the podcast into two episodes. Look out for the second part in early May, which will feature FF Repertory Artistic Director discussing our four-week “Out of the 80s” festival (May 17 – June 13) with Richard Shepard, director of the new documentary FILM GEEK, which inspired – and will serve as the centerpiece for – the series. Please enjoy.

UNFOLDING THE CALENDAR - April, May & June 2024

For Part 2 of our April – June Unlocking the Calendar installment, Film Forum's Founding Repertory Artistic Director Bruce Goldstein has a lively, wide-ranging conversation with film director Richard Shepard about their favorite NYC moviegoing and moviehouse experiences in the 1970s and 80s. Shepard’s own memories are the core of his new documentary FILM GEEK, having its NYC premiere as part of our upcoming four-week, 50+ film festival “OUT OF THE 80s,” opening May 17.

FILM GEEK & “Out of the 80s” – Richard Shepard

Film Forum’s Director Sonya Chung talks with filmmaker, novelist, and memoirist Bridgett M. Davis on the occasion of the restoration and release of her 1996 film NAKED ACTS — which will screen at FF on Thursday, June 6 at 7:00. Davis shares her influences and inspirations, including Julie Dash and Kathleen Collins, her passion for storytelling in multiple genres, and her return to filmmaking after 30 years.

NAKED ACTS - Bridgett M. Davis

COLD WAR - Paweł Pawlikowski

Slideshow begins at 8:02. Watch it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2suiX4WE4Y

CHRIST STOPPED AT EBOLI - Michael F. Moore

SAUVAGE / WILD - Camille Vidal-Naquet

Tickets available at: https://filmforum.org/film/jay-myself

Photo by Grayson Dantzic

JAY MYSELF - Jay Maisel and Stephen Wilkes

THE ROMANIANS: 30 YEARS OF CINEMA REVOLUTION is now playing through Thursday, November 26.

Tickets available at filmforum.org/series/the-romanians-30-years-of-cinema-revolution#now-playing

Photo by Elmar Lemes

THE ROMANIANS - Andrei Ujică

Film Forum’s Homage to Anna Karina begins Wednesday, January 22. Schedule and tickets: https://filmforum.org/series/homage-to-anna-karina

FROM THE ARCHIVE: BAND OF OUTSIDERS – Anna Karina

Film Forum Presents filmmaker Leslie Harris, who appeared for a Q&A on January 25, 2020 following a screening of her 1993 film JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T., moderated by experimental filmmaker and preservationist Ina Archer. JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T. was shown as part of our four-week, 60-film repertory festival Black Women: Trailblazing African American Actresses & Images, 1920 – 2001, which ran from January 17 through February 13. 
Photo by Anthony Fairall.

JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T. - Leslie Harris

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Romanian filmmaker Andrei Ujicǎ from November 15, 2019, following a screening of his 1992 film VIDEOGRAMS OF A REVOLUTION. The movie, co-directed by Harun Farocki, uses amateur video and footage from both the Romanian state-controlled film industry and a demonstrator-controlled TV station to capture the revolution that swept dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu from power. The screening and Q&A, moderated by curator David Schwartz, marked the opening of the repertory series THE ROMANIANS: 30 years of Cinema Revolution, the most expansive survey of Romanian cinema presented in the U.S. to date. VIDEOGRAMS OF A REVOLUTION will be available for home rental in our Virtual Cinema beginning this Friday, May 29th, at www.filmforum.org. Another terrific Romanian film, Cristi Puiu’s STUFF AND DOUGH, will become available on Friday, June 5th. All rental fees support Film Forum. Special thanks to the Making Waves Film festival and Cinema Projects for making this episode possible. Photo by Elmar Lemes

VIDEOGRAMS OF A REVOLUTION - Andrei Ujică

We at Film Forum were sad to learn of the recent passing of Kevin Rafferty, a masterful documentary filmmaker. His movies were brilliantly researched and edited – collaging materials from a vast array of sources. Politically astute and surprisingly humorous, Kevin’s movies infused wit and intelligence into every subject upon which he focused. All five of his feature films premiered at Film Forum. Most recently, Kevin came to the theater to support the re-release of his 1982 hit film, THE ATOMIC CAFE. The new restoration premiered on August 1, 2018, and was one of the films that launched the re-opening of the theater after a major renovation and expansion.  In memory of Kevin Rafferty, Film Forum Presents a special encore episode featuring that evening’s Q&A with Rafferty and his ATOMIC CAFE co-directors Jayne Loader and Pierce Rafferty. The Q&A was moderated by Film Forum’s Premieres Programmer, Mike Maggiore.

From The Archive: ATOMIC CAFE - Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader, Pierce Raffery

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Gero von Boehm, filmmaker of the new documentary HELMUT NEWTON: THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, and the legendary actor-model-filmmaker Isabella Rossellini. The film explores the life and work of fashion photographer Helmut Newton, whose sexually-charged work often toed the line between art and exploitation. Boehm interviews many of Newton’s famous subjects in the film, including Rossellini. HELMUT NEWTON: THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL is currently available for home viewing in our Virtual Cinema, at www.filmforum.org. All rental fees support Film Forum. The Q&A was moderated by James Danziger, founder of the Danziger Gallery in New York. Photo: David Lynch and Isabella Rossellini, Los Angeles, 1988 ©Foto Helmut Newton, Helmut Newton Estate, Courtesy Helmut Newton Foundation

HELMUT NEWTON: THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL - Gero Von Boehm

FILM FORUM PRESENTS is the official podcast of Film Forum, a nonprofit cinema in downtown New York City, founded in 1970. Each episode features audio from a special event (Q&A, intro, or conversation), recorded live at Film Forum, around our signature programming: premieres of new independent movies and world-class repertory cinema.

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